Head of Business Operations - Safety and Quality

TEAM

Woven by Toyota is building a new mobility society that integrates Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs), mobility services, and smart cities.
To realize this vision, it is essential to ensure Safety, Security, and Quality across all products and services holistically and in an integrated manner.
The Safety & Quality Line of Business (LoB) leads the establishment and continuous improvement of governance frameworks for safety, security, and quality across Woven by Toyota’s businesses and technology development activities. We are responsible for building the foundation of trust for customers, society, and partners while enabling innovation and sustainable business growth.
The Business Operations Head serves as the strategic arm of the Head of Safety & Quality, driving organizational strategy, governance, operational excellence, and transformation initiatives across the LoB.
This team also plays a unique role in bridging Woven by Toyota’s global engineering culture with Toyota’s long-standing customer-first approach to safety and quality. We strive to leverage the strengths of both perspectives to build a world-class culture that supports innovation without compromising trust.
As a strategic partner to the Head of Safety & Quality, this role connects executives and practitioners, global and Japanese stakeholders, and strategy and execution to accelerate the growth and transformation of the Safety & Quality organization.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

A strategic thinker who can connect executive priorities with operational realities
Able to break down complex challenges into actionable plans and measurable outcomes
Skilled at influencing and aligning diverse stakeholders across functions and regions
Comfortable providing constructive challenge when needed to improve decisions and outcomes
Respectful of both Japanese and global perspectives and capable of leveraging the strengths of each
Passionate about safety, security, and quality as drivers of customer trust and business success
Inspired by Woven by Toyota’s mission and motivated to help shape the future of mobility and society

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy & Organizational Management
Support the development and execution of the Safety & Quality LoB’s mid- and long-term strategy
Facilitate annual planning, organizational objectives, and KPI management
Prepare and coordinate executive reviews, LoB reviews, and Board-level communications
Serve as a trusted advisor to the Head of Safety & Quality on strategic and operational matters
Identify organizational challenges and drive improvement initiatives across the LoB


Governance & Risk Management
Develop and continuously improve governance frameworks covering Safety, Security, and Quality
Drive risk identification, monitoring, escalation, and reporting processes
Partner with first-line and second-line organizations to strengthen risk management practices
Track and facilitate remediation activities resulting from audits and assessments
Provide executive-level reporting and insights on key risks and organizational health


Transformation & Continuous Improvement
Lead cross-functional strategic initiatives and transformation programs
Drive process standardization, operational excellence, and organizational effectiveness
Foster a strong culture of safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement
Promote the adoption of AI and digital technologies to improve organizational performance
Strengthen alignment and collaboration across global teams and functions


Stakeholder Engagement
Partner closely with executives, including CTOs, VPs, and LoB leaders
Collaborate with engineering, product, legal, procurement, compliance, and governance functions
Facilitate communication and coordination across Japan and global locations
Drive alignment and consensus-building on complex and high-impact topics


Bridging Global and Japanese Perspectives
Help scale Toyota’s customer-first approach to safety, quality, and trust across a global organization
Represent Japanese market, customer, and cultural perspectives in global decision-making
Foster mutual understanding and collaboration across diverse cultural and organizational backgrounds
Balance global standards with local market expectations and customer needs
Act as a cultural translator, helping stakeholders navigate differences in communication styles, decision-making processes, and organizational values

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience
10+ years of experience in software development, quality assurance, functional safety, cybersecurity, risk management, corporate strategy, business operations, or related fields
Experience leading cross organizational projects or transformation projects
Experience preparing executive-level communications, presentations, and decision-making materials
Demonstrated ability to build alignment and drive collaboration across diverse cultural and organizational contexts (Japanese and global environments)
Business-level fluency in both Japanese and English, including written and verbal communication
Deep understanding of Japanese business culture, quality culture, and customer-centric values. Ability to articulate Japanese perspectives to global leadership while effectively communicating global viewpoints back to Japanese stakeholders

NICE TO HAVES

Experience in the automotive, mobility, or technology industries
Experience in Safety, Quality, Cybersecurity, Compliance, or related governance functions
Knowledge of industry standards such as ASPICE, ISO 26262, ISO/SAE 21434, and IATF 16949
Experience with Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), internal controls, audit, or compliance programs
Previous experience as a Chief of Staff, Strategy Lead, Business Operations Leader, or PMO Leader
Experience leading global teams or operating within multinational organizations
Experience supporting large-scale organizational transformations or post-merger integrations
Experience driving AI adoption, digital transformation, or operational excellence initiatives
MBA or other advanced degree