Bilingual ERP / SAP Implementation Coordinator

About the Company

Our client is a premier global technology solutions and regulatory compliance consulting partner dedicated to the life sciences and healthcare sectors. Headquartered in Europe with over two decades of excellence, 30+ international offices, and a global team exceeding 2,000 specialists, they support multinational pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device manufacturers in executing mission-critical digital transformations, quality engineering, and compliance programs worldwide.

Position Overview

We are seeking a proactive, detail-oriented Bilingual ERP / SAP Implementation Coordinator to facilitate a high-profile global SAP template rollout at an industrial manufacturing site in Higashine, Yamagata, Japan.

Operating at the intersection of local site operations and the global program office, you will serve as the essential cross-functional link between local Japanese subject matter experts (SMEs) and international technical leads. This role does not require deep technical SAP configuration skills; rather, it demands strong project facilitation, clear cross-cultural communication, hands-on data tracking, and testing support across the end-to-end implementation lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

1. Cross-Border Project Liaison & Alignment

• Serve as the central bilingual point of contact connecting Japanese plant stakeholders with international implementation leads.
• Facilitate bi-directional communication, workshops, and status forums in both Japanese and English, ensuring action items, project risks, and requirements are clearly understood and resolved.
• Translate business needs into clear operational documentation and monitor deliverable timelines across local and global streams.

2. Local Business Process Integration & Requirements

• Partner with local site teams and SMEs to map existing workflows, identify operational nuances, and align plant procedures with the global SAP template.
• Help identify operational gaps and work collaboratively with global teams to develop practical alignment strategies.
• Assist in updating local Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), process maps, and related compliance documentation to reflect new system workflows.

3. User Acceptance Testing (UAT) & Cutover Facilitation

• Support local execution of system testing cycles, including test scenario preparation, user coordination, and issue logging.
• Monitor defect tracking and follow through with both local users and technical specialists to drive prompt resolution.
• Help coordinate site-level cutover schedules, dress rehearsals, and go-live readiness tasks.

4. Data Preparation, Cleansing & Integrity Tracking

• Guide and monitor local data preparation efforts required for system migration.
• Perform data validation, cleansing, and cross-system data mapping to maintain high data accuracy and completeness.
• Liaise with plant key users to clarify master data discrepancies and track resolution milestones prior to load cycles.

5. Training Enablement & User Adoption

• Support site-level training initiatives by localizing or adapting training materials for Japanese end-users.
• Act as a floor-support champion during user onboarding and hypercare, guiding users through basic troubleshooting and adoption hurdles.

Candidate Requirements

Core Qualifications

• Languages: Native or JLPT N1 Japanese + Business-Fluent English (strong written and verbal fluency in both is required).
• Experience: 2-5+ years of hands-on experience in project coordination, PMO, business analysis, or key-user support within an ERP deployment, major business systems implementation, or digital transformation program.
• Collaboration Skills: Proven ability to build rapport with operational shop-floor teams while effectively engaging remote, multicultural technical teams.
• Analytical Tools: Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and structured data handling (cleansing, sorting, cross-referencing).

Preferred Attributes

• Hands-on exposure to SAP (experience or familiarity with SAP PM / Plant Maintenance is highly advantageous).
• Background supporting implementations in regulated or asset-heavy settings (e.g., pharmaceuticals, life sciences, chemicals, or precision manufacturing).
• Practical exposure to testing coordination (UAT), cutover management, or data migration tracking.

Role Details & Conditions

• Location: Higashine, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan (On-site; accessible via Sakuranbo-Higashine Station / Yamagata Airport).
• Engagement Type: 1-Year Fixed-Term Contract (open to evaluating permanent / direct extensions based on performance and project roadmap).
• Commute / Relocation: Support or flexibility evaluated for candidates relocating or commuting from nearby regional hubs (e.g., Sendai corridor).