Communications Specialist

Grounded in a talent-centric mindset, Maker Lab is a marketing agency designed to build decentralised technology-led agency teams, rooted in collaboration with clients from the ground up. Maker Lab’s cross-functional teams of multidisciplinary specialists are embedded into client teams across digital marketing competencies — from measurement & analytics to content production.

Role summary:

Communications Specialist (Japan). You’ll build and manage brand reputation in Tokyo through strategic PR and media relations. Requires 5–7 years’ experience, an extensive Japanese media network, and native-level Japanese with English fluency to partner with country-level management.

Role:

• Plan, develop, and implement comprehensive internal and external communications strategies for the Japanese market, ensuring alignment with global brand standards.
• Build and nurture high-value relationships with key media outlets, industry influencers, and customers to foster a loyal brand community.
• Lead end-to-end media engagement, including conducting interviews, drafting press releases for targeted media, and organising exclusive press events.
• Partner closely with the Marketing team to identify compelling customer stories and translate them into high-impact media outcomes.
• Act as the primary guardian of the brand’s external voice, reviewing partner and customer content for accuracy and brand consistency.
• Support local internal communications initiatives and employee events to maintain a cohesive and inspired team culture in Japan.
• Collaborate with Design Advocate teams to foster deep community relations and amplify the brand’s presence within the local ecosystem.
• Navigate complex communication scenarios with strategic foresight, providing decision-making support to country-level leadership.

You:

• BA/BS degree or equivalent experience
• 5–7 years of professional experience in communications or PR (agency or in-house), with a proven track record in the technology sector and experience partnering with country-level management.
• Native-level fluency in Japanese and professional proficiency in English, with the ability to craft clear, engaging messages for diverse stakeholders in both languages.
• Extensive network of Japanese media contacts and a deep understanding of the local current affairs and business landscape.
• Demonstrated creativity and initiative in developing innovative PR campaigns that capture attention in a crowded tech market.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to lead multiple high-priority projects in parallel.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a strategic mindset, capable of planning long-term PR roadmaps while reacting quickly to breaking news.
• Problem-solving agility and the confidence to advise senior stakeholders on reputation management and external positioning.
• Passion for the design and technology ecosystem, with a desire to empower the creative community in Japan.

Contract type: 12-month fixed term contract

Please note: due to the high volume of applications, only successful candidates will be contacted with a follow-up introduction email. If you do not receive an email from Maker Lab, your application has been unsuccessful this time around. Look out for future roles! By submitting your application, you consent to the collection, use and disclosure of your data by the Maker Lab team for the purposes of your application. Where your application contains personal data of third parties, you confirm that you have obtained all necessary consents to provide the Maker Lab team with such personal data and that we may collect, use and/or disclose such data in accordance with the Personal Data Protection Act 2012.