Customer Project Manager - Japanese speaking

Meet the Team Cisco is the catalyst for the AI-driven era, powering the secure, intelligent, and sustainable infrastructure that connects the world. As pioneers in networking evolved to orchestrating the vast, complex digital ecosystems of the future. Today, we are building teams that are redefining the boundaries of AI-native networking, cybersecurity resilience, hybrid cloud, and quantum-ready connectivity. Imagine creating technologies that solve the world’s most pressing challenges from decarbonizing industries to securing the global digital landscape. Collaborate with visionary innovators in a culture that champions diversity, flexibility, and purpose, consistently recognized as a Great Place to Work, your career at Cisco offers the platform to build the world of tomorrow. Your Impact • This role requires a self-motivated, flexible leader capable of balancing multiple complex projects simultaneously while driving AI-led transformation. • Connect with Cisco internal teams, customers, and partners across functions to achieve significant business results and project success. • Drive the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of CX functions through AI-integrated processes and digitized delivery. • Act as a Trusted Advisor to Engineering teams to influence product features, updates, and roadmaps based on real-world project data. • Serve as a strategic advisor to help customers achieve business outcomes, operational objectives, and service milestones. • Provide mentorship to impact and elevate the broader CX PM community. Responsibilities: • Manage the full project lifecycle (from order to cash) across scope, time, cost, quality, and risk using both Waterfall and Agile methodologies. • Actively mentor and develop Project Specialists to build high-performing delivery teams. • Lead the deployment of leading-edge technologies within highly complex customer IT infrastructure environments. • Manage workstreams and projects independently as part of larger programs and portfolios. • Develop comprehensive project plans, including financial, resource, and material requirements. • Leverage AI assistants and prompt engineering to automate routine management tasks, including real-time meeting intelligence, action item tracking, and status reporting to maximize productivity. • Drive Predictive Delivery and Data Integrity by utilizing the Digitized Delivery platform and AI-driven insights to manage lifecycles proactively, identifying and mitigating risks before they impact timelines. • Lead multiple simultaneous, multi-disciplinary customer-facing projects, including internal Cisco initiatives and ongoing optimization services. • Contribute to the evolution of PMO methodologies and internal program optimization by collaborating with the Program Management Community. • Consult with customers and partners to plan, design, install, configure, and integrate Cisco’s suite of products to accelerate business outcomes. • Identify and drive automation opportunities, leading teams of engineers to implement solutions that increase delivery perfection and operational efficiency. Minimum Qualifications • 5-8 years of relevant end-to-end project management experience leading complex, customer-facing projects. • Education: College/University degree or equivalent. MBA/MCA/MTech preferred. • IT Industry Project Management experience in the deployment of leading-edge technologies in a highly complex environment within functional or matrix organizations. • Proficient in managing scope, time, cost, quality, human resources, risk and communications of a project. • Proven experience in the deployment of leading-edge technologies in highly complex IT environments within functional or matrix organizations. • Professional PM Certifications: PMP, PRINCE2, ITIL, or SCRUM/ACP (PMP highly preferred). • Proficiency in PM toolsets including MS-Project, JIRA, Confluence, and Excel, with a demonstrated ability to integrate AI tools for project automation. • Japanese language proficiency is required as the role supports Japanese-speaking customers and stakeholders. • Strong foundational knowledge of network architecture (routing, switching, internet protocols) and Cisco hardware/software solutions. Preferred Qualifications • Proven experience in Telecom/Service Provider Infrastructure project delivery. • Demonstrated ability to influence, motivate, and work in a highly cross-functional matrix environment to drive outcome-based execution. • Experience with contract Change Management processes and managing partner delivery/commercials for 3rd party resources. • Demonstrated success in building and launching programs within budget while managing multiple, concurrent timelines. • Having Agile/Scrum project experience would be an added advantage. • Adaptable to diverse time zone requirements to meet global schedules. • Willingness to travel locally and internationally as required by project scope. Why Cisco? At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint. Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere. We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.