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Recruiting top talent to build world-class research teams
Ryuga I.
Management Planning Officer
Human Capital Management Office
Tohoku University
Tell us about your current role.
I work as a Management Planning Officer for the Human Capital Management (HCM) Office, which was newly established in October 2024 as part of a larger plan to strengthen the university’s research capabilities. While our university already has an entire department for Human Resources, the HCM Office was founded to specifically focus on recruiting top researchers from around the world. I am the only native English-speaking staff member in a seven-person division, where I primarily support the recruitment of these top international researchers, and act as a liaison for contract negotiations between them and the university’s various academic departments.
What does a regular workday look like for you?
In the mornings, I handle urgent matters including contract revisions and preparing for and attending meetings with departmental leaders and university executives. In these meetings we plan the best approach to upcoming contract negotiations for researchers, taking into account their institutions, local regulatory requirements, and prior interactions with our faculty.
We have an hour-long lunch which I take advantage of to mentally reset, with either a relaxing walk or a break in the campus lounge available to staff and students.
In the afternoons, I support faculty recruitment by translating job vacancy notices, posting them to international job boards, and creating forms and scripts to automate the application process.
What's the atmosphere like in your office?
Our office has a fast-paced and dynamic atmosphere, and a strong sense of trust and autonomy. We’re encouraged to handle matters independently without needing constant approval from higher-ups, which makes the environment feel much less hierarchical than a typical Japanese office. I work closely with a team of three staff members who are all fluent in English, so it feels very easy to communicate and collaborate without having to translate every minor detail. My team members are always willing to give advice and guidance when I need it, but what stands out to me is that they are equally open to hearing my perspective, even as someone new to university work.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy having a wide range of responsibilities that allow me to utilize and develop a variety of skills. Since the office was new and workflows weren’t yet established, our division director made the effort to consider each staff member’s strengths and encourage us to take on responsibilities that make the most of them. The work is also very intellectually stimulating, as I get to learn about each department’s big-picture vision for their future research. At times it’s hard to keep up with all the information coming in from different departments, but I really enjoy how much I get to learn about research I would never have been exposed to otherwise.
Why did you decide to join Tohoku University?
I spent five years working for the tourism office in Ishinomaki, about an hour from Sendai, as a Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) on the JET Programme. During that time, I really fell in love with Miyagi and liked that Sendai offers city conveniences but doesn’t feel crowded and is still close to nature. When I saw an opportunity to contribute using my language skills while staying connected to the wonderful community that had supported me, applying to Tohoku University was an easy decision.
How has your role evolved or changed since you joined Tohoku University?
When I first joined, our office was newly established with just four people, including myself. Most of our work at the time focused on planning and laying the groundwork for long-term operations, and my main role was to provide input on English-related tasks. Now, a little over a year later, my responsibilities have expanded considerably. I handle a variety of work beyond translation and take the lead in supporting faculty recruitment through open calls.
How does your team's work contribute to the big picture at Tohoku University?
Our office places great importance on the intention behind each researcher hire because we understand that they will play a key role in mentoring and nurturing the next generation of talented researchers. That’s why we ask departments to present their strategic research plan and explain how the new appointment will contribute to their long-term vision. It’s incredibly rewarding to meet those researchers in person and shake hands after spending months working on their appointment, knowing that their work is going to make an impact.
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