Country Manager Japan – all genders welcome!

Vicegolf; München; On-site; EUR 68,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% remote in Japan

Performance bonus

Ownership from day one

Flexible working hours

Job summary

Vice Golf is seeking a founding Country Manager Japan to build Vice Golf Japan from the ground up, working 100% remotely within Japan and reporting to our COO. You will lead key negotiations with partners and set up the local presence, including channels and retail relationships.

You should bring 10+ years in the Japanese golf industry or premium sporting goods, with a strong commercial track record and established relationships with major retailers, e-commerce platforms or specialty shops in

Qualifications

• Native Japanese speaker with fluent business English.
• 10+ years in the Japanese golf industry or premium sporting goods, with a strong commercial track record.
• Established relationships with major golf retailers, e-commerce platforms or specialty retail in Japan.
• Experience working for a foreign brand in Japan, ideally during market entry or growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead negotiations with key partners including GDO and major golf retailers.
• Open and grow new channels such as pro shops, driving ranges, and indoor studios from 2028.
• Build the local foundation with Munich team: Japanese entity, import and customs set-up, 3PL and warehouse with service and repair, customer care and e-commerce.
• Hire and lead the Japan team, working closely with our Tokyo-based brand and community lead.
• Own the Japan P&L, planning and forecasting, and report to our COO.
• Protect the brand: price integrity, selective distribution and a Japanese standard of service.

Skills

Fluent Japanese

Business English

Job description

About the Job

Join us in reshaping the future of golf! With a team of over 85 passionate people, we're dedicated to our mission in revolutionizing the golf industry one swing at a time. In 2027, we are entering Japan deliberately: with Golf Digest Online, a small circle of culture-led select stores, independent fitters and our own booth at the Japan Golf Fair. Our international team, based in Munich and now expanding into Japan, is seeking a founding Country Manager Japan to turn this market entry into a Japanese business. As our first senior hire in Japan, you will build Vice Golf Japan from the ground up, working 100% remotely within Japan and reporting directly to our COO.
Ready to embrace your Vice?

Skip the copy paste. Show us your swing

Your CV tells us what you’ve done. We want to understand why those experiences make you the right person for this role. So make your application your own: tailor your CV, tell us about your most relevant achievement, or surprise us with a short presentation. This isn’t a design contest – we’re interested in how you think, what you bring to the table, and what you want to achieve at Vice. We welcome applications in English or Japanese.

Your Fairway

• Own the Japanese market commercially: lead the key negotiations and manage our sales partners day to day, including GDO, major golf retail groups and premium specialty retail.
• Open and grow new channels from 2028, especially pro shops, driving ranges and indoor golf studios.
• Build the local foundation together with our Munich team: Japanese entity, import and customs set-up, 3PL and warehouse with service and repair, customer care and e-commerce.
• Hire and lead the Japan team, working closely with our Tokyo-based brand and community lead.
• Own the Japan P&L, planning and forecasting, and report to our COO.
• Protect the brand: price integrity, selective distribution and a Japanese standard of service.

Your Scorecard

• You are a native Japanese speaker with fluent business English.
• You bring 10+ years in the Japanese golf industry or premium sporting goods, with a strong commercial track record.
• You have established relationships with major golf retailers, e-commerce platforms or specialty retail in Japan.
• You have worked for a foreign brand in Japan, ideally during a market entry or growth phase.
• You have hands‑on build experience: you have set up structures, partners or teams before and are comfortable without a large organisation around you.
• You have a feel for design-led brands and the new generation of Japanese golfers.

Our Clubhouse

• We embrace diversity and innovation. Our motley team comes from all backgrounds and perspectives, united by fresh and bold ideas.
• Build something from scratch. Shape Vice Golf Japan as its first leader, with real ownership from day one and direct access to management.
• A brand with momentum. Vice Golf already has fans in Japan and a clear, investor-backed growth plan for the market.
• Your performance pays off. A competitive base salary plus a significant performance bonus linked to your results in Japan.
• Make your work hours fit your life. You work 100% remotely within Japan with flexible working hours.
• A team behind you. Our international team in Munich supports you on product, brand, supply chain and finance.
• Grow with us. Regular performance feedback and a close, direct exchange with our management team.