Senior Business Program Manager

To accelerate business transformation in the AI era, Microsoft is strengthening cross-market collaboration and the disciplined execution of strategic priorities, guided by the spirit of One Microsoft and Customer Obsession.

As a member of the Executive Office supporting Japan and Asia, the Strategic Program Lead will own the effective delivery of strategic programs across Asia. The role brings structure to complex, fast-changing environments by clarifying objectives, building execution plans, aligning stakeholders, managing dependencies, and ensuring high-quality outcomes across markets.

The role also contributes to Japan's strategic initiatives and business and cultural transformation, working with the Chief of Staff and business leaders to support execution and adoption. We seek a professional who takes pride in bringing order to complexity, delivering with precision and consistency, and enabling teams across markets to achieve results.

Responsibilities

Asia Strategic Program Management

• Lead end-to-end planning, rollout, coordination, and execution of strategic programs sponsored by the Asia Executive Office.
• Define program objectives, scope, priorities, milestones, ownership, and success measures across multiple markets.
• Align regional and local leaders and teams to ensure timely, consistent program delivery.
• Manage multiple programs and changing priorities with sound judgment, agility, and accountability.

Operational Excellence & Execution

• Establish disciplined tracking of progress, risks, issues, decisions, and interdependencies; proactively resolve execution barriers.
• Clarify roles and responsibilities and build reliable operating rhythms, governance, and follow-through.
• Maintain a high bar for accuracy, timeliness, attention to detail, and execution quality.
• Improve and standardize processes to create scalable, repeatable approaches to program delivery.
• Provide concise, decision-oriented updates to executives and stakeholders.

Cross-market Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Build trusted relationships with leaders and teams across Asia and enable effective cross-border collaboration.
• Understand market-specific business contexts and priorities while aligning stakeholders around shared objectives.
• Navigate different cultures and ways of working with sensitivity, clarity, and practical problem-solving.
• Facilitate two-way sharing of insights and practices between Japan and other Asia markets.

Japan Strategic Initiatives & Transformation Support

• Support Japan's strategic initiatives in partnership with the Chief of Staff and business leaders.
• Contribute to initiatives that evolve customer engagement and business processes for the AI era
• Coordinate stakeholders, track actions and outcomes, and help embed business and cultural change.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience independently managing complex projects or programs involving multiple teams and stakeholders.
• Strong program management capabilities spanning planning, prioritization, milestones, risk and issue management, and outcome tracking.
• Ability to bring structure to ambiguity and translate complex requirements into clear processes, responsibilities, and action plans.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining accuracy, reliability, and consistent execution quality.
• Ownership mindset and commitment to seeing programs through from planning to delivery.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly and concisely to executives and facilitate timely decisions.
• Fluency in both Japanese and English, including the ability to engage senior executives, facilitate alignment, deliver presentations, and produce clear business documents.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to build trust and influence across organizational boundaries.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading programs across multiple countries, markets, or multicultural teams.
• Background in program management, business operations, strategic planning, or an executive office.
• Experience designing, standardizing, and improving scalable program operating processes.
• Exposure to business transformation, organizational change, or change management initiatives.
• Knowledge of AI-enabled business transformation or digital ways of working.
• People management or cross-functional team leadership experience.

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.