Job Description

The Japan Research Institute (JRI) Limited is a subsidiary of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) Group. SMBC Group is a Tokyo-based bank holding company that is ranked among the largest 25 banks globally by assets under management. JRI provides comprehensive, highly value-added information services through the coordinated application of its 3 functions i.e. information systems, consulting and think-tank. As a system integrator, JRI offers services in IT strategy planning, implementation and outsourcing to a broad range of industries and activities. JRI Singapore currently supports the overall IT functions of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) in the Asia Pacific region.

Responsibilities

Global Program Support

• Perform as the APAC IT representative in Global project such as Global HR system implementation and Data Platform Implementation and other global initiative.
• Assist the Global IT Project Manager in planning, execution, and reporting.
• Ensure APAC activities align with global project governance, standards, and timelines.
• Participate in global Project meeting, status meetings, and design discussions.

APAC IT Project Management

• Manage end-to-end APAC IT workstreams (planning, design, build, test, deployment, hypercare).
• Develop and maintain APAC-specific project plans, milestones, risks, and dependencies.
• Coordinate IT activities across multiple APAC countries and SMBC group companies.
• Track progress and proactively manage risks, issues, and mitigations.

Stakeholder & Vendor Management

• Perform as the primary liaison between:
• Global IT team
• APAC business user, IT, and business stakeholders
• External vendors / system integrators
• Facilitate alignment between regional requirements and global system design.
• Manage the report and escalation to APAC managements and managers and stakeholders including senior managements,
• Manage regional vendors, including timelines, deliverables, and quality control

System Integration & IT Delivery

• Oversee APAC IT aspects such as:
• System integrations (upstream/downstream systems)
• Data migration and validation
• Security, access control, and compliance
• Infrastructure and environment readiness
• Ensure APAC requirements comply with local regulatory, data privacy, and security policies.

Change, Testing & Deployment

• Coordinate APAC involvement in:
• System Integration Testing (SIT), User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
• Cutover and go-live preparation
• Post-go-live support and stabilization
• Support regional change management, user communication, and training coordination.

Reporting & Documentation

• Produce clear status reports, dashboards, and escalation materials for APAC and global audiences.
• Maintain accurate project documentation in line with global standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Information Systems, Data Management, Finance, or a related discipline.
• Master’s degree or equivalent professional qualification is an advantage.
• 10–15 years of experience in program or project management, preferably within data, analytics, or enterprise transformation initiatives.
• Proven track record leading regionally distributed or global programs, preferably across APAC.
• Extensive experience interacting with senior business stakeholders, including executives, country heads, and functional leaders.
• Strong background in managing business-facing change, including requirement alignment, impact assessment, and adoption.
• Experience working in regulated environments (e.g. financial services, banking, or large enterprises) is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success in stakeholder alignment, expectation management, and conflict resolution across diverse business units.
• Highly skilled in communication, influence, and negotiation, particularly in matrix and cross-cultural environments.
• Ability to translate business objectives and outcomes into actionable data delivery plans without deep technical intervention.
• Strong understanding of end-to-end delivery lifecycle for data and analytics initiatives from a business and governance perspective.
• Capability to structure workstreams, manage interdependencies, and drive accountability across multiple teams.
• Solid risk, issue, and dependency management skills with a proactive, outcome-driven mindset.
• Good conceptual understanding of:
  • Enterprise data platforms and analytics capabilities
  • Data governance, data ownership, and data quality principles
  • Regulatory, data privacy, and information security considerations
  • Ability to engage credibly with technical teams while maintaining a business-oriented focus on outcomes, value, and adoption.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence without direct authority.
• Strategic thinker with a pragmatic and hands-on execution approach.
• Highly organized, resilient, and comfortable operating in complex environments.
• Collaborative, diplomatic, and culturally sensitive.
• Experience leading APAC or multi-country initiatives.
• Exposure to enterprise data transformation or data governance programs.
• Program / Project Management certification (e.g. PMP, PRINCE2, Agile) is an advantage.