Senior Associate

A leading corporate venture and innovation team at a global mobility firm HQ'd in Asia is hiring an Associate / Senior Associate to help lead early-stage investments and oversee strategic partnerships with high-growth startsup in various sectors including mobility, deep tech, climate tech, AI, robotics, advanced manufacturing and energy.

Please note that this position will begin as a 6 to 12 month contract, with the goal of transitioning to a long term full-time perm hire. The team has a strong track record of converting contractors into full-time roles, and this position is being scoped with long-term fit in mind.

This role sits at the intersection of venture investing, corporate development, and tech integration—ideal for someone who thrives in fast-moving, cross-functional environments and is passionate about emerging technologies. This is a rare opportunity to join a venture group backed by a Fortune Global 100 company — focused not on financial return, but on investing for long-term strategic technology advantage.

Key Responsibilities:

• Source and evaluate early-stage startups (Seed to Series B) across sectors like climate tech, robotics, advanced manufacturing, and AI
• Lead proofs of concept (POCs) and internal pilot projects with engineering and business teams
• Conduct strategic diligence and support investment decisions
• Manage post-investment partnerships and cross-functional implementation
• Coordinate with global stakeholders, including R&D and innovation teams abroad

Candidate Profile:

• 2–7+ years of experience in corporate development, corporate venture capital, VC, innovation, or strategic partnership
• Strong understanding of startups and emerging technology trends
• Technical or engineering background preferred
• Experience with pilot programs, startup collaboration, or venture incubation is a plus
• Comfortable navigating complex organizations and building cross-functional consensus
• Japanese language fluency a strong plus but not required

‍