Conservation Manager

Application deadline: Friday 16 October 2026– 23:59 BST
Location: Tokyo, Japan

Full-time: 35 hours per week
Contract: Open-ended, the contract is renewed annually following a 6-month probationary period

Salary: JPY 5.5 – 6.5 million per annum depending on experience
Annual Leave: 10 days (pro rata) during the first 6 months with further increases based on length of service up to 20 days per year.

BirdLife International Tokyo is the Japanese presence of BirdLife International, the world’s oldest and largest international nature conservation partnership working to protect birds and their habitats.

Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado, is the Honorary President of BirdLife International.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated conservation professional to lead and develop the Tokyo office’s existing conservation projects. Working closely with the Deputy Director, the successful candidate will help expand partnerships and projects with Japanese corporations and institutions, while providing leadership and development opportunities for line-managed staff through a diverse portfolio of conservation initiatives.

How you will do this:

• Formulate and implement strategies for environmental conservation programmes in Japan and overseas

• Expand the network of companies committed to CSR and ‘Nature Positive’

• Secure grants from organisations such as the Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund

• Maintain good relationships with existing supporters whilst securing new ones

• Plan and implement a range of environmental conservation activities in collaboration with staff

• Develop subordinates

• Collaborate with global BirdLife colleagues to plan and implement conservation programmes.

This role will require regular local and international travel.

What we are looking for:

• Language skills: Native Japanese, listening and writing along with the ability to communicate in English is required.

• TOEIC score of 800 or above

• Qualifications: University or postgraduate degree, or equivalent academic qualifications and experience.

• Required skills: Computer skills (document creation using Word, Excel and PowerPoint)

• Years of relevant work experience: 10 years or more

• Other: Candidates who share the organisation’s mission (bird conservation and environmental protection) and who are able to mentor subordinates and contribute to their development.

See the full job description here.

Some of our benefits:

• Workers’ Compensation Insurance, Employment Insurance, Health Insurance, Employees’ Pension Insurance, retirement benefits scheme and commuting fee are available.

• Full access to LinkedIn Learning with access to more than 13,000 high-quality, on-demand courses.

• Employee Assistance Programme, including access to Health Assured online health portal (webinars, nutritional advice, 4-week programmes, financial wellbeing and more).

• Travel expenses reimbursed (subject to a cap)

BirdLife values a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Find out more about our Diversity statement.

We are committed to building and maintaining an inclusive and supportive culture, a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We aim to promote a more inclusive environment, which attracts all candidates and signals our commitment to celebrate and promote diversity.

We know that everyone’s needs are different. If you need us to make any adjustments to our recruitment process, let us know, we’ll do our best to make it happen.