Careers

Join Maana — Where Craft, Culture, and Hospitality Meet

At Maana, we believe in creating spaces and experiences that feel timeless, warm, and deeply human. Our work celebrates Japanese craftsmanship, culture, and everyday simple moments. We're building a small team of curious minds and passionate storytellers. If you love shaping ideas into meaningful details that bring people together, we'd love to meet you.
Join us to build a world of inspiration and connection.
We're hiring key roles to help shape Maana's next chapter.
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Executive Assistant

Location: Kyoto, Japan (relocation possible)
Type: Full-time / Part-time
About the Role
Maana is seeking an Executive Assistant to work closely with our cofounders and leadership team, supporting the day-to-day operations and long-term growth of the company.
You'll work closely with our cofounders, supporting administration, bookkeeping, and project management across a growing business that spans hospitality, retail, and real estate development.
Your days will move between managing financial records, organizing reports in Excel, coordinating communications with architects, partners, and investors, and keeping projects on track. You'll help translate ideas into action—making sure numbers are accurate, timelines are clear, and communication flows smoothly.
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working with data, systems, and people—and who takes pride in being fast, organized, and reliable in a dynamic environment. If you like having visibility across the business and being the person who keeps everything aligned, this role offers real responsibility and growth.
Responsibilities
  • • Work closely with cofounders to support daily operations, planning, and execution across multiple projects.
  • • Help build and maintain effective company infrastructure, systems, and workflows.
  • • Coordinate schedules, meetings, and priorities across internal and external stakeholders.
  • • Support projects related to real estate development, investor relations, business development, and new initiatives.
  • • Track deadlines, follow up on action items, and ensure progress across initiatives.
  • • Prepare materials, summaries, and documentation to support decision-making.
  • • Act as a reliable point of coordination, helping the team stay focused and aligned.
Qualifications
  • • Strong administrative and organizational skills with high attention to detail.
  • • Clear, professional communicator with a positive, proactive attitude.
  • • Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities in a fast-moving environment.
  • • Required: Bilingual proficiency in Japanese and English (JP/EN).
  • • Preferred: Experience in bookkeeping or accounting support.
  • • Preferred: High proficiency in Excel or spreadsheet-based tools.
  • • Preferred: Experience with Money Forward or similar Japanese accounting software.

Cultural Workshop Teacher

Location: Kyoto, Japan (relocation possible)
Type: Contract / Part-time (workshop-based)
About the Role
This role is based at Maana Atelier—a space created for our community to come together, exchange ideas, and share heritage wisdom rooted in everyday life.
We are seeking Cultural Workshop Teachers who are passionate about learning, practicing, and thoughtfully sharing Japan's craft and cultural knowledge with an international audience. Workshops currently explore themes such as tea and indigo dye, fermentation, earthen wall construction, and botanical tea—each offering a lens into how traditional materials and practices continue to shape contemporary living.
This role is about more than instruction. It is about creating a shared moment of learning, where curiosity, presence, and conversation are as important as technique.
Responsibilities
  • • Lead in-person workshops at Maana Atelier, guiding hands-on learning experiences.
  • • Share heritage knowledge with care, accuracy, and respect for cultural context.
  • • Facilitate open conversations around how traditional practices can be understood and applied today.
  • • Adapt content for an international audience while maintaining depth and integrity.
  • • Collaborate with the Maana team to refine workshop flow, structure, and experience.
  • • Foster a welcoming, thoughtful environment that encourages participation and exchange.
  • • Explore new workshop ideas and continue to grow the department.
Qualifications
  • • Experience or deep interest in Japanese craft, materials, or cultural practices.
  • • Strong communication skills, with the ability to organize and share ideas in a clear, meaningful way.
  • • Curiosity, openness, and a reflective approach to sharing knowledge.
  • • Respect for tradition alongside a willingness to explore contemporary relevance.
  • • Required: Bilingual proficiency in Japanese and English (JP/EN).

Marketing & Performance Manager

Location: Kyoto, Japan (Remote possible)
Type: Full-time
About the Role
Maana is seeking a Marketing & Performance Manager who thrives at the intersection of data-driven growth and premium brand storytelling. This is a "full-stack" marketing role: you will be responsible for the high-level annual strategy, the hands-on execution of Meta campaigns, and the analytical reporting that proves what's working.
As a key member of a small, agile team, you will move fluidly between deep-diving into Meta Ads Manager and collaborating on the creative direction of our next campaign. We need a strategist who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty in the data to ensure Maana's growth is thoughtful, sustainable, and aligned with our refined brand values.
Responsibilities
1. Performance & Meta Ads Management
  • • Own the Meta Ecosystem: Lead the end-to-end execution of Meta Ads (Instagram/Facebook), from campaign setup and audience building to technical pixel management and budget optimization.
  • • Optimization: Conduct rigorous A/B testing on ad creative, copy, and landing pages to maximize ROAS and booking conversion rates.
  • • Growth Tactics: Identify new paid opportunities to reach high-value guests while maintaining a low-friction, premium user experience.
2. Analytics & Story-Driven Reporting
  • • Data Synthesis: Own performance reporting across all channels (Meta, Google Analytics, Email).
  • • Insight Extraction: Don't just report numbers— translate them into actionable insights. Tell the "story" of our data to leadership, highlighting trends in guest acquisition, lifetime value (LTV), and retention.
  • • Feedback Loops: Use data to guide the team on what content is actually driving results, ensuring marketing resources are deployed effectively.
3. Content Creation & Strategy
  • • Strategic Planning: Lead the development of the annual marketing roadmap and translate it into actionable quarterly execution plans.
  • • Asset Development: Lead the planning and development of high-quality campaign assets. You will ensure all content—from email newsletters to social reels—is strategically aligned and executed on time.
  • • Lifecycle Marketing: Shape our CRM strategy, mapping out meaningful guest journeys (welcome sequences, post-stay engagement) that feel personal and timely.
4. Execution & Project Management
  • • All-Hands Approach: As part of a small team, you will manage the full lifecycle of a campaign—from the initial conceptual brainstorm to the final performance audit.
  • • Resource Allocation: Oversee planning cycles, set priorities, and ensure all deadlines are met across multiple simultaneous projects.
Qualifications
  • • 3+ years of experience in growth marketing, performance marketing, or marketing analytics.
  • • Meta Ads Expert: Deep technical knowledge of Meta Business Suite, including custom audiences, lookalikes, and conversion tracking.
  • • Analytical Tools: Proficiency in Google Analytics (GA4), CRM platforms, and data visualization.
  • • Content Fluency: Experience planning and developing creative assets; you understand what makes a "thumb-stopping" visual for a premium brand.
  • • Strategic & Tactical: Proven ability to drive high-level strategy while being 100% comfortable with hands-on execution (copywriting, scheduling, and ad management).
  • • Refined Aesthetic: A deep sensitivity to Maana's brand tone—you optimize for quality growth, not just volume.
  • • Language: Native-level English required. Professional Japanese proficiency is a strong bonus.

Head of Retail

Location: Kyoto, Japan
Type: Full-time
About the Role
Maana is seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Retail Manager to oversee the efficient operation of our physical retail locations while leading the ground-up launch of our e-commerce platform. This role is perfect for someone who thrives on creating efficient systems—from logistics and inventory forecasting to customer relationship management—while ensuring our retail experience remains seamless and on brand. You will be instrumental in translating Maana's refined brand into a highly functional and profitable online and offline experience.
Responsibilities
E-commerce Launch & Operations
  • • Lead and own the full launch of Maana's online store on Shopify, including platform setup, product upload, and customer experience design.
  • • Establish all shipping, fulfillment, and returns processes for domestic and international orders.
  • • Integrate and synchronize inventory systems between online and offline channels.
Inventory Management & Forecasting
  • • Build accurate inventory forecasting models to anticipate demand and prevent stockouts or overstock.
  • • Monitor sales velocity and seasonal patterns to guide purchasing decisions.
  • • Coordinate replenishment strategies with suppliers and internal teams.
Customer Insights
  • • Segment customers to personalize communications and drive loyalty.
  • • Provide actionable insights on customer behavior to inform retail and product strategies.
Retail Store Oversight
  • • Manage daily operations of two Kyoto retail locations, ensuring consistent service and visual presentation.
  • • Oversee staff scheduling, training, and performance evaluations.
  • • Monitor in-store sales performance and customer feedback to refine retail strategy.
Reporting & Strategy
  • • Prepare regular reports on e-commerce performance, inventory health, and CRM metrics to guide leadership decisions.
  • • Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and drive sustainable growth.
Qualifications
  • • Proven experience in retail operations management and e-commerce launch/operations.
  • • Demonstrated, hands-on expertise with the Shopify e-commerce platform is mandatory.
  • • Strong analytical and organizational skills; comfortable building systems from the ground up.
  • • Experience leading an e-commerce platform launch or scaling in the Japanese market is a strong bonus.
  • • Knowledge of CRM tools and ability to turn customer data into actionable strategies is a plus, but not required.
  • • Excellent communication skills and a passion for Japanese craft, culture, and design.
  • • Familiarity with inventory software, retail POS systems, and e-commerce (Shopify) platforms.

Front Desk Staff / Cafe Staff / Retail Staff

Location: Kyoto, Japan
Type: Part Time
About the Role
At Maana, hospitality is more than just service. It's about warmth, care, and making people feel truly at home.
In this role, you'll be one of the faces of Maana—supporting our front desk, café, or retail spaces depending on your personal curiosities and passion. You'll welcome guests and customers, assist with daily operations, and help create a calm, thoughtful environment where people feel at ease.
This is a fun and dynamic role for someone with positive energy, a warm attitude, and a natural interest in people. If you enjoy engaging with others, working as part of a close team, and being surrounded by culture, design, and good hospitality, you'll feel at home here.
Responsibilities
  • • Welcome guests and customers with warmth and attentiveness.
  • • Support daily operations at the front desk, café, or retail shop.
  • • Assist with check-ins, orders, transactions, and basic customer inquiries.
  • • Help maintain a clean, organized, and inviting space.
  • • Work closely with the team to ensure smooth day-to-day operations.
  • • Support opening and closing tasks as needed.
Qualifications
  • • Required: Bilingual in Japanese and English.
  • • Warm, friendly, and reliable.
  • • Comfortable communicating with people from different backgrounds.
  • • Able to stay calm and organized in a dynamic environment.
  • • Prior experience in hospitality, café, or retail is a plus, but not required.

Revenue Manager Consultant

Location: Remote / Kyoto, Japan (Flexible)
Type: Part-time Freelance Consultant
About the Role
At Maana, hospitality is more than just service — it's about connection and inspiring a sense of belonging. As our part-time Revenue Manager Consultant, you will be a key strategic partner, ensuring our 5 guesthouses achieve optimal pricing and revenue performance. You'll bring a data-driven approach with thoughtful recommendations that balance market trends, guest needs, and business goals.
This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a dynamic environment, is organized and analytical, and can balance precision under pressure with a genuine passion for hospitality revenue optimization.
Responsibilities
  • • Take ownership of pricing management and revenue optimization across all Maana guesthouses.
  • • Analyze booking patterns, market trends, and competitor pricing with clarity and insight.
  • • Develop and implement dynamic pricing strategies to maximize occupancy and revenue.
  • • Provide actionable recommendations on distribution channels and promotional pricing.
  • • Collaborate with operations, marketing, and reservations teams to align pricing with campaigns and demand.
  • • Monitor and report on revenue performance regularly, offering clear insights and solutions.
Qualifications
  • • 3+ years experience in revenue management or pricing strategy in hospitality or related field.
  • • Strong understanding of international markets and Japanese markets.
  • • Strong analytical skills and proficiency with data interpretation and forecasting.
  • • Comfortable working with revenue management systems or pricing tools; strong computer literacy.
  • • Excellent communication skills with a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach.
  • • Systems: Airhost, Airtable, Google Sheets, all OTAs.

In-House Accountant / Bookkeeper

Location: Kyoto, Japan (hybrid possible)
Type: Part-time or Full-time
About the Role
Maana is seeking an In-House Accountant / Bookkeeper to support the financial health and day-to-day operations of a growing, multi-sector company.
This role plays a quiet but essential part in keeping the organization grounded and running smoothly. You will work closely with leadership to manage bookkeeping, support monthly reporting, and help bring clarity to our financial systems across hospitality, experiences, retail, and new initiatives.
This is a role for someone who values accuracy, consistency, and transparency—and who takes pride in creating calm, reliable financial foundations that allow creative work to flourish.
Responsibilities
  • • Manage day-to-day bookkeeping across multiple business lines.
  • • Support monthly close, reconciliations, and basic financial reporting.
  • • Track income, expenses, and cash flow with accuracy and care.
  • • Prepare data for external accountants, tax filings, and audits.
  • • Maintain organized financial records and documentation.
  • • Support improvements to internal accounting processes and systems.
  • • Collaborate with leadership to ensure financial clarity and alignment.
Qualifications
  • • Experience in bookkeeping, accounting, or financial operations.
  • • Strong attention to detail and a structured, reliable working style.
  • • Comfortable managing multiple accounts or business lines.
  • • Clear and professional communication skills.
  • • Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with the team.
  • • Required: Bilingual proficiency in Japanese and English (JP/EN).
  • • Required: Moneyforward, Google Sheets, Pivot Tables.
  • • Required: Japanese accounting practices.