Research Program Manager, Research Liaison

About Woven by Toyota
Woven by Toyota is enabling Toyota’s once-in-a-century transformation into a mobility company. Inspired by a legacy of innovating for the benefit of others, our mission is to challenge the current state of mobility through human-centric innovation — expanding what “mobility” means and how it serves society.

Our work centers on four pillars: AD/ADAS, our autonomous driving and advanced driver assist technologies; Arene, our software development platform for software-defined vehicles; Woven City, a test course for mobility; and Cloud & AI, the digital infrastructure powering our collaborative foundation. Business-critical functions empower these teams to execute, and together, we’re working toward one bold goal: a world with zero accidents and enhanced well-being for all.

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TEAM
The Research Liaison team at Woven by Toyota is on a mission to accelerate innovation across the global Toyota Group. We connect diverse R&D teams to foster collaborations and transition research into advanced development. Our guiding principle is "There are no bad results," as we believe that sharing all outcomes and lessons learned is vital to our collective success.

Our key initiatives include:

・Internal research conferences and events that bring together global researchers, stakeholders, and peers to share their latest breakthroughs
・A central online platform for sharing R&D discoveries across all Toyota Group companies
・The development of new AI tools to advance product development

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
You are a dynamic Program Manager with exceptional communication skills to join our team. You are a natural connector, adept at steering diverse stakeholders and managing large-scale events. You have an ability to guide research projects from concept to development and are passionate about creating environments where collaboration can thrive. As a key member of our team, you will play a pivotal role in strengthening the bonds between research and development groups across Global Toyota.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Reporting to the head of Research LIason, build and maintain strong relationships and open communication channels between R&D teams throughout the Toyota Group
• Lead the planning and execution of internal research conferences and events, host the events, including leading panel discussions and giving speeches
• Manage and enhance our online research-sharing platform, ensuring it remains current, accessible, and valuable for all users
• Plan and oversee collaborative research projects with external partners, including Toyota Group companies and universities, ensuring projects are completed on schedule
• Participate in the internal review process for papers submitted to external academic conferences and journals
• Travel domestically and internationally for partner meetings and events, and come to the office 3x per week per our hybrid work policy

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field
• 5+ years of experience in software development or machine learning
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with both internal and external R&D partners, including at academic or industry conferences as presenter
• Business-level proficiency in both written and spoken English and Japanese

NICE TO HAVES:
• Hands-on experience, particularly in machine learning, generative AI or automotive R&D
• Experience organizing academic or large-scale corporate conferences
• Familiarity with agile software development methodologies

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Important Points
・All interviews will be arranged via Google Meet, unless otherwise stated.
・The same job descriptions are available in both English and Japanese; therefore, we kindly ask that you apply to only one version.
・We kindly request that you submit your resume in English, if possible. However, Japanese resumes are also acceptable. Please note that, depending on the English proficiency requirements of the role, we may request an English version of your resume later in the process.

WHAT WE OFFER
・Competitive Salary - Based on experience
・Work Hours - Flexible working time
・Paid Holiday - 20 days per year (prorated)
・Sick Leave - 6 days per year (prorated)
・Holiday - Sat & Sun, Japanese National Holidays, and other days defined by our company
・Japanese Social Insurance - Health Insurance, Pension, Workers’ Comp, and Unemployment Insurance, Long-term care insurance
・Housing Allowance
・Retirement Benefits
・Rental Cars Support
・In-house Training Program (software study/language study)

Our Commitment
・We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity.
・Any information we receive from you will be used only in the hiring and onboarding process. Please see our privacy notice for more details.