Managing Director, Public Affairs

Managing Director, Public Affairs

Strategy & Communication Advisory, Japan

Teneo is the global CEO advisory firm. Working exclusively with the CEOs and senior executives of the world’s leading companies, Teneo provides strategic counsel across their full range of key objectives and issues. 

 Teneo’s clients include a significant number of the Fortune 100 and FTSE 100, as well as other corporations, financial institutions, and organizations. Integrating the disciplines of strategic communications, investor relations, restructuring, management consulting, physical & cyber risk, financial advisory, corporate governance advisory, ESG, DE&I, political & policy risk, and talent advisory, Teneo solves for the most complex business challenges and opportunities. 

 In this newly created position, you will operate at the intersection of public affairs, reputation, strategy and context. As part of Teneo’s global public affairs offering, you will provide strategic counsel to the leaders of large and complex businesses on navigating today's volatile geopolitical landscape. Our team provides insights and analysis derived from our experts' deep understanding of political and economic dynamics and unrivaled networks, developed over decades in every major market. 

Responsibilities  

As a Managing Director with the Strategy and Communications team at Teneo, your role will include: 

• Providing strategic leadership and direction - Oversee the development and implementation of integrated strategic communication plans to support clients' objectives. Set the direction for client account teams, and provide guidance as needed. Deliver a range of solutions to clients that may draw on disciplines from public affairs, issues management, reputation campaigning and strategic communications.
• Senior public affairs advisory – Provide CEO-level guidance and counsel on an array of regulatory, legislative, policy and reputational priorities to multinational and domestic companies. Advise on political risk and policy response by developing effective frameworks through advocacy, media relations, thought leadership, and stakeholder outreach 
• Providing media and reputation management expertise - Stay abreast of the latest trends and developments across the Japanese media landscape and geopolitical climate, utilising this knowledge to strategically position clients in the market and to identify new communication opportunities and protect / promote the reputation of our clients as well as the ability to develop high-stakes and high-impact programmes that have a competitive advantage in the face of changing business, sector and market conditions.
• Business development - Facilitate and lead commercial efforts for Teneo across Japan. Play a key role in business development activities, including networking, pitching, and overseeing proposal development. Leverage strong commercial understanding to align strategic communication plans with business objectives, support forecasting and budgeting, and drive business growth and profitability. This individual will be responsible for generating and developing new and organic growth opportunities, working collaboratively with business and market leads in an integrated team effort.
• Client and Team management - Accepts responsibility for making complex decisions impacting colleagues and clients on a timely and transparent manner. Fosters an environment in which commitment to quality and client satisfaction is a top priority; can effectively lead high-performing teams and effectively respond to emerging client trends. 

 Furthermore, you will be expected to: 

• Identify opportunities beyond Strategy & Communications to deliver integrated solutions to client challenges and business growth
• Leading large and often integrated teams to deliver strategies that have impact for our clients across a range of topics and channels;
• Proactively contributing to and fostering a knowledge-sharing environment with clients and colleagues - seeking new insights, knowledge and expertise. 

Requirements  

• 15+ years’ experience working in public affairs positions or suitably relevant roles; 
• Excellent understanding of the Japan market – it's public affairs and geopolitical landscape;
• A deep network in Japan that should include government figures, policy makers, corporate leaders and senior opinion influencers in media;
• Experience in advising on issues, reputational matters, in addition to public affairs;  
• Confident and proven ability to grasp clients’ business objectives and relevant wider industry dynamics to enable drafting of messaging and communications materials;  
• Established and demonstrable experience working with international media;
• Working in a senior role in strategic communications consulting, business, industry or consultancy is essential;  
• Demonstrable experience in managing client accounts and/or industry understanding drawn from a senior role;
• Strong relationships with CEOs and Board-level and the ability to shape and deliver strategic advice to c-suite clients;  
• Commercially savvy, with the ability to consistently covert clients and close sales
• Able to articulate the Teneo promise, and then own the ability to shape and deliver that promise to clients to create clear outcomes;  
• Ability to take complexity and translate effectively; a creative and strategic thinker in the area of reputation management, sees around corners, approaches communications from new angles;
• Proven experience building/growing teams, strong management and organisational skills with the ability to develop and execute multiplatform strategies for clients while working with the client and Teneo account teams
• A Bachelor’s degree or higher in communications, journalism, political science, law, public policy, international relations, business or a related field
• Native Japanese language skills are required, as well as business-level fluency in English. Additional language skills are an advantage.   

About Teneo 

Teneo is the global CEO advisory firm. We partner with our clients globally to do great things for a better future. 

Drawing upon our global team and expansive network of senior advisors, we provide advisory services across our five business segments on a stand-alone or fully integrated basis to help our clients solve complex business challenges. Our clients include a significant number of the Fortune 100 and FTSE 100, as well as other corporations, financial institutions and organizations. 

Our full range of advisory services includes strategic communications, investor relations, financial transactions and restructuring, management consulting, physical and cyber risk, organizational design, board and executive search, geopolitics and government affairs, corporate governance, ESG and DE&I. 

The firm has more than 1,600 employees located in 40+ offices around the world. 

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion 

Teneo is an equal opportunity employer and promotes a diverse and inclusive workplace. Teneo considers all applicants without regard to race, colour, religion, creed, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, disability, gender identity, genetic information, or sexual orientation or any other status protected by applicable law.