We are currently supporting a search for a Director of Planning based in Tokyo. This critical leadership role sits within the advanced materials and industrial manufacturing industry. You will build, standardize, and lead a modernized planning capability across multiple production sites in Japan, driving the transition from localized planning to a unified regional model.

About the Role

Operating as a senior planning leader within the advanced materials and industrial manufacturing industry , you will drive both operational excellence and a major digital and structural transformation. This role is responsible for establishing standardized supply, production, and inventory planning processes across five domestic plants while aligning them with global frameworks. Initially focused on the Japan market, your mandate is expected to expand over time to oversee additional manufacturing facilities across the broader Asia region.

Key Responsibilities

Planning Organization Development & Transformation

• Design and implement a standardized, matrixed planning organization across multiple domestic manufacturing plants.
• Assess existing talent capabilities, clarify roles, and establish clear career progression, succession planning, and knowledge-transfer frameworks.
• Build team capabilities to reduce single-point dependencies and support resilient, day-to-day supply chain operations.

Systems & Process Modernization

• Serve as the regional champion for enterprise ERP and advanced planning system implementations (specifically SAP S/4HANA and IBP).
• Establish robust planning master data governance to optimize material requirements planning (MRP) and capacity visibility.
• Collaborate closely with global IT and operations teams to align local business requirements with corporate system standards.

SiOP & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Lead the regional supply-side Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SiOP) process to align local capacity with global demand.
• Partner with manufacturing, commercial, product management, and finance leadership to improve order-promising accuracy and inventory health.
• Identify and mitigate labor, machine, and material constraints to improve customer on-time delivery and financial outcomes.

Requirements

• Experience: 10 to 15 years of progressive experience in production, supply, capacity, or manufacturing planning, including a proven track record of leading teams and managing managers.
• Industry Background: Strong background within the advanced materials, ceramics, electronics, automotive, or related industrial manufacturing sectors.
• System Expertise: Proven experience working within a highly mature planning environment utilizing enterprise ERP systems (SAP S/4HANA or SAP IBP experience is highly preferred).
• Languages: Native or business-fluent Japanese, alongside business-fluent English.
• Soft Skills: Exceptional change leadership and stakeholder management skills; the ability to influence matrixed teams without formal reporting authority through periods of organizational ambiguity.

Why Apply

• Transformational Impact: The unique opportunity to architect and build a modern, scalable regional planning organization from the ground up.
• Regional Scope: A clear, defined path to expand your leadership scope beyond Japan to additional plants across Asia.
• High-Level Visibility: Direct visibility and alignment with global executive leadership while maintaining a strong pulse on local plant operations.
• Strategic Autonomy: True ownership over regional supply strategies, inventory optimization, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Professional Growth: Ideal career step for a senior supply chain leader looking to blend hands-on operational leadership with large-scale corporate transformation.