Director, WHS Japan, Workplace Health and Safety

As we strive to be Earth's Safest Place to Work, we are expanding the Japan Workplace Health and Safety organization and looking for a Director. This mission‑driven role will have direct impact on ensuring thousands of employees return home safely every day and will lead the successful implementation of a comprehensive safety strategy to enable and promote safe and efficient workplace practices across the entire network. The Director, Safety Operations, Japan determines the strategic direction for their network programs, initiatives, and the resources required to deliver the compliance assurance and life‑safety goals. This position also regulates organization design to provide better service to operations and meet the ever‑increasing demands of growth and corporate‑wide initiatives. Given Japan's unique environmental challenges, this role is also critical in developing and maintaining resilient safety protocols for natural disaster scenarios. Key Job Responsibilities Responsibilities of this Director will be to run their organization autonomously, position the organization to deliver results today with grit and bias for action, and anticipate risks and innovation opportunities. Technical knowledge in the WHS space is required, and deliverables extend beyond regulatory compliance to include the introduction and deployment of technology. The right candidate earns trust through outstanding performance, effective communication skills, and a strong record of delivering timely and effective results. A true passion for problem solving, the ability to conceptualize novel applications using new and emerging technology, and strong leadership across a global team and matrixed organization are essential. A Day in the LifeOperate with total autonomy and discretion to develop Japan operational compliance and injury‑prevention strategies; plan objectives to achieve safety goals. Develop and innovate new methods for associate safety and injury prevention to deliver year‑over‑year performance in overall life safety and injury prevention metrics, including SIR, RIR, LTI, SLI, and compliance‑assurance performance. Assess effectiveness of deployed tools and revise to ensure continual improvement of best practices in safety and environmental compliance. Develop and lead a large team of Sr. Managers, Safety Operations to deliver safety compliance assurance at all levels. Define and deliver all aspects of site‑level safety organizational structure and talent management, including daily recruiting, staffing, and career development of field safety teams. Drive consistent communication, training, and execution of safety programs throughout the network. Develop and maintain comprehensive natural‑disaster response protocols across all Japan facilities to ensure business continuity and employee safety.Basic QualificationsBilingual (Japanese/English) – critical for site communication Experience managing a sizable organization or team Strong leadership and influence capabilities across multiple teams prioritized over safety background Willingness to travel 30‑40% within Japan A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent level of qualificationPreferred QualificationsKnowledge and experience of Japan operations/business environment Experience in Environment, Health and Safety leadership Experience implementing lean principles and process improvements Strong analytical and statistical skills, including data analysis Project and program management in delivering key business outcomes Experience in multinational and complex corporate contexts Innovation/automation project leadership Advanced degree (Master’s or MBA)Leadership CompetenciesDrives Change & Innovation: Proven track record of leading transformational initiatives with a builder mindset, comfortable navigating ambiguity in fast‑paced environments. Influences Through Relationships: Demonstrated ability to build strong partnerships across all levels, particularly with executive stakeholders, while operating with autonomy. People‑Centric Leadership: Shows genuine passion for developing teams and prioritizing safety, with natural ability to connect and inspire others. Data‑Driven Decision Making: Uses analytics and a systematic approach to problem‑solving while maintaining agility in rapidly changing situations.Amazon is an equal‑opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status. #J-18808-Ljbffr