Director, Japan Region

THE ORGANIZATION

The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) is a high-quality support network of 18,000 business founders and owners in 220 chapters and 80 countries worldwide. EO’s purpose is to move the world forward by unlocking the full potential of entrepreneurs. Since 1987, EO has helped entrepreneurs achieve transformational growth through the power of life-enhancing connections, shared experiences, and collaborative learning. Guided by EO’s core values: trust and respect, thirst for learning, think big, be bold, and together we grow, EO’s international staff collaborates successfully across diverse cultures. As an EO employee, you will gain access to the world’s top experts in entrepreneurship, grow beyond your perceived limits, and make breakthroughs as you refine and realize your personal goals. EO’s competitive total rewards package, flexible work environment, and generous professional development resources are frequently cited as among the most popular benefits of working at EO.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director, Japan Region is responsible for the implementation of organizational strategy in EO’s recently launched Japan region and overseeing operations in support of chapters and members throughout the region. The purpose of EO’s regional structure is to provide support to EO’s chapters and engage individual members in a geographic area by driving chapter health and stewarding individual member participation in EO’s products and programs.

The Director manages a cross-functional team of staff professionals and is the primary liaison to the Japan Regional Council – a group of member volunteers who work alongside staff to achieve regional growth, member engagement, and chapter health targets consistent with the strategic ambitions of the global organization.  The role of the Director is a fiduciary one – to manage the financial and human capital resources to deliver stated objectives within the organizational framework.  The Director must show excellent judgment on what challenges to resolve or opportunities to pursue within the region, and which should be escalated as they are best scaled globally.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Global Impact

• Be an advocate of organizational alignment and promote coordination across regions and functional areas.
• Consolidate and analyze data-driven reports that inform decisions and shape the strategy of the region.
• Monitor such data reports to unearth potential risks to chapter, regional, or global success (e.g. percent drop in renewals, limited recruitment activities).
• Develop and maintain cross-functional relationships with members, volunteers, and colleagues throughout the organization.
• Ensure regional and chapter performance is in alignment with and supportive of organizational priorities and projects.
• Adhere to EO’s policies and procedures and local regulations in all regional operations.
• Serve as an ambassador for EO at virtual, hybrid, and in-person events.
• Attend Regional Council Meetings, Presidents Meetings, organizational planning meetings, and other events as required.

Team Leader

• Lead a team of dedicated professionals to drive impact through EO products and regional programming.
• Assess workload requirements of the team and document annual goals and professional development plans for each direct report.
• Serve as the liaison to the Regional Council, and more specifically, the Regional Chair who serves as the most senior volunteer leader of the Regional Council in implementing EO’s organizational strategy in the region.
• Serve as the point of contact for other key leaders on the Regional Council – the Finance Director, the Governance Director, the Growth Director, and the Leadership Director.
• Collaborate with Regional Council to set annual and multi-year initiatives to achieve the goals outlined in EO’s strategic plan within your region.

Regional Operations

• Be accountable for the annual regional budget and make recommendations for effective financial investments in regional activities for the future, with a clear understanding of their ROI.
• Update and drive implementation of the Regional Action Plan (RAP) – the region’s annual operating plan of initiatives to improve regional, area, and chapter performance in alignment with organizational priorities.
• Recruit, select, and onboard regional leadership in partnership with regional chair.
• Ensure the success of Presidents Meetings, alignment meetings, and other events and trainings organized in the region.
• Work with the regional chair to navigate unforeseen challenges like economic downturns, member attrition spikes, or regional instability.
• Foster an inclusive environment, reflecting EO's diverse member base.

• Develop the regional culture and promote transparency and collaboration throughout the region.
   

Chapter Health & Growth

• Responsible for the overall health and success of chapters within the regional portfolio.
• Drive growth and retention initiatives in the region in alignment with regional and organizational goals.
• Drive member engagement through the promotion of EO’s products, including educating members about the benefits of their membership.
• Drive chapter and member participation in regional events, regionally delivered products, and global events so as to connect members to their global peers.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED

• Minimum six (6) years of staff management, executive leadership, and business development experience.
• Ability to travel 20% of the year.
• English and Japanese language fluency required, other languages are an asset.
• Experience with managing multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Excellent organizational and customer service skills.
• Team player and collaboration mindset.
• Ability to interact with entrepreneurs with tact, diplomacy, and poise.
• Well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills.
• A self-starter who desires to show ownership and commitment to the job.
• Establishes relationships proactively; shows genuine interest in the needs and concerns of others; maintains a positive attitude; build networks.
• Event and logistic experience preferred.
• Proficiency in collaboration tools such as Teams, Monday.com, Hubspot, etc. preferred