Posted by on April 22, 19102 at 15:31:59:
Position: Japan Solutions Manager
Department: Engineering
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Description:
As our Speech Solutions Manager in Tokyo, you will build and lead a team of engineers and project managers that use SpeechWorks' state-of-the-art speech recognition and dialog management software to sell and implement leading edge telephony applications in the telephone network and in major corporate call centers. SpeechWorks' software is used by industry-leading companies such as GlobalOne, United Airlines, First Union National Bank, Federal Express, and Hewlett-Packard for a range of applications such as reservations, stock trading, banking, messaging, and customer service. SpeechWorks enables companies to augment their e-commerce offerings by offering 24x7 universal access through a telephone-based spoken interface.
Responsibilities:
· Oversee the delivery of multiple, simultaneous projects to analyze specific customer needs and wants, estimate effort required, and create and/or customize high quality, successful speech-based software solutions using SpeechWorks technology within the estimated time and budget to meet those needs. Deliver systems to customers and help them install and run them successfully, including front-line support for diagnosing and correcting problems in the field. Ensure that our clients consider these solutions and services (and you) to be of superior professional quality and can be referenced as such.
· Ensure that projects are run in accordance with SpeechWorks’ global best practices, adapting as necessary to regional needs.
· Over time, delegate day-to-day management of major projects, and provide overall supervision and direction for projects where your members of your staff are acting as project managers.
· Develop account management strategies with Sales and Solutions management, and build relationships at appropriate clients levels for both project issue escalation and to facilitate acquisition of follow-on work.
· Serve as a review & approval point for SEs and PMs doing FRSs and estimates.
· Identify whenever possible process and product improvements, make solid recommendations for acting on them, and oversee their implementation.
· Attract, motivate, grow, mentor, and retain high quality professional staff who work at a superior level of productivity compared to the industry. Ensure that you understand your resource needs on a rolling 3-month basis, to facilitate Solutions- and Operations-wide resource planning.
· Provide front-line support for local customers as appropriate, projecting competence, confidence, and a customer-first attitude.
Requirements:
· Minimum 5 years experience managing full life cycle of complex multi-technology custom projects. A good track record at estimating budgets and schedules, and delivering on them.
· Minimum 3 years hands-on software development experience in Java and C/C++.
· Desire and ability to work directly with customers (track record and references important).
· Excellent spoken and written English language communications skills.
· Instill confidence in your abilities when working with prospects and clients.
· VRU & telephony experience is a big plus.
· Experience working with US-based critical team members strongly desired.
· University-level education.