Design Production Operations Lead

About this role

This position is a playing-manager role leading the operations behind an original design-production service priced from JPY 10,000. The service provides original designs by professional designers, with delivery data that can be edited and shared on the platform. The operation is being expanded toward annual sales of JPY 200 million and 4,500 cases. The role will first understand hands-on case assignment, progress management, and quality control, then redesign the workflow to reduce dependence on individual know-how and build standardized, repeatable operations.

Responsibilities include managing cases, schedules, quality, and capacity; assigning suitable members; deciding how to handle escalations and irregular situations; monitoring member productivity and supporting improvements; analyzing and visualizing current workflows; identifying process issues; preparing manuals; defining and standardizing operating rules; and planning and driving automation and efficiency projects using system integration and AI. The role also involves negotiating with internal departments and external partners and facilitating meetings.

Required qualifications are experience in project progress management or workflow creation and business improvement, plus at least three years of professional work experience. Preferred experience includes building business foundations and carrying out hands-on work in a startup or venture, leadership or self-directed work in a small organization, process improvement and standardization based on analysis, practical use of Illustrator or Photoshop or knowledge of DTP and design production, and the ability to prepare proposals and documents using tools such as PowerPoint. The role is intended for someone who can adapt to frequent change, learn detailed operational work, and independently identify and resolve issues.

Employment is full-time with no fixed contract term and a three-month probation period with unchanged conditions. Annual pay is determined based on experience and previous salary; the posting gives an example of JPY 4.05 million annually, including fixed overtime pay for 20 hours, with excess overtime paid separately. The example monthly pay is JPY 329,067, consisting of base pay, fixed overtime pay, and other allowances. Bonuses are paid twice a year, in September and March, and vary according to business performance, evaluation, and actual work rate.

The work location is the Azabudai office in Minato, Tokyo, or a company-approved home or equivalent remote-work location. The work style combines remote work with office attendance several times a week. Shifts are 9:00–18:00 or 10:00–19:00. Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays are days off. Benefits and programs include corporate defined-contribution pension, company-leased housing, childcare and nursing-care leave, a return-from-parental-leave payment, condolence and celebration payments, babysitter discount vouchers, access to employer-sponsored childcare, refresh, year-end and New Year, congratulatory and condolence leave, and long-service awards. Health, employees’ pension, employment, and workers’ compensation insurance are provided. Training includes onboarding, skills-development assistance, language-learning support, and a technical-book purchase program for some positions. The scope of duties and work location may change according to business conditions and the employee’s suitability.