Country Manager - Japon

MAISON POLENE

Established in 2016 by three siblings, the French maison Polène crafts a collection of leathergoods that blends minimalism and creative exploration to offer unique shapes and signatures achieved through excellent craftsmanship.

The leather, sourced exclusively from certified Italian and Spanish tanneries, is sculpted to create organic forms, folds, drapery effects, or weavings.

The manufacturing process is entrusted to our artisans in Ubrique, a city in Spain specializing in high-end leathergoods, which hosts all of Polène's production trades.

Since 2023, Polène has been expanding into a new realm of expression: jewelry. Thematic collections explore nature, from the undulations of the wind to the textures of rocks sculpted into the material.

Our documentary: “HORS CHAMP”

As Country Manager - Japan Retail, you will promote Polène in the country by furthering the company’s expansion strategy.

You will play a key role in our growth in Japan and in communicating Polène’s brand identity to the Japanese market through our in-store customers and our local partners.

You will report to the Head of Retail, based at our Paris headquarters, and you’ll work closely with the teams there (HR, Digital, Finance, etc.).

This position requires significant experience in retail, as well as knowledge of both the French and Japanese corporate cultures. Knowledge of the luxury or fashion sectors is a must.

• Understand and implement Polène’s global strategy while maintaining a Japan-centric approach

• Operationally manage multiple store openings per year

• Supervise existing stores to ensure their smooth running and excellence

• Be responsible for the construction of the local office and the development of head office teams based in Japan

• Determine the long-term growth plan in terms of market penetration, adapting the brand’s strategy, and local organizational needs (development of the retail network, KPIs, etc.)

• Serve as the main point of contact for HQ (Human Resources, Retail, Logistics, Digital, Customer Service, etc.)

• Develop and nurture relationships with key partners (department stores, payroll, recruitment, shipping companies, etc.)

• Manage and support local retail teams (store managers, sales team, etc.)

• Manage and oversee budgets for retail operations (recruitment, interior designers, project management, store openings, etc.)

• Monitor and deploy Japan policies and legal compliance (labor laws, etc.)

KEYS TO SUCCESS

• At least 5 years of experience in a similar role in the retail sector in Japan

• A keen interest the luxury sector and international market development

• A strong knowledge of French and Japanese corporate culture

• Fluent in Japanese and English

• An eye for design and attention to detail

Position based in Tokyo with frequent travel within Japan and occasional travel to the Paris headquarters