@mercari | Mercari Japan
Created a year ago (Last Update: a year ago)
Program Manager (PMO) - Mercari, Japan
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Program Manager (PMO) - Mercari in Tokyo, Japan
Team mission:
- Planning and managing programs or complex projects that are strategically aligned with the growth objectives of the Mercari Group.
- Establishing and enforcing standards for project and program governance to ensure consistency and quality in project management.
- Streamlining and optimizing cross-company processes to enhance efficiency and collaboration across different units and teams within Mercari.
(Learn more about Mercari's mission and values here.)
Specific work responsibilities include the following:
- Leading and overseeing large and complex projects/programs that involve cross-functional collaboration across different departments and teams within the Mercari Group. This leadership role is instrumental in the growth and enhancement of our products.
- Taking ultimate accountability for the success of the overall project/program and ensuring effective coordination between various projects managed by different team members.
- Identifying problem areas within the organization and formulating new programs or projects to address these issues and align with the business objectives.
- Managing stakeholders and fostering strong relationships to facilitate successful project/program execution.
- Proposing, drafting, and finalizing program/project OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) in collaboration with stakeholders, including executives.
- Creating and maintaining the program/project roadmap, which serves as a strategic blueprint for the entire initiative.
- Establishing key milestones, which provide crucial markers for progress and success.
- Planning in reverse from the target program/project launch date to set quarterly action plans and key milestones that will guide the team in achieving their goals. This approach ensures efficient project management and progress tracking.
Lead kick off and subsequent business meetings during the course of the program/project
- Create a program/project charter that is aligned with all stakeholders
- Track and monitor KPIs
- Ensure the program/project is on track and drive recovery planning if it’s not
- Share and enforce accountability for the duration of a project and afterward
Set up regular reporting mechanisms with stakeholders
- Ensure that regular meetings, Slack channels, and dashboards are in place
- Anticipate delays and create action plans with stakeholders
Report in executive meetings as required to obtain approvals
- Draft documents for approval and obtain alignment from stakeholders
- Report in executive meetings
Anticipate and manage risks and issues
- Create risk logs and issue logs and identify owners for each risk and issue
- Update and monitor risk logs and issue logs
- Given that the Mercari marketplace serves millions of users, the role of a program manager is crucial in advancing the company's mission of "circulating all forms of value to unleash the potential in all people." This involves developing and executing bold and visionary strategies, orchestrating the planning and implementation of substantial projects, and collaborating with a diverse group of individuals to achieve the company's overarching objectives.
- Effective stakeholder management is fundamental for the program manager. They often need to navigate complex scenarios, including negotiating conflicting interests among product and engineering teams. Furthermore, the program manager should excel at facilitating communication and decision-making, particularly in situations characterized by ambiguity, to ensure the company continues to progress toward its mission.
The role of a program manager at Mercari demands a range of qualifications and skills, including:
- Shared Mission and Values: An aligned understanding and belief in the company's mission and values are fundamental.
- Project/Program Management Experience: At least 5 years of experience in project or program management, ideally within the IT or software development field.
- Independence and Adaptability: The ability to work independently and lead large-scale, cross-functional projects/programs in a fast-paced and often ambiguous environment. This includes the capability to drive projects forward even when details and direction are unclear.
- Stakeholder Management and Communication: Proficiency in managing stakeholders, understanding wider program objectives, and negotiating competing interests across product and software development teams. Facilitating effective cross-cultural communication with diverse stakeholders is essential.
- Visibility for Leadership: The skill to ensure work is transparently tracked and reported. Comfort in working with business leaders and facilitating executive-level reporting.
- Team Stability: A deep understanding of project management concepts related to planning, monitoring, and reporting. The ability to advocate for and drive improvements in these areas, particularly with stakeholders who may be less familiar with these concepts. Collaboration with the program management team to advance and refine underlying processes.
- Bilingual Proficiency: Proficiency in both English and Japanese languages is a requirement for this role, indicating the importance of effective communication in a cross-cultural environment.
These qualifications and skills are vital for a program manager at Mercari to successfully drive projects, achieve company objectives, and foster collaboration across diverse teams and stakeholders.
In addition to the previously mentioned qualifications, Mercari values the following additional qualifications for a program manager role:
- Experience with Agile Methodologies: Proficiency in designing and implementing Agile methodologies, particularly in the context of large organizations. This experience is crucial for managing complex projects efficiently.
- Project Management/Agile Certifications: Possessing relevant certifications can demonstrate your expertise in project management and Agile practices. Certifications such as Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), or Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) are highly regarded.
- Proficiency in Atlassian Products: Familiarity with Atlassian products like JIRA and Confluence is advantageous, as these tools are commonly used in Agile project management for tracking progress, collaboration, and documentation.
These qualifications further enhance your candidacy for a program manager role at Mercari, particularly in terms of implementing Agile methodologies and utilizing popular project management tools.
For the role of a program manager at Mercari, the following qualifications and attributes are highly valued:
- Strong Project/Program Management Experience: A robust background in project and program management is crucial. This includes experience managing complex programs and a deep understanding of project management concepts.
- Cross-Functional and Cross-Cultural Leadership: Proven experience in successfully leading cross-functional and cross-cultural teams, guiding them toward effective decision-making and the achievement of program objectives.
- Resilience and Learning from Failures: An attitude that not only focuses on success but also embraces the ability to recover from setbacks and learn from failures. This resilience is vital in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
- Alignment with Mercari's Values: A strong belief in Mercari's values and the capability to actively practice these values in day-to-day work.
These qualifications and attributes are essential for a program manager to thrive at Mercari and contribute to the company's mission and objectives.
(See this page for details.)
- English: Independent (CEFR - B2) or above.
- Japanese: Independent (CEFR - B2) or above
* For details about CEFR, see here
Employment Status
Full-time
The probationary period at our company lasts for the initial three months after joining. During this probationary period, your contract conditions will be identical to those of a permanent employee.
Office
Roppongi
- We have a strict no-smoking policy within our office premises.
- At Mercari, we have implemented a work style policy called "Your Choice." This policy grants each team member the autonomy to decide whether they prefer to work in the office or opt for full remote work, with certain exceptions made for specific job roles.
Work Hours
- Full flextime (no “core time” or “flex time”).
- *Does not apply to all positions
Holidays
- Two days off per week (as well as national holidays, New Year's break, etc.).
- Paid leave, congratulatory and bereavement leave, relax days, sick leave
Salary
- Annual salary paid in 12 monthly installments (including fixed overtime allowance).
- Based on skills, experience, and abilities.
- Reviewed twice a year
Benefits
- Complete health and social insurance.
- Incentive program.
- Support systems, including those that benefit the employee’s family members
Support
- Relocation support.
Circulate all forms of value to unleash the potential in all people
"How can I contribute to society's prosperity given our limited resources?" This question served as the inspiration for the creation of the Mercari marketplace app in 2013 by our founder, Shintaro Yamada, during his travels around the world. We firmly believe that by facilitating the circulation of various forms of value, extending beyond physical items and money, we can open doors for individuals to pursue their aspirations and make positive contributions to society and those in their proximity. Mercari is committed to leveraging technology to connect people across the globe, ultimately striving to build a world where everyone can unlock their full potential. For more details on Mercari Group's mission, please refer to Mercari's Culture Doc.
Equal Opportunity Hiring
At Mercari, our mission is to build a world where no one's potential is constrained by their background, and where everyone has the liberty to generate value. We strongly emphasize that fostering a culture of Diversity & Inclusion is integral to realizing our mission.
This principle naturally extends to our hiring procedures. Mercari is dedicated to eradicating discrimination based on attributes such as age, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, physical abilities, and other similar factors. Our objective is to ensure that individuals who resonate with our mission and values can become part of our team, regardless of their personal backgrounds. For more detailed information, please refer to our D&I Statement.
