Strategic Planning Operations Manager, Japan

Leading Strategic Initiatives and Business Case preparation o Analyse all aspects of strategic initiatives critically and apply business rationale to support / reject the initiatives and provide alternative recommendations, as needed o Conceptualizes all new and ongoing strategic initiatives clearly and recommends a practical and feasible delivery timeline o Lead discussions with upper management on strategic initiatives o Creates detailed financial analysis and business cases on projects (able to utilize Microsoft Excel effectively for this purpose) o Leads and responsible for all assigned strategic initiatives from approval to delivery stages 2

• Project Management o Creates and executes project work plans and timelines and revises as appropriate to meet changing needs and requirements o Manages day-to-day operational aspects of the project and scope o Effectively communicates and leads relevant project information to different level of stakeholders (steering committee, local country management team and local operation / sales team) o Works with teams in locally and regionally to meet agreed and critical milestones for initiatives o Facilitates regular status meeting with upper management and project working team (across both local teams and global teams based in Europe and APAC) o Ensures documents and major digital assets are complete, current, and stored appropriately. o Resolves and / or escalates issues in a timely fashion o Prepares the required project documentation (e.g. project handbook, project plans, project reports) and manages the execution of thereof all the projects. This requires establishing and managing the project team and collaborating with project owner. It includes communication around the project with internal and external stakeholders. o Follows best practices in relation to ‘project management processes’
• Monthly Business Review / Strategic Business Review o Supports Country Managing Director with Monthly Business Reporting by consolidating the business review deck (projects, commercial updates and controlling sections) o Supports Country Managing Director with annual / bi-annual Strategic Business review by developing the presentation that houses all strategic initiatives, financial performances and analyses for discussion with upper management Qualifications and education requirements
• University degree or similar relevant experience
• Prior consulting experience will be an advantage
• MBA preferred but not required
• Project Management Certification (PMI, IPMA) an added advantage
• Independent and self-motivating personality
• Persistence in following processes and procedures
• Strong written and oral ability in English and Japanese 3 Specific skills and knowledge
• At least 5 years of professional working experience in an analytical or project management type role; management consulting experience an added advantage
• Competent with financial modelling and analysis
• Excellent communication skills across international teams
• Excellent organizational, decision making, and problem solving skills
• Work experience across various functional areas (e.g. Sales, Marketing Operations, Finance)
• Work experience within an international / multicultural environment preferred and an added advantage (e.g. international firms, based in overseas countries as well as country of operation or multi-cultural teams with English as the main language of communication)
• We value candidates who are critical thinkers and self-starters; comfortable in managing ambiguity; willing to pick up new skills and being exposed to new areas of industry and business Additional information regarding Hiring Process
• All shortlisted candidates are required to complete a Case Study that will be administered by the hiring manager in English
• The Case Study involves a real-life business problem that requires the candidate to analyse the business situation in depth and provide a recommendation with clear and well-supported rationale
• Candidates will be given 4 hours to complete a take-home case study and will need to produce a short presentation (in Powerpoint) and a supporting financial analysis (in Excel) for submission o Candidates are to provide a time that is suitable and convenient for themselves in order to sufficiently work on the case o Details will be coordinated if the candidate is shortlisted for this Case Study
• Candidates will then present their answer in a face-to-face interview (either virtual or physical depending on circumstances); including Q&A