Job description
Do you want to contribute to global projects and be in the centre of innovation? Join CIC in Tokyo to help strengthen Japan’s role in the global innovation ecosystem, working alongside international and local leaders.
ABOUT CIC
CIC is a rapidly growing innovation ecosystem and competitiveness advisory firm with 40 employees and expanding. With two main divisions—Global Advisory and Asia Advisory—we provide strategic guidance to governments, corporations, and organizations seeking to enhance their innovation capabilities and global competitiveness. As we continue to scale, we are looking for a highly strategic and execution-focused Chief of Staff to support our Chief Innovation Officer (CINO) in driving impactful initiatives.
ABOUT CIC TOKYO
CIC Tokyo is our first site located in Asia. Opened in October 2020 in one of the business districts of Minato-ku, CIC Tokyo is a one-of-a-kind innovation-oriented center in Japan with a total area of about 6,000 square meters on the 15th and 16th floors of the Toranomon Hills Business Tower. We provide a vast workspace with the capacity to house more than 250 companies. CIC Tokyo is centered on companies that aim to grow, and communities and services that are looking to accelerate their business growth and global expansion. Because of its influence in startup and innovation scenery, CIC Tokyo has frequent visits of VIPs such as Prime Minister Kishida, Governor Koike, and other business leaders in Japan. It is now recognized as a prestigious center of new businesses and startups by business leaders throughout the country.
Learn more about us here.
ABOUT THE ROLE
CIC is a rapidly growing innovation ecosystem and competitiveness advisory firm with 40 employees and expanding. With two main divisions—Global Advisory and Asia Advisory—we provide strategic guidance to governments, corporations, and organizations seeking to enhance their innovation capabilities and global competitiveness. As we continue to scale, we are looking for a highly strategic and execution-focused Chief of Staff to support our Chief Innovation Officer (CINO) in driving impactful initiatives.
YOUR DAY-TO-DAY WORK
The Chief of Staff will act as a strategic partner and right-hand to the Chief Innovation Officer. They will ensure smooth execution of priorities, facilitate efficient cross-functional coordination, and align initiatives with organizational goals. This role requires a highly organized, analytical, and proactive leader who thrives in a dynamic environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Planning & Execution
· Support the CINO in overseeing and tracking the financial performance and KPIs of each advisory team within the Global and Asia divisions.
· Monitor and analyze financial reports, budgets, and operational metrics to provide strategic insights and drive data-informed decision-making.
· Work closely with the IES leadership team to track progress on strategic initiatives and identify areas for improvement.
Board & Executive Communications
· Prepare board presentations, ensuring accurate data collection and clear articulation of key insights.
· Manage the process of gathering and consolidating information from various departments to create comprehensive reports for senior stakeholders.
· Serve as a key contact for board-related matters and executive-level communications.
Global Strategy & Innovation Initiatives
· Support the CINO in shaping and executing the firm’s global innovation strategy, ensuring alignment with emerging trends and industry best practices.
· Conduct research to identify key global events, conferences, and forums for strategic exposure and knowledge diffusion.
· Facilitate participation in high-impact innovation summits, securing speaking engagements and thought leadership opportunities for the firm.
Communications & Thought Leadership
· Create content and presentations for speaking engagements and client engagement as needed.
· Assist in crafting and implementing the firm’s innovation communication and diffusion strategy.
· Work with marketing and external partners to amplify the firm’s presence through publications, articles, and media engagements.
· Support content development for thought leadership initiatives, ensuring consistency and strategic alignment.
Cross-functional Coordination & Liaison
· Act as a bridge between the CINO and corporate services teams, including finance, accounting, marketing, HR, and operations. May oversee a small team or project-based contributors depending on initiative scope.
· Streamline internal communication, ensuring that strategic priorities and organizational objectives are effectively conveyed.
· Oversee special projects, process improvements, and internal initiatives that support operational efficiency and organizational growth.
ABOUT YOU
· 10+ years of progressive experience in strategy, operations, or advisory, ideally with exposure to both Japanese and global business environments
· Strong financial acumen and experience in performance tracking and business analytics.
· Proven ability to manage executive-level communication and high-impact presentations.
· Experience in global strategy, innovation ecosystems, and business development is highly desirable.
· Exceptional organizational, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
· Strong written and verbal communication abilities, with experience in thought leadership and public relations preferred.
· Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
OUR OFFER
· Opportunity to work at the forefront of innovation and global competitiveness.
· Direct exposure to executive decision-making and strategic initiatives.
· A dynamic, mission-driven team committed to making a global impact.
· Competitive compensation, benefits, and professional growth opportunities.
This role is based at CIC’s Tokyo office with a hybrid work model (3 days in-office, 2 days remote). Fluency in Japanese and strong English communication skills are required.
If you are a strategic thinker with a passion for innovation and operational excellence, we invite you to apply for this exciting role.
CIC welcomes all candidates regardless of race, color, ancestry, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status or disability. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
