Senior/Group Manager- Strategic Security Programs (APAC & Japan)

Job description

**Introduction** We are seeking a seasoned leader to serve as Senior/Group Manager for Strategic Programs in IBM’s Security team for APAC & Japan. This highly visible, individual contributor role based in Gurugram, India reports directly to Director Security (APAC & Japan). You will be a part of an 86-full time employees team spread across 16 countries in APAC & Japan. The role will drive strategic alignment, orchestrate cross‑functional programs, and ensure operating rhythm and execution excellence for the broader APAC-J Security team. As a trusted advisor and execution partner to senior leadership, the role will shape governance, organizational effectiveness, and stakeholder collaboration across functions within APAC & Japan. You will bring structure to ambiguity by turning broad goals into concrete initiatives, support executive decision-making with clear analysis and narrative, and ensure that strategic initiatives are appropriately resourced, tracked, and delivered with measurable impact. **Key Responsibilities** **Your role and responsibilities** Strategy & Planning - Lead mid to long term strategic planning for the function, translating vision into clear roadmaps, OKRs, and measurable outcomes. - Act as a thought partner to the Director Security (APAC & Japan), providing structured analyses, decision support, and synthesised insights on key business topics. - Run the business cadence: quarterly business reviews, leadership meetings, strategy offsites, and governance forums, including content, pre‑reads, and follow‑through. - Lead or oversee preparation for board updates, executive forums, and cross‑functional working groups, ensuring clear narrative, metrics, and alignment. - Coordinate annual budget and headcount planning in partnership with Finance and HR; monitor spend, capacity, and ROI on strategic initiatives. Program Management & Execution - Own end‑to‑end strategic program management for high‑impact, cross‑functional initiatives, from problem definition to benefits realisation. - Track progress on strategic priorities, identify risks and inter‑dependencies, and drive timely issue resolution and course correction. Operational and Organisational Efficiency - Review, design, and improve organisational structures, processes, and operating models to enhance efficiency and collaboration. - Drive “grey space” work: clarify ownership, close gaps between teams, and create structure where none exists across ambiguous problem areas. - Build strong stakeholder relationships across functions and geographies, acting as a central liaison for the leadership team. **Preferred Education** Master's Degree **Required Technical And Professional Expertise** - 10–15 years of total experience in strategy, program management, consulting, or business operations, with significant exposure to senior leadership. - Demonstrated track record of leading complex, cross‑functional programs with material business impact. - Prior experience in Strategic Programs, PMO, or Strategy & Operations role is strongly preferred. - Graduate/Post-graduate qualification in business, program management, or a related field is preferred. Prior experience in Security is not mandatory. **Preferred Technical And Professional Experience** **Key skills and competencies** - Strong strategic thinking and structured problem‑solving; ability to break down ambiguous problems and design practical solutions. - Expert program and project management skills, including planning, governance, risk management, and stakeholder management. - Demonstrable experience with multi‑stakeholder programs across multiple time zones, with measurable outcomes. - Exceptional communication and executive storytelling skills, with experience preparing materials for senior management level forums. - High degree of ownership, bias for action, and comfort operating in fast‑paced, unstructured environments. - Ability to influence without direct authority and build trusted relationships across senior stakeholders. - Strong business acumen and comfort with financials, KPIs, and performance dashboards.