Customer Project Manager (Global)

【ABOUT THE ROLE】

You are the project manager for the customer programs that put our next-generation lithium-ion cells into the products of drone and mobility customers in Japan and overseas. As the single internal owner, you take each program from first sample to mass production and keep the customer informed. In this position, you mainly cover overseas customers (US, Europe and Asia). Programs come in two shapes, and you run both.

■ DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS (PRIME CUSTOMERS, 1–2)

The customer's product and our cell are developed together. You capture and structure the customer's requirements with our engineers and run the joint development schedule (A/B/C sample phases, evaluations, design reviews). You align the customer's timeline with our development and production timelines, and you manage changes, risks and decisions across development, mass production, production preparation, sourcing, quality and finance. Technical judgement comes from our Customer Engineers and the development team; you make sure it arrives on time and reaches the customer.

■ STANDARD-PRODUCT PROGRAMS (SEVERAL IN PARALLEL)

The customer adopts our standard cell with no or minimal adjustment. You run a lighter cycle: confirm the requested configuration, agree the sample and delivery schedule, coordinate production slots, shipment and documentation, and close out evaluation feedback.

In both cases, you lead customer meetings, reporting and internal progress tracking yourself (roughly 80–90% of the work), without relying on Sales or engineers to sit in or act for you. Where a specialist call is needed, such as technical judgement or price and contract terms, you bring in the responsible team. Even for overseas customers, shipments leave from our site in Japan, so this role is based in Japan.

We are also hiring a Customer Project Manager (Japan) who mainly covers customers in Japan.

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【RESPONSIBILITIES】

• Act as the single accountable owner of 1–2 development programs and several standard-product programs, from sample delivery through the transition to mass production
• Report progress to customers and agree schedules, changes and issues. Cascade customer requirements and change requests internally, and keep the decision log (contract drafting and negotiation, price and contract terms are handled by BD)
• Coordinate development, mass production, production preparation, sourcing, quality and finance: run the weekly customer-program meeting and manage sample plans and shipments, evaluation schedules, risks and priorities
• Lead the transition to mass production (pre-production samples, PPAP, capacity slots, quality agreement) together with manufacturing and quality
• Work with BD: get involved before the order and take over program ownership at the order
• Lead meetings and reporting with overseas customers in English, host customer visits to Japan, and handle the Japan side of overseas shipments and witness tests at our mass-production site

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【REPORTS TO】

BD/Commercial Lead

【REQUIREMENTS】

• 3+ years running customer-facing projects or programs (PM / PL / project coordination) at a manufacturing or technology company (B2B)
• Hands-on experience driving projects across several functions (development, manufacturing, quality, sourcing, etc.)
• Able to follow and structure technical discussions (you do not need to be a battery expert; deep technical points are handled together with our engineers)
• Fluent English and business-level Japanese (internal coordination and work with our sites in Japan are in Japanese)
• Organized and proactive; someone who does the work, not only directs it

【NICE TO HAVE】

• Experience in the battery, electronics, automotive or drone industry (battery experience especially welcome)
• From consulting: you understand manufacturing on the shop floor and want to do the hands-on work yourself
• Degree in science or engineering
• Knowledge of international standards and certification bodies
• Experience working with overseas customers
• Experience launching mass production (PPAP, quality agreements)
• Experience with CRM or project-management tools

【WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR】

• Strong listening and communication skills
• Able to synthesize information quickly and think logically
• Supportive leadership that helps the team move forward