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
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