Project Manager

The Project Manager plays a key role in the Bids & Project team responsible for defense business activities in Japan.

You will:

• Promote strong relationships with Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF) and Ministry of Defense (MOD)
• Provide local support to Global Business Units (GBU) to guarantee overall customer satisfaction and ensure maximum profitability

Responsibilities

• Ensure successful project transition and contribute to preparing, organizing, and validating the project launch, including project requirements, execution baselines, costs, budgets, financial structures, resource management, and risk management
• Execute, monitor, and control projects until completion
• Execute defense contract procedures, including quotations, bids, contracts, deliveries, inspections, invoices, payments, and import/export applications
• Lead and manage project team members, subcontractors, and industrial partners. Oversee project team members to deliver projects on schedule and cost while meeting project requirements
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of project progress to all stakeholders and project teams
• Anticipate, manage, and resolve issues, risks, dependencies, and impediments that may impact successful project delivery
• Provide local support to GBU in relation to project delivery controls, claim management, business/technical correspondences between customers and GBU, and overcome differences in business practices to ensure overall customer satisfaction and maximum profitability
• Foster and maintain trusted relationships with customers and industrial partners. Manage and maintain customer relationships and satisfaction throughout the project lifecycle and ensure the quality of customer support and local activities in the short and medium term
• Support the generation of future order intake, including variation orders, spares, or different business orders
• Ensure all projects and products are delivered with quality as a priority, carried out in accordance with internal standards and contractual requirements
• Responsible for document preparation and/or reviews, including import/export control and procurement
• May need to translate documents from English to Japanese and vice versa

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in an Engineering-related discipline
• 5-10 years of experience in project management, well-versed in project management principles and its application, with a proven track record in completing large projects within a technically complex and demanding environment
• Experience in delivering industrial or hardware projects. Understanding of supply chain management is necessary
• Experience working with Ministry of Defense (MOD) and knowledge of its process is necessary
• Certifications in Project Management, such as PMP
• Bid management experience is an advantage
• Native proficiency in Japanese and business level/native proficiency (verbal and written) in English is necessary
• Able to do frequent travel within Japan or overseas (duration of 1-2 weeks)
• Strong negotiation skills and problem-solving skills
• Team player, autonomous, strong organization skills, self-motivated
• Due to project requirements, Japanese citizenship is mandatory