Careers
Join a team that is dedicated to the preservation and advancement of traditional craft culture in Japan.
About POJ Studio
POJ (Pieces of Japan) Studio is an online platform built to bridge the gap between Japanese artisans and those consumers with a yearning for the hand-crafted homewares they produce. POJ Studio collaborates closely with craftspeople throughout Japan, creating an online collection of beautifully-designed lifestyle goods, offered alongside the stories of their creators.
POJ Studio fosters a socially-responsible attitude towards the way we live by providing modern lifestyle products that last, are repairable and are created from sustainable materials in a way that encourages the revival of dying Japanese craft traditions. We do this by building an ecosystem that offers the craftspeople with whom we work a point of sale for their goods, whilst celebrating stories of their heritage and sustainability in the form of videos, interviews and photo essays that help to highlight the true dedication and skill of each artisan. This not only offers the consumer a deeper connection to POJ Studio products, but also an explanation into the quality and history that goes into creating each item that they carefully curate and produce.
Retail & Operations Coordinator
POJ Studio is hiring a full-time Retail & Operations Coordinator in San Francisco!
As POJ Studio continues to grow in the U.S., we are looking for a highly organized and proactive Retail & Operations Coordinator to support our U.S. operations.
This hybrid role combines retail and customer experience with day-to-day operations, including inventory, logistics, workshops, events, and sales support. The coordinator will also serve as a key liaison between our U.S. and Japan teams to ensure operational priorities are clearly communicated and executed.
The ideal candidate is a strong communicator and problem solver who takes ownership, manages multiple priorities, and is comfortable wearing multiple hats in a growing company.
Schedule: Full-time, non-exempt; 5 days per week, including weekends
Location: San Francisco, CA
Requirements
Successful candidates should:
- Have experience in operations, retail, logistics, inventory planning and management, e-commerce, or a related field
- Be proficient with Shopify, POS systems, data, spreadsheets, inventory systems, and other operational tools
- Strong customer service and communication skills, with confidence working directly with customers, retail partners, and internal teams
- Have strong problem solving and analytical skills to monitor sales performance and make data-driven suggestions
- Be highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
- Ability to work proactively and independently, prioritize tasks, and manage time effectively
- Be comfortable working in a fast-moving startup or small-business environment
- Be a team player with a positive attitude and strong work ethic
RESPONSIBILITIES
Retail & Customer Experience
- Manage day-to-day retail operations at the POJ Studio SF flagship
- Provide thoughtful, knowledgeable customer service and communicate the stories, materials, artisans, and craftsmanship behind POJ products
- Process transactions through POS and handle opening/closing procedures
- Lead visual merchandising and maintain POJ’s visual standards throughout the store
- Monitor customer feedback, product interest, and purchasing patterns and share insights with the broader team
- Support workshops, retail events, activations, and special programming
Inventory, Fulfillment & Logistics
- Manage inventory across the SF store and other relevant US sales channels
- Monitor stock levels and coordinate replenishment and inventory transfer
- Receive shipments, verify quantities, organize inventory, and maintain accurate Shopify/POS records
- Conduct inventory counts and reconcile discrepancies
- Coordinate domestic and international shipments with the US and Japan teams
- Support e-commerce fulfillment, packing, shipping, returns, and exchanges as needed
Sales & Operations
- Monitor sales performance across retail, e-commerce, workshops, and other US channels
- Prepare regular sales and inventory reports and identify trends or operational issues
- Maintain accurate operational records, spreadsheets, and documentation
- Coordinate closely with the Japan team regarding inventory, product launches, shipments, and other operational needs
- Help improve systems and processes as POJ’s US business grows
Nice to Have
- Japanese language ability
- Experience with international shipping, freight, customs, or import logistics
- Experience in retail or e-commerce platforms and operations
- Knowledge of omni-channel retail strategies and global e-commerce trends
Ready to apply? To apply for this position, send your resumé and a brief cover note to tomoka@pojstudio.com.
Cultural Storyteller & Field Experience Lead
Role Type: Contract / Long-term Freelance
Key Internal Collaborators: Onsite Operations Manager (Keihoku), Education Manager (Remote) & CEO (Kyoto)
Location: Primarily based in Keihoku, Rural Kyoto (living in or near Keihoku strongly preferred). Occasional visits to Kyoto Studio as needed.
The Opportunity
We are seeking a grounded, articulate, and bilingual Cultural Storyteller & Field Experience Lead to become an anchor presence in Keihoku.
This role is centered in the cedar forests of rural Kyoto, working directly with our Sashimono Apprentice Program. You will be an active, daily presence in the workshop, supporting teachers and international apprentices in class, sharing field trip leadership with our Onsite Operations Manager, and communicating the deep cultural narrative of the craft.
In addition to the Sashimono program, you will help develop a new initiative in Keihoku, manage relationships with our local furniture manufacturing and repair partners, and support our educational programs in Kyoto and Shigaraki.
Requirements
Key Responsibilities
1. Sashimono Classroom & Program Support
- Active Workshop Presence: Be in the workshop during active sessions (3 days a week), supporting assigned teachers, engaging with international apprentices, and ensuring smooth day-to-day classroom delivery.
- Live Interpretation: Provide context-sensitive two-way interpretation (Japanese & English) between craftspeople, teachers, and apprentices during demonstrations, technical guidance, and critiques.
2. Field Trip Leadership & Storytelling (Shared)
- Lead Select Excursions: In coordination with the Onsite Operations Manager, lead field trips.
- Narratives: Share the story of the field trip and how it connects to the broader learning and POJ philosophy with clarity and authenticity.
3. Keihoku Program Development & Partner Relations
- Co-Develop New Keihoku Program: Help research, structure, and test a new educational program currently in development in Keihoku alongside the CDO and Education Manager.
- Manufacturing: Act as a liaison with our Keihoku manufacturing partners who produce POJ furniture lines, maintaining clear communication and strong local relationships.
- Community Relations: Nurture long-term, respectful relationships with local craftspeople, and the community.
4. Educational Materials & Documentation
- Program Materials & Documentation: Under the guidance of the Education Manager, prepare and maintain apprentice resources and program documentation, including program guides, schedules, field trip information and reports, reading materials, feedback forms, certificates, and other supporting documents as needed. Coordinate with relevant team members to ensure information is accurate and up to date.
- Archive Craft Knowledge: Document woodworking techniques, vocabulary, and stories shared by teachers and visiting craftspeople to enrich POJ's ongoing teaching archive.
5. Excursion Coordination & Mentorship
- Shared Logistics: Work with the Onsite Operations Manager to schedule workshop visits, reserve transport, and organize group meals. (Note: Housing, facility maintenance, and core operations remain the Operations Manager’s responsibility).
- Enrolment: Conduct applicant interviews and assess applicants to determine program participation.
- Apprentice Mentorship: Act as an approachable, supportive cultural mentor, fostering a respectful and inclusive cohort atmosphere.
Required Profile & Qualifications
- High-Level Bilingual Fluency (Japanese & English): Confident speaking in both languages & interpreting in real time. Professional interpretation is not required, but confidence in both languages is essential.
- Keihoku Presence: Based in or willing to relocate/commute reliably to Keihoku, rural Kyoto. Living locally is strongly preferred.
- Valid Driver's License with ability to drive in Japan.
- Collaborative & Hands-On: Comfortable working directly alongside teachers, apprentices, and makers in an active workshop setting.
- Highly reliable & organized: Comfortable managing schedules and logistics
- People-centered: Calm, warm, and confident with international participants
- Adaptable: Able to respond gracefully to unexpected changes
- Appreciation for Craft: Sincere interest in traditional crafts.
- Professional presence: You represent POJ onsite—clarity, discretion, and care matter
Engagement, Schedule & Benefits
- Role Type: Contract Full time.
- Work Rhythm:
- Primarily based onsite in Keihoku during active cohort blocks (typically 3 days per week during sessions).
- One field trip per week during active cohort blocks.
- Flexible hours for program development, partner visits, and curriculum updates.
- Compensation: Commensurate with experience and scope.
- Program-related expenses covered during sessions
To Apply
Please email your CV to:
Lauren Hadler
Chief Development Officer, POJ Studio
To Apply
Please send a brief introduction (Japanese or English), relevant experience, and availability to: lauren@pojstudio.com