Head of Product Development, Access Control Systems

Role overview
This full-time department-head position leads product development for the Akerun access-control system. The role is responsible for improving product quality and expanding the system’s enterprise presence and market share.

Responsibilities
Develop and execute a three-to-five-year market strategy, set and monitor KPIs, analyze competitors and customer needs, and create the product roadmap. Prepare proposals for large enterprise customers, design proof-of-concept projects, interview customers, define requirements, and establish specifications. Coordinate with the heads of the hardware and software development divisions, manage development progress, and establish quality-assurance processes. Work with manufacturing, procurement, and logistics teams to build a stable supply structure and organize customer support after release. Set product-quality KPIs, collect and analyze field feedback, and plan and implement improvement measures. The position also includes standardizing and improving the presales structure and requirements-definition process.

Product context
Akerun is a cloud-based access-control system that uses retrofit smart locks. It centrally manages keys in the cloud and provides a management interface showing where, when, and by whom entry and exit occurred. Unlocking and locking can be performed with smartphones or transit NFC cards. The system integrates by API with attendance-management and membership-fee systems. It is a corporate service with more than 7,000 cumulative company deployments.

Required qualifications
Candidates must have domain knowledge of an access-control system or a comparable product such as surveillance cameras or building automation; experience in enterprise presales and requirements definition; experience proposing system integrations related to building equipment; knowledge of low-voltage construction or networks; experience operating, maintaining, and improving the quality of an in-house product; and experience negotiating with hardware and software development organizations. Experience building operating structures involving manufacturing, procurement, logistics, or construction departments is preferred.

Working conditions
The work location is in Minato-ku, Tokyo. Annual salary is JPY 10,000,000–13,000,000, with a stated monthly salary range of JPY 835,000–1,084,000 comprising ability-based pay, performance-based variable pay, and a discretionary allowance. The allowance covers 45 hours of overtime regardless of whether overtime is worked; additional overtime premiums are paid beyond that amount. Working hours are 9:30–18:30 with a one-hour break. Flextime is available with core hours from 10:00 to 14:00 and flexible hours from 7:00 to 10:00 and 14:00 to 21:00. The development division uses a discretionary labor system. Remote work is available by consultation. The position includes twice-yearly salary reviews, 124 annual holidays, weekends and public holidays off, year-end holidays, paid leave, special leave, a computer and smartphone, commuting and housing allowances, a café space, free drinks, club activities, company meals, book-purchase support, internal study sessions, and support for study-session fees. Social insurance, health insurance, employment insurance, and workers’ compensation insurance are provided.