Employee Spotlight: Wataru Ono

This week in our Employee Spotlight series, we meet Wataru Ono, who discusses his career and experiences at JERA. Don’t forget to like the JERA page for more employee stories and to keep up to date with our latest position openings.

Please tell us a little about you

I was born and raised in the suburbs of Tokyo until the age of 11 when I moved with my family to a coastal area in Los Angeles, California. I spent the next 6 years there, before coming back to Tokyo to finish up high school and university.?Life in California was my first experience in immersing myself in a culturally diverse community, which was very different from the community I grew up in.

After I graduated from university in Tokyo studying international business transaction law, my career started out at a corporate strategy position in a marine leisure business company.?I spent 6 years in that industry working in various roles from sales management to IPO preparation, before I pivoted my career to start working in the LNG industry. I worked as the buyer’s agent for Japanese power and gas companies, attended countless LNG vessels to witness loading and unloading operations and assisted clients with commercial and technical issues of the LNG operation. ?

After about a decade of working as a buyer's agent in various LNG projects, I joined JERA in 2022.?I am currently working in the LNG long term contract management team at JERA.

As for my personal life, I’m a dad to a 6-year-old girl who loves to sing and dance.?I truly cherish my time with her.?Outside of my child, my passion in life is photography, especially analog photography. It was an old hobby of mine back when I was in school, and I got back into it during the pandemic.?Smartphone camera is handy and produces excellent results, but I love the fact that film cameras really slow you down and force you to be intentional.?It also allows me to be in the moment more rather than worrying about getting the right shot. ?It is a therapeutic experience for me whenever I’m out with my vintage cameras.

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What is your role at JERA and what do you enjoy the most about your role?

I am currently a member of the LNG Contract Management Group in the Procurement Management Division. I am responsible for managing the commercial aspects of long-term LNG contracts.

The essential part of long-term contract management is building and sustaining a trusted relationship between the seller, buyer, and all other stakeholders maintain a stable supply.?It is a thrilling experience, to be a contributor to a long-lasting relationship between companies and even countries.?Also, every task we face is always a team effort.?I enjoy working with my unique and diverse team, where everyone is willing to work together.??

What attracted you to JERA as a company?

JERA was the perfect destination for me to utilize and step up my career in the LNG industry.?After years of experience in loading and unloading LNG operations as a buyer’s agent, sometimes even for JERA as well as other Japanese electric and gas companies, I became familiar with the flow of LNG commercial operations. ?I have been able to utilize my experience from my previous work while expanding the boundaries of my skills and capabilities working for JERA.?JERA is attractive in a sense that it offers so many options career development.

What has been the most transformative experience you had since joining JERA?

My transformative experience at JERA came very soon after I joined. ?Due to the crisis in Ukraine which happened right before I joined JERA, our team had to face so many unexpected turns of events.?The rollercoaster of issues we experienced helped me understand the mission of JERA, which is to provide solutions to energy issues. It also made me aware of the magnitude of responsibility that we have for our company and our country.?It was also a great experience to tackle these issues with my team that is hard working and committed.?Working in this environment elevated my skills and motivation.?

What’s one piece of advice you would share with your younger self?

As they say you can only connect the dots looking backwards, and every bit of experience counts.

Even the most mundane day to day operations or the stressful and toughest adversities that you are facing now will be the foundation for your future career.?Work on the task in front of you, and trust in the process.??

What would you tell someone that is interested in joining JERA?

JERA is a unique work environment where tradition and innovation collide.?Although it inherits the rich history of its parent companies, it is also a very young start up in a sense, which allows room for creativity and innovation as well.?

There are several opportunities in terms of utilizing your existing experiences and skills at JERA no matter what sort of expertise you have. ?The teams at JERA are diverse, with colleagues from different backgrounds.?It has been an exciting experience for me to work here and collaborate with my own great team.?Join us and help us create great work!?I am looking forward to working with you soon.

We hope you enjoyed getting to know Wataru and learning about his journey at JERA. If you are interested in learning more about?#LifeatJERA?or you’re looking for a new challenge this year, check out the open positions under “Jobs” and stay connected with us by following the JERA LinkedIn page.