Laboratory

Office of the Center Director,
RIKEN Center for Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences
(Office Director: Tomoya Nagai)

Research Field and Overview

RIKEN Center for Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences (iTHEMS) is an international research center at RIKEN. It facilitates close collaborations among researchers from different disciplines in theoretical, mathematical and computational sciences. On April 1, 2025, iTHEMS transitioned from a program to a center. The ultimate goal of iTHEMS is to unravel the mystery of the Universe, matter, and life, as well as to solve key problems in modern society through interdisciplinary approaches.

The iTHEMS Center Director's Office, now accepting applications, provides administrative support for research groups and researchers (contracts, accounting, personnel, etc.) and research support for academic meetings and collaborations.

For more information, please refer to the following website:
RIKEN Center for Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Science (iTHEMS)

Job title and Job description

Job title

Research Administrator (discretionary work system) or Research Administrative Support Staff (non-discretionary work system): a few positions
The job position will be determined by the employer based on the applicant's abilities and suitability.

Job description

Assist the Director and Deputy Director in managing iTHEMS, incorporating researchers' specialized knowledge and perspectives into organizational operations to foster an environment where researchers can focus on their work.
Collaborate with the Promotion Division to enhance operational efficiency and drive autonomous system improvements.
The anticipated duties are as follows; specific responsibilities will be determined based on the applicant's abilities and suitability.

• Organizational management and administration (budget management, meeting coordination, external evaluation responses, etc.)
• Supporting the research environment (planning and coordination, information organization, seminar management, IT support, etc.)
• Organizing and transferring operational know-how, and improving business processes
• Collaboration, information gathering, and coordination with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), domestic and international research institutions, and industry
• Planning and operational support for public relations and outreach activities

Qualification

• University graduate or equivalent. For Research Administrator positions: Individuals with experience engaged in research or research support activities at universities, research institutions, companies, government agencies, etc., and possessing corresponding achievements (including those holding doctoral degrees).
• Individuals capable of preparing documents in Japanese without difficulty
• Individuals capable of performing duties in English without difficulty

Work location

At time of hiring:
RIKEN Wako Campus (2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama)

RIKEN may order the employee to change work locations, if necessary.
Potential sites of relocation: Any campus, branch, or office as ordered by RIKEN.

Salary and benefits

This post is an indefinite-term employment position. Mandatory retirement age for FY 2025 and FY 2026 is 62 years old.
Note: RIKEN has been increasing the mandatory retirement age by one year every two years from FY 2023.
There is a Special Temporary Employment Program that allows employees to be rehired and continue working until age 65.

In principle, the first two months of employment are considered a trial period.

Salary will be an annual salary based on experience, ability, and performance, and will consist of a fixed salary and a variable salary. The variable salary will be determined each fiscal year based on experience, ability, and performance.
Discretionary work allowance (for Research Administrators only), overtime work allowance, commuting allowance, and housing allowance will be provided. Social insurance will be applied.

The approximate amount of annual salary at the time of hiring:
Research Administrator: The total amount of monthly discretionary work allowance and monthly salary at the time of hiring will be 617,740 JPY or more.
Research Administrative Support Staff: 336,900JPY or more paid monthly.

RIKEN has implemented a telecommuting system that allows employees to work from home etc.

Research Administrators work under the specialized duties discretionary work system; one working day will be calculated as 7 hours and 30 minutes.
Research Administrative Support Staff are on the non-discretionary work system, and working hours are from 9:00 to 17:20 (lunch break 12:00 to 12:50). If necessary, employees may be instructed to work outside of these hours.

Days off include public holidays, New Year's holidays (Dec. 29 - Jan. 3), and RIKEN Foundation Day.
Paid leave includes annual paid leave (up to 20 days depending on the month of employment), special paid leave (caring for a sick child, family nursing care, etc.), and work-life balance holidays (up to 7 days depending on the month of employment).
There are also additional leave systems such as maternity leave, childcare leave, and family nursing care leave.
Smoking is entirely prohibited on site.
These and other provisions are in accordance with RIKEN regulations.

Mandatory membership in the RIKEN Mutual Benefit Society (RIKEN Kyosaikai).

RIKEN may require changes of responsibilities, job category, and work location in accordance with RIKEN regulations due to management decisions, budgetary situation, and organizational restructuring.

Other

• *RIKEN is actively undertaking initiatives to promote gender equality and diversity, and moving forward with the establishment of a diverse and vibrant research environment. If multiple candidates are found to have the same aptitude following a fair assessment, active efforts will be made to recruit female candidates.
• *The Wako Campus has an on-site daycare, RIKEN Kids Wako. For details, please send an email to kids@riken.jp (General Administration Section, Wako Operations Division).

Application and required documents

Application documents

• 1.CV or CV
  • Please use the resume format downloaded by clicking the “CV” text above.
  • Please include the open call ID number (25-2278) on the upper-right corner of the first page.
• 2.Resume detailing work history (include list of work-related achievements) and (if available) a list of research and development support achievements (papers, proceedings, patents, conference presentations, research grants, etc.)
• 3.Self-recommendation letter
• 4.Statement of reasons for applying for the Research Administrator or Research Administrative Support Staff position
• 5.One letter of recommendation (if applicable)
• 6.The names and email addresses of 1-2 individuals who can provide references (The same person who wrote the recommendation letter is acceptable)
• 7.Consent form for handling personal information based on GDPR/UK GDPR
  If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA) or the UK, you are required to sign and submit the document, “Consent form for handling personal information based on Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) and the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation.”
  • *For residents of the EEA, you will find detailed information about the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on the following website:
    Data protection | European Commission
  • *For residents of the UK, you will find detailed information about Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation) on the following website:
    The UK GDPR | Information Commissioner’s Office
• 8.Copies of up to three major work achievements, such as major papers, bulletins, or articles on achievements such as patents (if applicable)

How to apply

Application documents should be uploaded through Academic Jobs Online.

Note: None of the submitted documents will be returned.

Deadline

April 30, 2026 (Japan Time)

Handling Personal Data

Submitted documents are strictly protected under the RIKEN Personal Information Protection Regulations and will be used only for the purpose of applicant screening. Personal information will not be disclosed, transferred or loaned to a third party under any circumstances without just cause.

Selection process

After application documents are screened, only the successful candidates will be asked to have an interview. There will be a final interview with RIKEN executives as part of the hiring process.

Notification of hiring decision

The notification of hiring decision (conditional offer of employment) regarding this selection will be carried out through the presentation of a Statement of Working Conditions or a Conditional Offer of Employment issued by RIKEN.

Start of Employment

On or after October 01, 2026 (negotiable)

Contact Information

Tsukasa Tada, Deputy Director, iTHEMS
Email: tada@riken.jp