Job Information
The Coca-Cola Company Senior Director, Corporate Communications in Tokyo, Japan
The Senior Director, Corporate Communications is responsible for leading, advancing, and safeguarding The Coca-Cola Company's corporate reputation in Japan through integrated corporate communications, sustainability communications, community engagement, and comprehensive incident and crisis management.
Based in Japan, this role serves as the most senior communications leader for the market, acting as a trusted advisor to Japan leadership and a strategic partner to bottlers, as well as global and Operating Unit (OU) teams. The role balances proactive, forward-looking communications that strengthen local relevance and social impact with robust issue and crisis preparedness and response , ensuring long-term trust and credibility in one of the company's most complex and influential markets.
This position owns the development and stewardship of Japan's corporate narrative, ensures alignment with global corporate and sustainability priorities, and provides leadership on IMCR and BCP readiness and execution.
Key Responsibilities
Corporate Reputation & Strategic Communications Leadership
Set the strategic direction for corporate communications in Japan, building and protecting corporate reputation through clear and credible narratives that support the company's Social License to Win in the market
Serve as a trusted advisor to Japan leadership, providing counsel on reputational risk, external positioning, and stakeholder expectations
Lead continuous monitoring of the external environment and deliver timely, actionable insights to the management team, clearly articulating implications for the OU's business, including risks and opportunities. Monitoring areas encompass, but are not limited to: media and social discourse, competitor and industry developments, geopolitical and societal sentiment, regulatory and policy trends, as well as sustainability-related matters.
Localness & Local Relevance
Lead and advance Localness communications that reinforce Coca-Cola's identity as a company deeply rooted in Japan, strengthening relevance, trust, and credibility in the local market
Shape and amplify narratives that demonstrate Coca-Cola's contributions to Japanese society, including economic impact, job creation, Japan-developed products, and sustainability initiatives
Partner closely with Coke Trademark (TM) and Marketing teams, as well as bottlers, to align corporate and brand storytelling around Localness themes and lead integrated communications initiatives
Sustainability & Water Communications
Develop and drive the sustainability communications strategy for Japan, with a clear focus on water stewardship
Lead water-related communications in close collaboration with the I LOHAS brand, bottlers, and relevant internal teams to amplify impact and local relevance
Ensure all sustainability communications are executed in strict alignment with global sustainability communications guidelines and standards
IMCR, BCP & Issue Management
Serve as the IMCR coordinator during incidents and crises, working closely with Legal, Technical, and other relevant teams to align communications, coordinate responses, and manage overall information flow
Ensure timely and accurate escalation of critical information to OULT and global teams
Coordinate the development and regular updates of Business Continuity Plans (BCP) across functions, ensuring plans remain current
Ensure compliance with the company's Responsible Marketing Policy, in close partnership with Legal and Marketing teams
Media, Bottler & Stakeholder Relations
Maintain senior-level relationships with key national media and external stakeholders in Japan
Serve as the primary communications partner to bottlers, ensuring alignment on corporate, sustainability, and issue-related communications
Qualifications & Requirements
15+ years of experience in corporate communications, public relations, issue/crisis management, or sustainability communications, including senior leadership responsibility
Proven experience advising senior executives and managing corporate reputation in complex environments
Strong understanding of the Japanese media landscape, stakeholder ecosystem, and societal context
Bachelor's degree or higher; communications, journalism, public relations, or related fields preferred
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Japanese and English
Strong judgment, executive presence, and ability to operate effectively under pressure
Location(s):
Japan
City/Cities:
Tokyo
Travel Required:
00% - 25%
Relocation Provided:
No
Job Posting End Date:
May 31, 2026
Our Purpose and Growth Culture:
We are taking deliberate action to nurture an inclusive culture that is grounded in our company purpose, to refresh the world and make a difference. We act with a growth mindset, take an expansive approach to what's possible and believe in continuous learning to improve our business and ourselves. We focus on four key behaviors - curious, empowered, inclusive and agile - and value how we work as much as what we achieve. We believe that our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive after 130+ years. Visit Our Purpose and Vision (https://www.coca-colacompany.com/company/purpose-and-vision) to learn more about these behaviors and how you can bring them to life in your next role at Coca-Cola.
Annual Incentive Reference Value Percentage:30Annual Incentive reference value is a market-based competitive value for your role. It falls in the middle of the range for your role, indicating performance at target.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.