Program Lead Venture Café Fukuoka - Fukuoka, Japan in Fukuoka, Hokkaido at CIC

Are you thrilled by the sight of a well-coordinated gathering? Passionate about bringing people together for common interests? And find joy in collaborating with others to create their ideal event? If that sounds like you, we've got something special to share.

CIC and Venture Café are on the hunt for a charismatic and meticulous Program Lead Venture Cafe’ Fukuoka. This role is perfect for someone with extensive experience in orchestrating, curating, and spearheading diverse events and programs.

CIC Fukuoka combines flexible workspace and high-impact programming to serve as a physical center of gravity for the region’s innovation community, connecting Fukuoka to CIC’s global innovation ecosystem. As CIC’s second innovation campus in Japan and tenth worldwide, CIC Fukuoka occupies the 7th floor of the One Fukuoka Building (approximately 3,500 m²). The campus includes around 140 private offices, a coworking space with 40 seats, conference rooms, a kitchen café, a game room, and other shared amenities.

Venture Café Fukuoka,a partner of CIC, aims to be an innovation activator by uniting the ecosystem through its events and programs. Dedicated to fostering a community and linking innovators globally, it will host weekly programs open to the public, attracting a diverse group of participants. These regular events signify the collaborative effort between Venture Café and CIC.

Learn more about us here.

In this role, you will utilize a broad skill set encompassing planning, communication, negotiation, and time management, while effectively handling pressure. You will take charge of all aspects of CIC Fukuoka and Venture Café Fukuoka’s events, from planning and coordination to execution and evaluation.As the Program Lead VCF, you will be acting as the growth engine of Venture Café Fukuoka. It is a bridge between the Program Manager (Strategic Alignment) and the Program Coordinator (Operational Excellence), which has the core mission of"Growth & Innovation.

" Together with the team, you will convert strategic vision into high-impact community experiences. You will design and deliver brand-new, impactful programs, drive new audience acquisition, and continuously inject fresh value into our flagship Thursday Gathering (TG) and broader community. You will also utilize data insights from SNS and collaborate directly with the Director. Not only creating programs and events as Venture Cafe’ Fukuoka but also executing events within CIC Fukuoka to foster deeper ecosystem integration.

Potential responsibilities will include:

Introducing innovative ideas to enhance event quality, coordinating and delegating tasks within the team, and collaborating with technicians and industry experts to ensure seamless event experiences.Creation of new program from design to deliver innovative programs and sessions aligned with Venture Café Fukuoka’s strategic direction.

Drive new participant acquisition and expand community reach through creative experience design.

Create opportunities by data driven methodology, which include analyzing social media and digital engagement data (e.g., LinkedIn, Instagram, website traffic) to identify emerging trends, market gaps, and community needs.

Translate data insights into actionable programming strategies and new event opportunities.

Value creation to Thursday Gathering by actively participating in TGs with an R&D mindset to observe community dynamics and test new networking or experiential formats.

Brainstorm and align with the Director on-site to continuously update and elevate the value proposition of the community experience.

Strategically planing and, design, and execute high-profile events to enhance collaboration with CIC Fukuoka to bridge the venture community and drive ecosystem synergy.

Collaborate closely with the Program Manager to ensure all new initiatives align with overall strategy and resources.

Provide clear blueprints and hand off scalable, established programs to the Coordinators for operational optimization.

As a Program Lead, you play a crucial role in shaping gatherings that reflect our mission-driven goals. Your expertise in event planning and commitment to excellence are key to elevating their impact. With a passion for our mission, you are adept at organizing and executing events that align with our objectives and actively engage our community.
In this position, you bring specialized knowledge that interlocks with our mission, creating impactful and innovative experiences. Your abilities in fostering community connections, utilizing digital media, and working collaboratively are instrumental in broadening the scope and appeal of our initiatives. With an inclusive mindset, adaptability, and comfort with digital tools, you ensure our programs resonate with diverse groups and remain flexible to evolving needs.

YOU HAVE
At Least 3 years of experience in event planning, program design, community management, or marketing/branding fields.

Experience of managing event management projects from concept design to its execution, involving multiple stakeholders.

Able to analyze digital data (Social Media Insights, Google Analytics, etc.) and translate it into program design or to create strategies.

Passion or strong interest to work within the startup ecosystem, innovation, and community building.Business-level proficiency in English and Japanese (for global communication and stakeholder alignment).
Also, if you have below interest/experience it would be more than welcome
Experience in Service Design, User Experience (UX) Design, or Customer Journey mapping.

Deep understanding of or connection to the startup/innovation ecosystem in Fukuoka or globally.

Experience working in a fast-paced, multi-cultural, or global organization.

Competitive salary, adjusted to match your experience.• Permanent contract.

Commuting / Transportation allowance.

Massage session once a month.

Allocated budget for training (customized to specific requirements of the role and organization's objectives).