Expansion Manager – Japan
Reporting Line
• Direct Report: Head of Expansion department (30s, Italian, oversees multiple teams including Expansion)
• Note: There is also a Senior Manager (late 50s) in the team, but this person will not be the line manager
• Collaboration with HQ Expansion Team (Italy) is expected
Location Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
• Frequent business trips across Japan for site visits
Ideal Profile
• EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree (in economic or technical field plus)
• EXPERIENCE: Experience in real estate or retail market
• Experienced in store development, leasing, or expansion roles within retail or F&B industry
• Able to work independently and navigate corporate politics when necessary
• Resilient personality who can collaborate with a strong-minded senior team member
• Cross-functional coordination skills and global communication capability required
• The role will be quite autonomous; candidates must be capable of managing full-cycle development independently
Must-Have Qualifications
• 5+ years of experience in retail store development / leasing / real estate negotiations
• Strong self-management and project ownership capability
• Fluent/native Japanese and business-level English
• Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience in a foreign-affiliated company or multicultural team
• Capable of handling internal stakeholders with differing views and styles
Key Responsibilities
• Identify and evaluate potential new store locations in line with expansion strategy
• Lead lease negotiations, renewals, closures, and rental adjustments
• Maintain and develop relationships with landlords, leasing managers, and real estate agents
• Conduct market research and monitor competitor trends
• Provide regular reports to both local and HQ teams
• Collaborate with legal, technical, and commercial departments