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The Retail Country Manager for Japan will be responsible for driving top-line growth and profitability across retail, wholesale, and digital channels. This role involves leading retail expansion, optimizing the store portfolio, and building a high-performing team. The manager will strengthen brand positioning by localizing global narratives, manage key stakeholder relationships, and serve as the primary liaison to global HQ. The ideal candidate has 15+ years of retail leadership experience in Japan, with proven success in scaling brands and managing significant revenue and store networks.
What You'll Do
Own Japan P&L: deliver top-line growth and path to profitability across retail, wholesale, and digital channels
Lead retail expansion: open doors annually, optimize existing store portfolio
Build high-performing team: recruit and develop Area Managers, Store Managers, and HQ support functions
Strengthen brand positioning: localize global brand narrative, drive customer acquisition and LTV in Japan's competitive footwear market
Manage key stakeholder relationships: landlords, department stores, local media, and KOLs
Serve as primary liaison to global HQ: align Japan priorities with company-wide strategy, secure resources and support
Who You Are
15+ years retail leadership in Japan, with proven track record scaling brands from investment phase to profitability
Experience managing 20+ store networks and annual revenue of JPY 50B+
Strong commercial acumen: pricing, inventory, margin management, and multi-channel P&L ownership
Established network in Tokyo/Osaka retail real estate and department store channels
Strategic mindset with ability to articulate 3-year vision while executing quarterly priorities
Fluent Japanese and business-level English; Mandarin a plus
Entrepreneurial drive: comfortable with ambiguity, resourceful in lean organization.
Year 1: stabilize existing store performance, open 2–3 profitable new locations, build core team
Year 2: achieve positive operating profit, establish repeatable store model, expand to 15+ doors
Year 3: position Japan as an APAC hub, explore wholesale and digital growth vectors
Competitive package aligned with stage and performance, including base + bonus + equity component.
AI Empowerment: Access to cutting-edge AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT Plus, Midjourney, Manus) and continuous AI training to boost your efficiency and
keep you at the forefront of the industry.
