Senior Manager, IT

Job description

Key Responsibilities Strategic IT Partnership & Business Engagement Serve as the primary IT point of contact for all functional heads in Japan, including Finance, Operations, Asset Management, Human Resources, and other business units. Proactively engage with business stakeholders to understand their technology needs, pain points, and strategic objectives, and recommend appropriate technology solutions. Translate business requirements into actionable IT initiatives, working in alignment with regional IT strategy and the General Manager, IT Infrastructure in Singapore. Develop and maintain a local IT roadmap that supports Japan's business goals while remaining consistent with the organization's broader technology vision. Provide regular updates and reporting to the General Manager, IT Infrastructure on local IT operations, projects, and issues. IT Helpdesk & Service Desk Management Lead, mentor, and manage the IT helpdesk team in Japan, ensuring high-quality service delivery and user satisfaction. Establish and monitor service level agreements (SLAs) for incident response, resolution times, and overall service desk performance. Implement best practices for IT service management (ITSM), including incident management, problem management, change management, and request fulfillment. Drive continuous improvement of helpdesk operations through regular analysis of ticket trends, user feedback, and performance metrics. Ensure proper documentation, knowledge base maintenance, and standard operating procedures are in place for the helpdesk team. Able to foster a Self-Managed team[SMT]/Self-Organizing Team culture. Office IT Infrastructure Management Take full ownership of all office IT infrastructure in Japan, ensuring reliability, performance, and security. Manage and troubleshoot networking infrastructure including firewalls, routers, switches, wireless access points (APs), VPN solutions, and Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices and other infrastructure applications that is used by the stakeholders. Oversee the maintenance, upgrade, and lifecycle management of servers, end-user devices, conferencing systems, and other office technology. Coordinate with regional IT teams and external vendors to resolve complex infrastructure challenges in a timely manner. Ensure business continuity and disaster recovery plans are in place and regularly tested for the Japan office environment. Manage relationships with local IT vendors and service providers, including contract negotiations and performance reviews. Ensure that the technology and architecture standards are adopted immediately within Japan offices. Operational Technology (OT) Infrastructure Oversee the OT infrastructure across the company's solar and wind energy assets in Japan, ensuring uptime, reliability, and security of all OT systems. Work closely with the Operations and Asset Management teams to ensure OT systems effectively support plant monitoring, control, and performance optimization. Collaborate with regional and global teams to implement and maintain OT network architecture, including SCADA systems, remote monitoring platforms, and site connectivity. Identify and address OT infrastructure risks and develop mitigation strategies to ensure the integrity and availability of critical operational systems. Support the integration of new renewable energy assets into the existing OT infrastructure framework. Cybersecurity & Regulatory Compliance Serve as the local lead for cybersecurity matters, particularly as they relate to OT environments and regulatory requirements. Work directly with Japanese regulators and government agencies to prepare, submit, and maintain cybersecurity-related documentation and compliance filings for OT requirements. Stay current on Japan's evolving cybersecurity regulations, standards, and guidelines applicable to critical infrastructure and the energy sector. Implement and enforce cybersecurity policies and procedures across both IT and OT environments in alignment with organizational and regulatory standards. Coordinate security assessments, vulnerability management, and incident response activities for both IT and OT infrastructure. Work Experience 10+ years of progressive experience in IT infrastructure management, with at least 3–5 years in a leadership or managerial role. Proven experience in managing an IT service desk / helpdesk team, including establishing SLAs, KPIs, and driving service improvement. Strong technical and hands-on experience with infrastructure and networking technologies including: Firewalls (e.g., Palo Alto, Fortinet, Cisco ASA) Routers and Switches (e.g., Cisco Meraki, Juniper, Aruba) Wireless Access Points (APs) and wireless network management VPN configuration and management Azure, Office365, SharePoint, Intune, Autopilot, Defender. NAS (Network Attached Storage) solutions Video conferencing systems[e.g., Logitech line of products] Security [SOC logging] and Availability monitoring [PRTG, Nagios etc] Backup systems [e.g., Veeam, Acronis] Experience working in a matrixed, multinational organization with regional or global reporting lines. Experience engaging with business stakeholders at a senior level to understand and address technology needs. Experience in overseeing procurement. Experience working with external regulators or government agencies on compliance or documentation requirements is highly desirable. Relevant professional certifications are a plus (e.g., CCNA/CCNP, ITIL, CompTIA Network+, CISSP, or equivalent ). Strong knowledge of enterprise networking concepts, protocols, and architecture design. Solid understanding of IT security principles , including network security, endpoint protection, and access management. Familiarity with ITSM frameworks and tools (e.g., ServiceNow, Jira Service Management, or similar). Knowledge of server and cloud infrastructure (e.g., Windows Server, Active Directory, Microsoft 365, Azure/AWS). Understanding of IT infrastructure monitoring tools and practices. Knowledge and experience with Operational Technology (OT) systems, including SCADA, DCS, RTU, Modbus, PLCs, and industrial networking. Understanding of IT/OT convergence and the unique security challenges in industrial and energy environments. Experience in the renewable energy sector (solar, wind) or other critical infrastructure industries. Familiarity with Japanese cybersecurity regulations and compliance frameworks for critical infrastructure (e.g., NISC guidelines, Electricity Business Act requirements). Experience with OT cybersecurity frameworks (e.g., IEC 62443, NIST SP 800-82). Non-Technical / Soft Skills Japanese: Business-level fluency (required) – necessary for engaging with local stakeholders, regulators, and team members. English: Business-level proficiency (required) – necessary for reporting to Singapore-based leadership and collaborating with regional/global teams. Leadership & People Management: Ability to lead, motivate, and develop a helpdesk team while fostering a customer-service oriented culture. Stakeholder Management: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trusted relationships with functional heads and senior leaders across the organization. Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills in both Japanese and English; ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences. Problem Solving: Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills with a solutions-oriented mindset. Adaptability: Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment within the renewable energy sector. Cross-Cultural Awareness: Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment with regional teams across Asia-Pacific. Project Management: Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously with attention to detail and deadlines. Proactive Mindset: Self-starter who can identify gaps, propose solutions, and drive initiatives without extensive oversight. Are you ready to engineer a greener future?