Manager

Roles and Responsibilities

• Lead the establishment and initial operation of NOVARE Singapore as an innovation hub, including on-site setup, stakeholder coordination, and operational framework development
• Act as the primary liaison between NOVARE Singapore and the Japan Headquarters (NOVARE and Global Business Headquarters), ensuring continuous alignment of strategy, execution, and reporting
• Conduct frequent and detailed communication with Japan Headquarters in Japanese, including preparation of reports, participation in internal discussions, and coordination of decision-making processes
• Translate strategic intent from Japan into executable actions in Singapore, and conversely, communicate local findings, PoC outcomes, and ecosystem insights back to Japan in Japanese in a timely manner
• Drive the implementation of NOVARE’s global open innovation strategy in Singapore, aligned with headquarters’ strategic direction
• Identify, evaluate, and support Japanese and local startups, including coordination of PoC (Proof of Concept) projects with Shimizu Singapore entities
• Facilitate collaboration between Japanese startups, local startups, and Shimizu’s business units to enable bidirectional co-creation models
• Build and manage relationships with key external stakeholders, including government agencies, local partners, universities, and VC ecosystem players
• Support the market entry of Japanese startups into Singapore, including coordination of local setup, business matching, and stakeholder alignment
• Monitor and report project progress, PoC outcomes, and business opportunities to Japan Headquarters in structured Japanese reports on a regular basis
• Provide continuous feedback to headquarters to refine global strategy based on real-time on-the-ground execution

Requirements for the Role

• Bachelor’s degree or above in Business, Economics, or a related field
• Minimum 8–12 years of professional experience in business development, innovation, or project management
• Demonstrated experience managing co-creation projects involving multiple stakeholders, including corporations, startups, and/or external partners
• Proven ability to plan, coordinate, and execute projects in close alignment with headquarters, including regular reporting, status updates, and decision-making support
• Strong understanding of corporate decision-making processes, internal coordination practices, and reporting requirements
• Proven ability to coordinate and manage complex, multi-party projects that require alignment between strategic direction (from headquarters) and on-the-ground execution
• Experience in startup collaboration, open innovation, venture investment, or new business development is strongly preferred
• Ability to handle high-frequency reporting, documentation, and coordination tasks in Japanese without translation support
• Ability to operate independently in an early-stage overseas setup with full ownership and accountability
• Native-level fluency in Japanese (spoken and written) is strictly required due to the need for continuous, real-time, and detailed communication with Japan Headquarters
• Strong ability to navigate complex organizational structures and coordinate with multiple stakeholders within a large corporate environment, including identifying appropriate counterparts for consultation and decision-making in a timely and accurate manner
• Working-level English proficiency is required to communicate with local external stakeholders in Singapore, including government agencies, partners, and startups