Operations Associate

Operations Associate (Entry Level / New Graduate)

Location: Tokyo, Japan
Type: Full-Time
Language: English required; Japanese not required (Japanese proficiency is a plus, but not mandatory)

About Us

We are building the future infrastructure for the trading card collectibles market.

Cardova Japan is a technology-enabled platform focused on graded trading cards, combining secure storage (“Vault”), marketplace transactions, and financial infrastructure for collectors and investors. Our mission is to create a safer, more transparent, and more trusted ecosystem for collectible assets.

We are an early-stage, fast-growing company based in Tokyo and are looking for highly motivated recent graduates who want to help build a company from the ground up.

The Role

As an Operations Associate, you will work directly with leadership to help build and scale the operational backbone of our business, including our secure card storage operations (“Vault”).

This is not a traditional corporate role. You will have broad exposure across operations, logistics, customer experience, systems, and strategic projects. We are looking for someone excited to learn quickly, solve problems, and grow alongside the company.

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities may include:

Vault & Logistics Operations

• Support day-to-day vault operations for high-value trading cards
• Assist with intake, cataloging, storage, quality checks, and shipment coordination
• Help improve operational accuracy, controls, and customer trust

Business Operations

• Help build scalable internal processes and SOPs
• Coordinate cross-functional projects with vendors and partners
• Assist with reporting, data tracking, and operational analytics
• Identify inefficiencies and recommend improvements

Customer & Marketplace Support

• Support high-touch customer interactions
• Assist in ensuring smooth marketplace and auction operations
• Help maintain a premium customer experience

Special Projects

• Work directly with founders on new initiatives
• Participate in expansion, partnerships, and new business initiatives

Who We’re Looking For

We care more about curiosity, ownership, and work ethic than specific experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Recent university graduate (or graduating soon)
• Strong attention to detail
• Organized and highly reliable
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced startup environment
• Strong problem-solving mindset
• Interest in collectibles, marketplaces, fintech, logistics, or operations is a plus
• Interest in Japan and Japanese culture is strongly preferred

Bonus Points

• Japanese language ability
• International background or cross-cultural experience
• Experience with startups, operations, e-commerce, or analytics

Why Join Us

• Opportunity to help build a category-defining company from an early stage
• Work directly with experienced founders and leadership
• Broad exposure across strategy, operations, technology, and business building
• Meaningful ownership and responsibility from day one
• Based in Tokyo, one of the world’s most exciting collectibles markets

If you are entrepreneurial, curious, and excited to help build something meaningful from the ground up, we would love to hear from you.