Bilingual Program Manager, Japan & Cross-Region Programs

AI Chopping Block; Santa Clara (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

PlusAI, a Bay Area-based Physical AI company, seeks a Program Manager to own Japan-based programs, coordinating between Japanese partners and PlusAI’s engineering, product, and operations teams in the Bay Area. This role requires Japanese fluency and involves regular travel to Japan (~25%).

You will translate priorities in both directions, manage program plans, KPIs, and milestones, and serve as the primary contact for cross-functional collaboration across regions.

Qualifications

• Fluent in Japanese and English, strong communication skills across multilingual teams.
• Proven track record in managing complex, cross-functional programs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with adaptable style for different audiences.
• Strong organizational skills and decisive leadership in planning and execution.
• Ability to travel to Japan ~25% of the time.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage ongoing programs with Japanese customers, serving as the primary point of contact for program-level matters.
• Act as the connective tissue between Japan-based partner teams and PlusAI's cross-functional U.S. teams, translating priorities bidirectionally.
• Gather and integrate project performance data from engineering, quality, and partner teams.
• Prepare and present status reports with milestones, metrics, and risk analysis for leadership and partners, in English and Japanese as needed.
• Maintain detailed project plans, timelines, KPIs, and milestones for Japan programs.
• Identify dependencies and risks early, driving mitigation plans across teams and partners.
• Travel to Japan (~25%) to participate in partner reviews and testing activities.

Skills

Japanese fluency

English fluency

Program management

Cross-functional teamwork

Strong communication

Job description

PlusAI, a Bay Area-based Physical AI company, seeks a Program Manager to own Japan-based programs, coordinating between Japanese partners and PlusAI’s engineering, product, and operations teams in the Bay Area. This role requires Japanese fluency and involves regular travel to Japan (~25%).

You will translate priorities in both directions, manage program plans, KPIs, and milestones, and serve as the primary contact for cross-functional collaboration across regions.