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Research Manager / Director - R4D, Mercari

Salary not provided

English: FluentJapanese: Fluent

Minimum year of experience: 3

Mercari

Research Manager / Director - R4D

Employment Type: Full-time
Work Style: Flextime (with core time)
Location: Roppongi, Tokyo

Note: This job requires Japanese language ability. JD is available in Japanese only.

About the Team & Mission

R4D Team Mission

R4D is a research and development organization dedicated to pioneering unseen value, aiming for real-world implementation. By transcending barriers between academia, industry, and government, the team strives to solve complex social issues through co-innovation using science and technology. Starting from a C2C platform foundation, R4D researches how value is created, exchanged, and circulated in society, exploring future forms of C2C platforms and relationships among technology, people, and society.

Current R&D Focus Areas:

  1. AI:
    Machine learning, generative AI, agent technologies for better product search, decision support, reliability in transactions, and researching next-gen AI marketplaces.

  2. AR/XR:
    Inclusive design of interactions between users and technology, making marketplace experiences more intuitive with XR technologies.

  3. ELSI:
    Studies on the ethical, legal, and social implications of AI, quantum tech, and C2C platforms, emphasizing governance in social implementation.

  4. Quantum:
    Research on quantum computing/networking, error correction, scalable quantum information infrastructure, and application development.

  5. Circular Economy:
    Re-evaluating reuse behavior and systems from a lifecycle perspective to embed reuse as a social norm, including quantifying environmental impacts.

  6. Logistics:
    Optimization of listing, shipping, and inspection processes in C2C transactions using large-scale logistics data for safer, lower-cost delivery.

  7. Robotics:
    Research and application of technologies for automating physical tasks in C2C transactions, such as unpacking, inspection, authentication, photographing, packaging, and shipping.

  8. Economics:
    Data-driven decision-making for corporate growth, marketing analyses of consumer/AI interaction, and advanced economic systems using reinforcement learning.

We are seeking Research Managers and Directors for both existing and new R4D research areas.

Job Responsibilities

Research Manager

  • Overall responsibility for project execution: design, team management, and deliverables.
  • Project Planning & Management:
    Multidimensional analysis for high-quality research themes; managing schedules and resources with a focus on technological trends and business impact.
  • Team Development & Management:
    Research guidance for team members, with goals including top conference publications and overall capability enhancement.
  • Stakeholder Engagement:
    Building relationships and smooth communication with collaborators and business units; presentations and project advocacy.

Research Director

  • Strategic Leadership:
    Formulating research strategies and integrating them with the company’s business goals, mid-/long-term planning of infrastructure and tools.
  • Budget & Organization Management:
    Overall budget oversight and optimization of hiring and staffing for growth and specialization.
  • Executive Relationship Building:
    Managing and building trust in large-scale or important projects with executives and key stakeholders.
  • Innovation & Trend Adoption:
    Guiding the organization by introducing industry-leading technologies and trends to enhance competitiveness.

Unique Challenges

  • Contribute directly to the mission of "circulating all forms of value and expanding everyone's potential" via cutting-edge research and large-scale service/social implementation opportunities.
  • Enjoy an environment combining the autonomy of an independent research body with immediate access to real data and technological input from top-tier products used by 20 million+ users monthly.
  • Collaborate with both internal product teams and external academic researchers on mid- and long-term projects.

Requirements

Required Experience & Skills

  • Research Track Record and Expertise:
    Extensive research achievements and top-level expertise in AI, computer science, or related fields.
  • Management & Strategy Experience in R&D:
    Hands-on experience in research or development project planning, progress/resource management, vision creation, budget and staffing oversight (3+ years), and team management.
  • Communication & Negotiation:
    Ability to build cooperative relationships with internal (e.g., product teams) and external stakeholders (universities, research institutions).
  • Advanced Stakeholder Management:
    Strong negotiation and consensus-building skills with executives, leading alliances with top universities and government agencies.
  • Publications/Conference Presentation:
    Track record of acceptance at peer-reviewed top international conferences and other committee/organizational activities.
    • PhD degree required (or equivalent research ability/achievements).
  • Global Leadership:
    Leadership of multinational/diverse research teams with strong Japanese and English skills (business level or higher).

Preferred Experience & Skills

  • Oversight of National Projects:
    Leadership or proposal creation for large government-led R&D projects (e.g., GENIAC, NEDO, JST).
  • Business Transformation via Technology:
    Successful new business launches or major competitiveness improvements for large products through advanced tech.
  • Academic Network:
    Strong connections at major Japanese/global universities/research organizations and active academic society involvement.

Language Requirements

  • Japanese: Independent (CEFR - B2)
  • English: Proficient (CEFR - C1)

Selection Process

  1. Document Screening:
    • Submit:
      • Resume
      • CV (include key research achievements)
      • Research proposal (describe how your work can contribute to the mission)
  2. Technical Assignment:
    • May involve HackerRank/Github (for engineers) or role-specific assessments.
  3. Interviews:
    • Multiple rounds depending on position.
  4. References:
    • Online format, requested around final stages.
  5. Offer:
    • Based on total evaluation including references.

Equal Opportunity Statement

We are committed to a workplace where individual potential is not determined by background, and everyone can contribute freely. We seek to eliminate age, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, ability, and any other forms of discrimination to support inclusive hiring. All applicants are encouraged to review our inclusion, diversity, and privacy policies.

Further Information

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