Project Manager - Inventor Activation, Business Planning and Operations for Inventor Garage

TEAM

Toyota is redefining what it means to move. We're challenging the current state of mobility by enhancing the movement of people, goods, information and energy. Centered around three core concepts - A Living Laboratory™, Human-Centered, and Ever Evolving City™ - Woven City serves as a test course for mobility to fulfill our purpose of well-being for all.

We do this by bringing together a diverse community of people with a shared passion for the future of mobility to co-create, develop and refine innovative products and services. This cross-section of social infrastructure, mobility, and people provides a unique opportunity for inventors, residents and visitors to interact seamlessly with new technologies throughout daily life in an environment that emulates a real city.

The Inventor Activation team sits within Woven City Management's Inventor Acceleration and Services organization. Our mission is not simply to gather people, but to work with startups, large enterprises, government agencies, and educational institutions to bring Inventors into Woven City, creating the seeds of "Kakezan" — connections that give rise to new demonstrations and inventions. This role focuses on the execution side of that mission, with particular emphasis on the smooth operation of facilities and assets at Inventor Garage, as well as nurturing the community that generates Kakezan among Inventors themselves.

For more information about Woven City, please visit: https://www.woven-city.global/ 

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

We're looking for someone who constantly asks "what do inventors actually need" and can translate that into vibrant facility operations and community programs — someone with real execution power. You're comfortable being the face of Inventor Garage on the ground every day, and you build trust quickly with a wide range of people, from R&D leads at inventor companies to Weavers living in Woven City. You're the type of person who sweats the operational details that keep programs running smoothly week after week and month after month.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the day-to-day point of contact for inventors and startups using Inventor Garage, helping them get set up, resolving operational issues, and providing high-quality on-site demonstration opportunities
• Promote utilization of Inventor Garage, e-Palette, and other Woven City assets, tracking usage and surfacing issues
• Plan and run recurring community programs at Inventor Garage, such as Meetup events and tours, to keep a steady flow of inventors and potential inventors engaging with the space
• Represent Woven City at external partner events and bring new inventors into the Woven City ecosystem through on-site engagement
• Manage logistics, vendor coordination, and budget tracking for community events and inventor programs

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 5+ years of experience in project management involving diverse stakeholders, event operations, or partnership/program management
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience working directly with large enterprises, small and medium-sized businesses, startups, government agencies, and educational institutions
• Demonstrated track record of planning and running recurring events or programs that build and sustain an active community
• Business-level Japanese and English (written and spoken), sufficient to run programs and represent Woven City to both
• Japanese and international audiences
• Hands-on, detail-oriented approach to logistics, vendor coordination, and budget tracking
• Willingness to be on-site at Woven City (Susono, Shizuoka) on a regular basis (3+ days per week)

NICE TO HAVES

• Experience in Japan's startup ecosystem (e.g., creating open innovation environments in collaboration with government bodies, accelerators, VCs, or corporate innovation programs)
• A genuine interest in supporting invention activities that create the "everyday norms of the future"
• Experience designing or facilitating workshops, hackathons, or pitch events

Location / Work Style

• Work Location: Woven City
• Work Style: Hybrid work (a combination of office-based and remote work)
• Work on Saturdays and Sundays required (shift-based)