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