mymizu Partnerships & Impact Lead

Want to use your skills to make a positive impact? Passionate about the planet and creating positive change? Then you might be the one we’re looking for. mymizu is looking for a part-time Partnerships & Impact Lead to help us take our movement to the next level.

• Use your skills, knowledge and experience to create tangible change, and see the direct impact of your work on our community and society

• Enjoy a flexible work style, from FlexTime to working remotely overseas for part of the year - we encourage our team to work in a way that enables them to live their best lives.

• Gain unique insights into running an award-running social venture (2 x Minister of Environment Award, iF World Design Guide Social Impact Prize, Business Insider Circular Economy Award, etc)

• Work directly with our leadership team, recognised as industry leaders by the likes of Forbes, BBC and CNN.  

• Grow personally and professionally in a fast-paced, creative environment - including training and development opportunities.

• Join a diverse team with global experience that cares passionately about the work they do

• Meet and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, including global brands, startups, NPOs, schools, universities and more.

• Have fun! Meet and work with a diverse group of people, all united by a passion to change society for the better.

• We prioritise health and wellbeing - because we need to be well ourselves in order to do good.

*A note from us

We know that great people don’t always fit neatly into job descriptions. If you’re excited by mymizu/SIJ’s mission and think you could contribute - even if your experience looks a little different - please do apply. We’re open to shaping this role around the right person and exploring creative ways of working together.

• Location: Hybrid (Remote-first with occasional in-person work.
  *NB applicants must reside in Japan and have valid work authorization. Greater Tokyo Area-based preferred (for occasional in-person meetings and partner events).

• Time Commitment: 20~40 hours per week (scope of role depends on the successful candidate’s skills, experience and availability, and will be decided in consultation with them)

• Contract Type: Freelance（業務委託契約）

• Start Date: ASAP (flexible)
  
  

We’re looking for a Partnerships & Impact Lead (native/bilingual-level Japanese with at least business-level English) to join our core team and help us strengthen and grow our collaborations and partnerships with companies, universities, governments, and other collaborators.

You’ll manage key relationships, project manage collaborations, and support the development and delivery of new opportunities and programs that drive social and environmental impact. This role involves a mix of external and internal communication, project management/coordination, and light business development, so we’re looking for someone who’s organised, confident working with people, and ready to take ownership.

We are open to discussing the level of engagement (e.g. number of days a week) and salary with candidates who show high potential to fill this role.

Partnership & Relationship Management

• Serve as the main contact point and manage day-to-day communications, scheduling, and reporting for corporate and government partners (the majority of the external relationships you manage will be in Japanese, but great if you can work with English-speaking stakeholders too).

• Build and maintain strong relationships through proactive, thoughtful communication.

• Support Co-CEOs in developing and updating partnership agreements.

Business Development & Pipeline Coordination

• Handle inbound and outbound partnership enquiries.

• Support proposal design and follow-ups for potential collaborators.

• Track and manage opportunities using a simple CRM system.

• Collaborate with Co-CEOs on outreach and marketing strategies for new projects.

Marketing & Communications Support

• Provide collaboration updates and stories to the Comms team for newsletters and social media.

• Help prepare partnership decks and light marketing materials.

• Coordinate with other team members to ensure seamless program delivery.

• Ensure all partner communications align with mymizu/SIJ’s tone, visuals, and values.

• (Nice to have: write short blog posts or social media captions to share stories about the impact of collaborations and campaigns with our communities.)

Reporting & Administration

• Maintain accurate documentation of partner deliverables and reporting needs.

• Prepare simple progress summaries and updates for partners or funders.

• Liaise with the CTO/Tech team for data partnerships and app-related deliverables (training provided as needed).

*Above is a list of responsibilities for our ideal candidate, but the exact job description will depend on the candidate’s strengths and experience. We are a small, nimble organisation dedicated to constantly pushing boundaries, so the role will likely change and evolve as new opportunities arise. Being adaptable, having a growth mindset, and a love for innovation will ensure you flourish!

You are:

• Native/Bilingual-level Japanese (reading, writing, and speaking) – essential for external communications.

• Business-level English or above – for internal collaboration and occasional English-speaking partners.

• A strong communicator who enjoys building mutually-beneficial relationships.

• Organised and reliable, able to manage several projects at once. 

• Works well with others - a collaborative team player who communicates openly and supports colleagues across projects.

• Curious about sustainability, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration.

• Proactive and comfortable working independently in a small, purpose-driven team.

• Flexible and adaptable - you are open to changing tactics and priorities as our environment requires.

• Respectful, and also happy to challenge accepted wisdom / how things are done in order to achieve shared goals.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experience in account management, business development, or partnerships.

• Good writing and presentation skills in Japanese and English.

• An instinct for storytelling - recognising how strong relationships and clear communication help build a brand.

• Familiarity with tools like Google Workspace and Notion.

You also have:

• Curiosity to learn, grow and enjoy new challenges and experiences

• Passion for mymizu’s mission and having a positive social and environmental impact through your work

• The ability to work in Japan (we are currently unable to sponsor work visas)

• Flexible hybrid working (must reside in Japan; ideally based in the Greater Tokyo Area (首都圏)).

• Direct engagement with leading sustainability and innovation partners.

• Opportunities to shape projects and partnerships that create real-world impact.

• A collaborative, creative, and mission-driven team culture.

Compensation Expectations 

Although we are a small nonprofit, we strive to compensate individuals fairly based on their experience, skills, and the scope of work. This is a freelance/part-time role, so the rate and schedule can be adjusted depending on the person’s background and availability. Please share your desired hourly or monthly rate range (in JPY) and any relevant notes (e.g., minimum weekly hours or flexibility) in the application.

Working Hours & Style

• FlexTime (with core hours agreed in order to facilitate regular internal/external meetings)

• Largely remote, with some in-person time

• Flexibility to work remotely overseas for up to 2 months a year, if desired

**Deadline = 30th November 2025**

We review applications on a rolling basis and will contact shortlisted candidates for an interview (in Japanese and English).
*We regret that we can only reply to successful applicants due to the expected volume of applications.

We welcome applicants of all backgrounds who are passionate about sustainability and collaboration in Japan.
We look forward to hearing from you! 🌱

mymizu is Japan’s first free water refill app and a co-created movement helping people live more sustainably through the power of technology and community. The mymizu platform connects over half a million users with over 14,000 refill stations across Japan and 200,000 globally, and has been featured by global media, including CNN, NHK, and VOGUE. Website: www.mymizu.co. 

Social Innovation Japan (SIJ) is the organisation behind mymizu - a platform for social and environmental impact that co-creates programs, products, and partnerships tackling some of the biggest challenges of our time. Aside from mymizu, our projects include programs to empower changemakers, unconventional leadership development programs with a focus on sustainable innovation, and collaborations across sustainability, innovation, and leadership development. Website: www.socialinnovationjapan.com

Mission

Empowering people and organisations to co-create solutions for a just and sustainable future.

Vision

A world in which everyone can lead positive change with compassion, creativity, and driven by community.

Values

At SIJ, we care as much about how we work as what we do. Our values are the foundation for every project, partnership, and conversation:

• 🌍 Purpose-Driven Action: We tackle root causes, not symptoms.

• 🤝 Collaboration Over Competition: We co-create solutions with diverse partners and communities, striving for shared success over zero-sum thinking.

• 🌱 Regenerative & Compassionate Leadership: We lead with empathy and responsibility for people and the planet.

• ❓ Curiosity & Lifelong Learning: We stay open, humble, and hungry to learn.

• 🔍 Integrity in All We Do: We make decisions rooted in honesty, transparency, and respect, even when it’s hard.

• 💛 Joyful Commitment to Impact: We take our work seriously, but not ourselves. Play, creativity, and humour are part of how we connect and create.

If these values resonate with you, you’ll likely thrive in our team!

Working at Social Innovation Japan / mymizu is an exciting opportunity to build your career in social impact, and directly see the positive impact of your efforts. 

We are a team of challengers and collaborative problem solvers who break new ground every day. We don’t shy away from big problems, and are always developing exciting partnerships with major brands, schools, universities and governments for impact.

Every team member - whether full-time, part-time or volunteer - brings their own unique story, background and perspective, and we cherish that diversity as an organisation. Since our establishment in 2017, we have created a flexible, safe working environment for people from 20+ countries and ensure that health, wellbeing and personal development are top priorities.  

Let’s work together for a better tomorrow 🔥