IT Project Manager (Japanese Speaking)

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated IT Project Manager (Japanese Speaking) to support the delivery of strategic technology initiatives within the banking sector. The successful candidate will work closely with business stakeholders, project teams, infrastructure teams, vendors, and regional counterparts to ensure successful project execution and delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Project Delivery & Coordination

• Manage project delivery from initiation through to closure, ensuring deliverables meet business requirements, quality standards, timelines, and budget expectations.
• Develop, maintain, and track project plans, schedules, milestones, and resource allocations.
• Coordinate project activities across application, infrastructure, platform, and vendor teams.
• Prepare Steering Committee (SteCo) materials, presentations, meeting minutes, and status reports.
• Track and follow up on SteCo action items to ensure timely closure.

Project Governance & Risk Management

• Ensure adherence to project governance frameworks, delivery methodologies, and control processes.
• Monitor project progress, identify risks and issues, and implement mitigation plans.
• Maintain project risk, dependency, and issue registers and drive timely resolution.
• Provide regular project status updates, risk assessments, and escalations to stakeholders and management.
• Work closely with the Bank’s Project Manager to align project delivery activities across infrastructure, platform, system implementation, testing, and release management.

Stakeholder Management

• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including business users, IT teams, vendors, regional offices, and Head Office representatives.
• Facilitate effective communication across cross-functional teams to ensure alignment on project scope, objectives, timelines, and deliverables.
• Build strong stakeholder relationships and promote a collaborative, transparent, and accountable project environment.

Additional Responsibilities

• Support project-related activities assigned by the Bank's Project Manager.
• Ensure project documentation is maintained accurately and updated throughout the project lifecycle.
• Participate in project governance meetings and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Business, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in IT Project Management, preferably within banking or financial services environments.
• Proven experience managing large-scale IT implementation, system migration, infrastructure, or digital transformation projects.
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies, governance, risk management, and stakeholder management.
• Experience working with regional teams, vendors, and multiple stakeholders across different locations.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and documentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Mandatory Skills

• Japanese Language Proficiency (Business Level) – Mandatory
• Project Planning & Delivery
• Stakeholder Management
• Risk & Issue Management
• Project Governance
• Steering Committee Reporting
• Vendor Management
• Banking / Financial Services Project Experience