Technical Director

Hitachi Asia Ltd; Singapore; On-site; SGD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology solutions provider in Singapore is seeking a Senior Information Technology Project Leader to manage end-to-end project execution in the banking sector. This role demands 15 years of Project Management experience, including 5 years in senior management, with proficiency in both English and Japanese. The successful candidate will oversee engineering teams, manage budgets, and foster stakeholder relationships to ensure operational excellence and successful delivery of IT solutions.

Qualifications

• 15 years of experience in Project Management with proven leadership.
• 5 years in a Senior Manager role, overseeing department operations.
• 3 years in business application implementation with banking projects.

Responsibilities

• Oversee engineering team during proposal phase for new business opportunities.
• Lead engineering team during project execution to ensure successful delivery.
• Establish effective processes and documentation to meet objectives.
• Build relationships with clients and stakeholders for efficient operations.
• Manage budgets and resources, ensuring compliance and risk management.
• Identify operational issues and lead continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

Project Management Methodologies

Advanced proficiency in English

Advanced proficiency in Japanese

Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Interpersonal and negotiation skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT Engineering, or a related field

Project Management Certification (e.g., PMP, Prince2)

Job description

Hitachi Asia Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., serves as the regional headquarters for seven countries across Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam). We continue to expand our presence through initiatives in various sectors, including information & telecommunication systems, power systems, social infrastructure & industrial systems, electronic systems, and equipment, construction machinery, high-functional materials and components, automotive systems, and home appliances, among others.

Position Overview

The Financial Institutions Business Unit (FIBU) has been delivering IT solutions to Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) clients across the region for over a decade. As we enter an exciting new phase of growth and expansion, we are looking for a Senior Information Technology Project Leader to help drive and scale our business.

In this role, you will take the lead in end-to-end project execution, ensuring operational excellence, managing and mentoring project teams, and fostering effective communication with both internal and external stakeholders. As a key leader, you will play a central role in delivering high-quality, scalable IT solutions to our BFSI clients.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Proposal Phase: Oversee and guide the engineering team during the early proposal stage, supporting new business opportunities by understanding customer requirements, evaluating and designing suitable solutions, and preparing technical and commercial proposals.
• Project Execution: Lead the engineering team during the project execution phase, ensuring successful delivery by managing activities at a high level, while ensuring system stability, security, performance, and overall solution quality.
• Process Management: Establish and maintain effective processes to meet task objectives. Create documentation that defines the purpose, activities, inputs, and outputs of each process and sub-process, ensuring alignment with relevant stakeholders.
• Standardization: Define standard output formats to guide project participants in producing high-quality deliverables. Create samples or guidelines to support standardization and review outputs to ensure accuracy and compliance with defined standards.
• Stakeholder Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, partners, and internal stakeholders to ensure efficient business operations and successful project delivery.
• Compliance & Risk Management: Ensure adherence to company policies, security standards, and relevant regulations.
• Budget & Resource Management: Manage departmental budgets, allocate resources efficiently, and oversee vendor relationships.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify operational issues and lead initiatives for continuous improvement to enhance efficiency and effectiveness across projects.
• Reporting: Report on departmental performance, risks, and progress to senior management, providing insights and actionable recommendations for improvement.

Educational & Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT Engineering, or a related field
• Project Management Certification (e.g., PMP, Prince2, etc.)

Experience

• 15 years of experience in Project Management (PM) or Project Management Assistance, with proven experience leading projects from initiation to post go live.
• 5 years in a Senior Manager role, overseeing departmental operations and leading teams.
• 3 years in business application implementation, with experience in banking business-related projects being a significant advantage.
• Highly preferred to have 10 years of project experience in major banks in Japan or with Japan-oriented companies or projects.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and project management methodologies (experience with prototyping is a plus).
• Ability to review project documentation and outputs, identify issues, propose solutions, and ensure successful implementation.
• Advanced proficiency in English and Japanese, enabling effective communication with Japanese-speaking clients.
• In-depth knowledge of banking business processes, including remittance, trade finance, loans, guarantees, credit limits, deposits, FX, MM, and general ledger.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), with expertise in Excel macros/formulas
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills, able to work effectively with project teams, clients, and stakeholders to drive tasks and achieve project goals.