About us 

Tom Wood was founded in Norway in 2013 and is today internationally recognised for innovative and responsible jewellery design. With a conscious approach to materials, design, and production, our collections are carried by leading retailers worldwide.

Japan has rapidly become one of our most important markets. Following our entry with the flagship store in Aoyama (2023) and our shop-in-shop space at Dover Street Market Ginza (2024), we are continuing our growth journey with further retail expansion planned in the coming years.

We are now seeking a Head of Retail Operations Japan to oversee our retail presence and lead future growth. This role will ensure operational excellence across stores while acting as a key strategic partner for Tom Wood’s continued success in Japan.

Description of the Position

The Head of Retail Operations Japan will lead Tom Wood’s retail expansion and operations in Japan, with end-to-end responsibility for retail strategy, P&L, and team development. As the most senior retail representative in-market, this role will drive new store openings, develop local leadership, and ensure the Tom Wood brand is executed with precision and ambition across all locations.

This position also plays a key role in aligning retail execution with CRM, e-commerce, and wholesale efforts, ensuring synergy across channels. The ideal candidate combines strategic vision with hands-on retail expertise and will serve as a cultural and operational anchor for our continued growth in Japan. 

The role reports to our Retail Director. 

Main Responsibilities

     Retail expansion & operations

• Lead new store openings in Japan in close collaboration with HQ: from location scouting and lease negotiation to store build-out and launch
• Full accountability for P&L, budgets, KPI setting and tracking, and operational excellence across all Japan retail locations
• Oversee product flow and stock optimization between stores in Japan
• Secure high service standards and consistency with the brand’s global customer experience vision

     Team development & leadership

• Recruit, onboard, and develop local store and retail management teams
• Build and sustain a strong performance culture aligned with Tom Wood values
• Drive leadership development, staff engagement, and internal succession planning 

     Customer experience & brand Execution

• Ensure visual standards and in-store brand identity meet premium expectations
• Coordinate seasonal campaign rollouts and store-level activations
• Work closely with HQ on training, feedback, and local implementation of CX strategies

     Cross channel & strategic collaboration

• Support wholesale growth through operational insights and shared retail infrastructure
• Collaborate across CRM, analytics, and e-com to identify opportunities and strengthen omni-channel impact

Qualifications & experience

• Willingness to travel across Japan and Asia,  periodically to HQ
• Minimum 5+ years in retail leadership roles
• Experience in luxury/contemporary fashion, jewellery, or lifestyle
• Proven track record in team-building, store expansion, and commercial growth
• Fluent in Japanese and English; other Asian languages are a plus
• Comfortable with CRM systems, retail analytics, and KPI/goal frameworks
• Strong interpersonal and project leadership skills with a proactive, quality-focused mindset

Why join us 

• A unique opportunity to shape and lead Tom Wood’s retail presence in one of our most important markets
• A strategic role with direct impact on growth, brand positioning, and customer experience in Japan and across Asia
• A values-driven culture where innovation, collaboration, and sustainability guide everything we do
• An international environment with close collaboration across Oslo HQ and our global teams

Application deadline: October 10th.