A well-established Japanese-owned company with a lean European organisation is confidentially recruiting a Managing Director as part of a planned leadership succession. The business aims to complete the handover by the end of 2026, although finding the right long-term successor is the priority.
You will lead a team of around 15 employees across technical, finance, logistics and support functions, while acting as the key bridge between the European operation and headquarters in Japan. The role contributes actively to strategy, but formal final approval sits with Japan HQ, making stakeholder alignment and two-way communication central to success.
The ideal candidate should have 5+ years of European management experience and experience leading a team of around 15 people or a similarly sized organisation. Previous Managing Director experience and Japanese language skills are not essential, provided you can work effectively within traditional Japanese business practices and bridge cultural and organisational differences.
(Ref: HN47564 - Please include this when making any enquiries.)

Main Responsibilities:
• Take overall responsibility for the long-term health, effectiveness, sustainability and day-to-day performance of the European organisation
• Develop strategic proposals and business direction in collaboration with local stakeholders and align recommendations with headquarters in Japan for formal approval
• Translate requests and expectations from Japan HQ into practical actions for the European team, while communicating European perspectives, challenges and proposals back to headquarters clearly and constructively
• Lead a lean multidisciplinary team of around 16 employees, ensuring clear priorities, effective processes, financial discipline and operational continuity
• Maintain a visible, approachable and hands-on leadership style, including an open-door approach and willingness to support practical day-to-day needs within a small organisation
• Foster a culture of ownership, professionalism and collaboration while making effective use of the expertise and ideas within the local team
• Represent the European organisation in international coordination activities and support relevant customer, partner, exhibition and headquarters travel as required

Ideal Candidate:
• Bachelor's degree or higher
• 5+ years of management experience in Europe, ideally including responsibility for a team of around 15 people or a similarly sized multidisciplinary organisation
• Previous Managing Director experience is not required, but you should have demonstrated strategic, operational and people leadership responsibility
• Business level of fluency in English; Japanese language skills are advantageous but not essential
• Strong understanding of or genuine affinity for Japanese business culture, including consensus-building, stakeholder consultation, respect for hierarchy and longer decision-making cycles
• Able to bridge the cultural and organisational gap between a traditional Japanese headquarters and a European team, translating priorities and perspectives effectively in both directions
• Commercially and financially aware with strong technical affinity, combined with an approachable, hands-on and open-door leadership style suited to a small international organisation

Condition:
• Location: Niew-Vennep
• Working Style: primarily office-based, normally 5 days per week, with hybrid or flexible working possible subject to internal alignment
• Salary: €127,000–€138,000 per annum depending on experience, plus 8% holiday allowance; no bonus scheme
• Job Type: permanent contract, full-time
• Working Hours: 40 hours per week
• Start: ideally by the end of 2026 for handover, although timing is flexible for the right candidate
• Benefits: mobility budget of approximately €900 per month excluding VAT, pension scheme with 60% employer and 40% employee contributions, 25 days annual leave, laptop, company phone

* All applicants for the Managing Director must have the right to work in the country as the Company is NOT able to offer visa support.
* We regret that we cannot accept applications from Working holiday, Graduate or Student visa holders.

If your application is successful, you will be contacted within two business days. We regret that due to the high volume of applications we receive we cannot provide feedback on individual CVs.