Research Program Manager - Mercari

Salary not provided

Japanese only

English: IntermediateJapanese: Fluent

Work Responsibilities

Responsible for various project management tasks, such as driving business collaboration projects that connect R4D’s research with Mercari Group’s services, as well as managing research projects with external organizations.
In response to issues raised by business divisions and company leadership, work with researchers to select core technology development themes and provide support from a research perspective.
Lead efforts to explore and propose potential business applications for research findings.
Coordinate and drive collaboration with internal stakeholders (researchers, business division representatives, etc.) to implement research into actual business operations.

As of July 2026, R4D’s main external collaboration projects:

Value Exchange Engineering (VXE): https://www.riise.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en
Mercari R4D Research Alliance Laboratory: https://elsi.osaka-u.ac.jp/mercari/english/

Plan and operate programs aimed at increasing research related to Mercari and Mercari’s mission throughout society.
Work with the Outreach Team to plan and operate initiatives to expand the R4D community to accelerate co-innovation.

Work to ensure smooth operation of the research organization and to encourage research activities.
Oversee whether tasks such as contract execution and the discipline and guidelines for advancing research are being properly promoted and managed.
Direct operations that require more expertise, and review and improve operations.

Contribute to Mercari’s mission to circulate all forms of value to unleash the potential in all people by being involved in cutting-edge research.
Unique position within the company that offers the challenging experience of implementing research outcomes in the real world.
Active collaboration with university researchers and conducting research not bound by conventional frameworks.
Opportunity to independently think through, propose, and execute what is necessary to maximize the organization’s output.
Access technical input from Mercari’s products used by as many as 20 million users a month.

Shared belief in the mission and values of Mercari Group and its various companies
メルカリグループおよび各カンパニーのミッションとバリューに共感していただける方
Shared belief in and sense of excitement regarding Mercari R4D’s mission statement
R4Dのミッション・ステートメントに共感しワクワクを感じる方
Ability to enjoy building an organization from the ground up and creating networks with people from diverse backgrounds both inside and outside the company
自ら組織をつくっていくことや、社内外にて多様なバックグラウンドを持つ方とのネットワーク構築にやりがいを持てる方
Experience leading projects spanning multiple organizations, both internal and external, and persistently seeing them through to completion while engaging stakeholders with diverse values
社内外の複数の組織にまたがるプロジェクトをリードし、多様な価値観をもつ関係者を巻き込みながら、粘り強く成し遂げた実績

Experience in R&D or R&D support at a university, company, public institution, etc.
大学、企業、公的機関等において研究開発、またはその支援の経験
Experience managing R&D projects from start to finish
研究開発プロジェクトの開始から終了までの一貫したマネジメント経験
Experience in corporate planning, business development, etc.
経営企画、事業開発等の経験

Japanese: Independent (CEFR - C1) / 日本語：Independent (CEFR - C2)
English: Independent (CEFR - B1) or Independent (CEFR - B2) preferred / 英語：Independent (CEFR - B1)もしくはIndependent (CEFR - B2) 歓迎

For details about CEFR, see here.