Purchasing Assistant

Role: Operations Assistant

Location: Hakuba

Employment Type: Part-time or Full-time 

Contract term: Immediate start

Work hours: Average of 40 hours per week 

Reports to: Purchasing Manager

The Role Overview

The Purchasing Assistant plays a key supporting role within the finance, working closely with the Purchasing Manager to keep our supply chain running smoothly across all venues. This is a hands-on, multi-venue role that requires someone equally comfortable behind a desk reconciling stock records as they are on the road coordinating deliveries. You'll be the connective tissue between our centralised storage, our venue teams, and our vendor partners — keeping inventory tight, costs under control, and operations flowing.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

1. Supervision & Liaison Support the Purchasing Manager across day-to-day procurement operations, stepping up to liaise directly with venue managers and vendors in their absence. Act as a reliable point of contact to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
2. Inventory Control Monitor and maintain stock levels across centralised storage and individual venues, conducting regular audits to ensure accuracy. Identify and address discrepancies early, keep storage areas organised, and implement practices that minimise waste.
3. Stock Distribution Assist with the timely and accurate allocation of stock from central storage to each venue, coordinating logistics to ensure every location has what it needs, when it needs it.
4. Procurement Systems & Record Management Use inventory and procurement software to record and adjust stock counts, verify venue orders, and maintain up-to-date records of sales, inventory, expenses, and vendor activity. Accuracy and attention to detail are essential.
5. Financial Oversight Support budget management and revenue tracking across the purchasing function. Responsibilities include cash handling, opening and closing tills, and identifying and applying cost-saving strategies where possible.
6. Safety & Facilities Help maintain a safe, clean, and compliant working environment across storage and distribution areas, flagging maintenance issues and supporting any facilities upkeep as needed.
7. Transportation Travel between venues as required to support distribution, audits, and vendor coordination. A valid Japanese license or international driving permit is required for this role.

What You Need

• Legal right to live and work in Japan 
• Japanese Driving License and/or International Driving Permit (with classes B and D stamped)
  
• Business level Japanese required
• Business level English preferred 
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills 
• Willingness to work flexible hours, evenings, mornings, weekends, and holidays, as per the requirements of the establishment
• Ability to handle a fast-paced and dynamic work environment and to stand for long period, lift heavy objects (such as luggage), and handle the physical demands of the job
• Strong work ethic and a team first mentality 
• English fluency; Japanese a bonus 

What We Would Like You To Be Like

• You are reliable, respectful, and professional in attitude and appearance 
• You enjoy working in a team and adapt easily to new environments 
• You are solution-focused and calm under pressure 
• You love nature, snow, and creating great guest experiences 

What We Can Do For You

• Competitive hourly rate
• Subsidized shared accommodation
• Discounts at all HHG restaurants and bars 
  
• Social events and team activities
• Potential for longer-term or returning opportunities

Shift Pattern

This role offers a flexible work schedule, and allows for hybrid work conditions. 

Accommodation

HHG provides staff accommodation in central Hakuba (mainly in Happo Village, Wadano, and Kamishiro). Options include shared, dormitory, or private rooms depending on your role.