Country Manager - Japan

About Cove: Cove is the region's leading tech flexible living platform making it easier, faster and more flexible to rent quality ready-to-move-in homes at honest prices. Our rooms and private studios are hand-picked in top city locations such as Singapore and Jakarta. They are thoughtfully furnished with utilities and services included. Our bookings process is digital and hassle free. We are backed by strong global investors and have raised over US$15M from a stellar line up of venture capital and strategic investors. The company aims to grow fast and become the #1 flexible living platform in Asia Pacific. Check us out at www.cove.sg

Job Title: Country Manager - Japan

Job Type: Full-time

Start Date: ASAP

Reports To: Guillaume Castagne, Co-founder and CEO

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Role Purpose: to shape and execute our market entry and growth strategies in Japan. Your role will encompass a broad spectrum of responsibilities, including overseeing supply acquisition, sales, marketing, operations and finance . You will lead and eventually manage a team of professionals, driving Cove's mission in the Japanese market.

Core Responsibilities:

• Market Entry & Growth:
  • Develop and execute a comprehensive market entry and expansion strategy for Japan.
  • Identify opportunities and challenges unique to the Japanese flexible living market and formulate effective solutions.
  • Monitor market trends, competition, and customer preferences to drive growth.
  • Hire core team for market entry (supply, sales, design, finance).

• Supply acquisition:
  • Develop a strategy to grow inventory of flexible living rooms in Japan through asset light model and asset acquisition via fund partners.
  • Pitch landlords, oversee negotiation and close real estate deals.
  • Oversee underwriting of local deals (both asset light and acquisitions).

• Sales & Marketing:
  • Develop Cove brand awareness in the Japanese market.
  • Oversee the sales and local marketing efforts, driving customer acquisition, retention, and brand awareness.
  • Develop and implement targeted marketing campaigns tailored to the Japanese market.
  • Build and manage strategic partnerships and collaborations to drive sales and occupancy rates.

• Operations:
  • Oversee Cove's end-to-end operations in Japan incl. property management, tenant management, accounting, cash flow management, etc.
  • Oversee the P&L of the market, and ensure a very tight control of cash flow.
  • Drive best-in-class customer experience across all Cove properties.

• Localization:
  • Adapt Cove's offerings and branding to the Japanese market, considering cultural, regulatory, and regional factors.
  • Ensure a localized customer service that resonates with the local audience.

Experience and Qualifications Required:

Essential

• Minimum 5 years' professional experience
• Fluent in both Japanese and English on a professional level
• Several years' work experience in highly commercial business leadership role in a high-growth business
• Strong understanding of Japanese market and culture

• Minimum bachelor's degree in business or related field
• Exceptional interpersonal and negotiation skills

Preferred

• Experience in the real estate or hospitality industry
• Experience in building a business from scratch
• Worked in start-up environment
• MBA

Core Skills/Competencies:

• Excellent project management
• Highly analytical with strong excel skills
• Attention to detail
• Ability to be flexible deal with ambiguity
• Planning and organization
• Commercial business acumen
• Good presenter with strong powerpoint skills

What's in it for You:

Working for Cove gives you the opportunity to join an exciting young start-up. There will be lots to learn as you'll be working directly with the two co-founders Luca and Guillaume and get to experience first hand what it takes to get a new high-growth business off the ground. In your role, you'll have the opportunity to hit the ground running and take ownership from day one. We will always welcome your inputs and ideas and actively encourage your development. The team is fast paced, hard-working and expects results but we also highly value our employee engagement and are committed to a human and empathetic environment with plenty of fun thrown in.