Director of Technology - Japan | Japan/Korea Hub

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Employment Type: Full-Time / Hybrid (2 days in the office; 3 days remote)

Regional Scope: Japan & Korea

Reports To: Group CTO (Thailand) / General Manager (Japan)

Department: InfoSys (Database Administration & EXO Products) / IT

Direct Reports: InfoSys Project Manager and Local IT Teams

*Please note: Only candidates who are currently based in Japan will be considered for this position.

*Please note: Only candidates who pass the initial document screening will be contacted regarding the next steps.

About Us

EXO Travel is a pioneering destination management company that has been creating meaningful travel experiences for over thirty years. Founded in 1993, we empower travelers to connect with authentic people, cultures, and landscapes across Asia.

As a Certified B Corporation, we are committed to sustainability, responsible business practices, and creating a positive impact on our employees, communities, and the environment. Our reputation is built on industry-leading technology and a passionate international team of travel experts who deliver high-quality, innovative travel services.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Director of Technology (internal title: InfoSys Director) to lead the technology strategy and ecosystem of our Japan/Korea Hub, based in Japan.

This is a strategic leadership role with responsibility for the Hub's overall technology environment, bringing together three key areas: Tourplan, IT infrastructure and cybersecurity, and digital products including EXO Create.

Working closely with the Group CTO, General Management, Head Office technology teams, and local stakeholders, you will ensure that technology supports operational excellence, innovation, and EXO Travel's continued growth across Japan and Korea.

You will also lead the local technology function, including direct oversight of the Hub's InfoSys Project Manager and local IT teams, while ensuring that local technology initiatives remain aligned with EXO Travel's wider strategy and Vision 2030.

Key Responsibilities

• Technology Strategy & Roadmap: Design and implement a three-year IT and systems roadmap for the Japan/Korea Hub, aligned with EXO Travel's Vision 2030.
• Technology Ecosystem Leadership: Take overall accountability for the local performance and integration of Tourplan, IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and EXO's digital products.
• Team Leadership: Lead the local technology function, providing strategic direction and oversight to the Hub's InfoSys Project Manager and local IT teams.
• Systems Integration: Ensure Tourplan, IT infrastructure, and EXO Create operate as part of a seamless and integrated technology ecosystem.
• Digital & AI Transformation: Drive the Hub's evolution from basic digitisation toward greater automation and AI-driven efficiency, identifying opportunities to improve internal processes and customer experiences.
• AI Governance: Work closely with the Group CTO to ensure local AI initiatives operate within EXO's approved AI environment and that data used by AI solutions complies with Group security protocols.
• IT Infrastructure & Cybersecurity: Ensure local infrastructure, connectivity, cloud environments, and technology changes meet operational requirements while remaining aligned with Group infrastructure and security standards.
• Global & Local Alignment: Act as a senior technology liaison between the Japan/Korea Hub and Head Office Infrastructure, Security, and technology teams.
• Systems Adoption & Modernisation: Drive stronger adoption of Tourplan as a central source of operational information and support the transition away from fragmented legacy and offline processes.
• Digital Product Enablement: Ensure that the local technology environment effectively supports EXO Create and other digital initiatives, including high-speed connectivity requirements for media-heavy digital assets.
• Technology Governance & Compliance: Ensure that local technology decisions and infrastructure changes comply with global security standards and applicable local requirements.
• Budget & Vendor Management: Oversee local IT budgets, vendor negotiations, and technology licensing requirements across Japan and Korea.

Key Areas of Focus

AI Transformation & Innovation

Help move the Japan/Korea Hub from traditional digitisation toward AI-driven efficiency. Working with the Group CTO, you will help ensure that local AI initiatives are secure, compliant, and aligned with EXO's wider technology strategy, while exploring opportunities for AI-driven personalisation and innovation.

Unified Technology Ecosystem

Bring together Tourplan, IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and EXO Create into a seamless technology environment. The goal is to enable local teams to use global tools efficiently and at maximum speed without compromising security or compliance.

Systems Adoption & Modernisation

Strengthen Tourplan as the Hub's "single source of truth" and support departments in transitioning away from fragmented offline processes and legacy ways of working toward more integrated, reliable systems.

What We're Looking For

• Significant professional experience in technology, IT, information systems, or digital transformation, ideally within an international or multi-market organisation.
• Demonstrated experience developing technology strategy and translating business objectives into practical technology roadmaps.
• Strong understanding of IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, systems integration, and digital platforms.
• Experience leading technology teams, projects, and cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with both technical and non-technical teams.
• Experience coordinating between local operations and regional or global technology functions.
• Experience managing technology budgets, vendors, licensing, and external partners.
• Ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on operational understanding.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to explain complex technology topics clearly to business stakeholders.
• Professional-level English and at least conversational Japanese.
• Experience with AI transformation, automation, enterprise systems, or digital product implementation would be an advantage.
• Previous experience within the travel, tourism, or hospitality industry would be advantageous.

The Person We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who sees technology as more than a support function and understands how it can contribute directly to business performance, innovation, and growth.

You should be comfortable operating between strategy and execution: developing a long-term technology vision while understanding the operational realities behind infrastructure, security, systems, data, and user adoption.

You will need to bring together local business requirements and global technology standards, challenge inefficient legacy processes constructively, and help teams adopt better and more integrated ways of working.

Most importantly, you will be able to build strong relationships across an international organisation and turn complex technology challenges into clear, practical business solutions.

Why Join EXO Travel?

This is an opportunity to take a leadership role in shaping the future of technology across EXO Travel's Japan/Korea Hub.

You will have the opportunity to influence how technology, AI, systems, and digital products evolve across the region while working closely with both local leadership and EXO Travel's global technology teams.

If you are excited about using technology to improve how an international travel business operates, innovates, and grows, we would love to hear from you.