Operations Director

Edelman Japan is seeking an Operations Director capable of taking us to the next level. You will work alongside our Japan President, the current operating committee members (Resource management and New Business lead; HR Lead and Finance lead) and members of the Japan Leadership Team as a trusted business partner to execute on critical strategy pillars, put procedures and resources in place to promote scaling and optimize inefficient areas in the organization. Our ideal candidate has at least 15 years of experience working with professional services organizations, marketing services firms, at all levels. It is optimal to have depth in Brand and Digital with experience leading transformation at scale. You should have a strong understanding of the operational requirements and insights into how you can drive things to maximum efficiencies. Essential in driving agile operations will be to lead client team optimization, present modernized toolsets and drive long-term behavior change. The goal of the position is to secure the functionality of business to drive extensive and sustainable growth.

Responsibilities:

• Assess current status and create a roadmap for achieving improvements in operational excellence and delivering on key strategic imperatives. Such as:
• Designing and embedding localized versions of global structures in partnership with key regional leads
• Defining, managing and evolving regional resourcing approaches (Working with Japan resource manager).
• Defining and implementing consistent ways of working within the office (aligned with global and regional direction).
• Ensuring we have the right processes to deliver consistency across project approaches, deliverables, pricing etc.
• Oversee the development and implementation of an annual marketing plan designed to raise awareness of our brand, offering and USP to future talent and clients
• Managing the work of the accountable director and support from office manager on the website
• Developing a plan for and overseeing knowledge management activities such as:
• Designing a plan for the internal channels and methods of communications
• Reviewing the Edelman SharePoint site and designing it for effective knowledge sharing
• Ensuring the regular development, update and sharing of key documents such as SOP, credentials, cases and capabilities.
• Working with the regional Finance Lead to ensure financial accountability remains central to our everyday across the business:
• Design, implement and execute improved structures required to assess project and client health (e.g., Creating a project health assessment tool)
• Running regular project / client team check-ins to check-in on key business priorities (e.g. managing over-service)
• Building solutions to challenges that are identified and embedding them in the team’s day-to-day approach to project work.
• Defining and managing timetables, content and invites for Japan-based leadership meetings such as business updates, strategy spotlights, weekly leadership team meetings. Activities include:
• Working with President’s admin to define agenda, coordinate contribution to the deck, assigning agenda owners and note takers and facilitating feedback on the meetings.
• Ensuring implementation of processes, tools, and ways of working across Japan and aligned to the APAC region approach.
• Being a critical partner to the launch of new systems for Finance, Human Resources and Resource Management.

Requirements:

• Demonstrable competency in strategic planning and business development
• Working knowledge of data analysis and performance/operation metrics
• Working knowledge of business infrastructure
• Outstanding organizational and leadership abilities
• Excellent interpersonal and public speaking skills
• Aptitude in decision-making and problem-solving
• Expert influencing skills
• Track record of program implementation, strategic planning, and managing across multiple important priorities

Edelman is a global communications firm that partners with businesses and organizations to evolve, promote and protect their brands and reputations. Our 6,000 people in more than 60 offices deliver communications strategies that give our clients the confidence to lead and act with certainty, earning the trust of their stakeholders. Our honors include the Cannes Lions Grand Prix for PR; Advertising Age’s 2019 A-List; the Holmes Report’s 2018 Global Digital Agency of the Year; and, five times, Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work. Since our founding in 1952, we have remained an independent, family-run business. Edelman owns specialty companies Edelman Data & Intelligence (DxI) and United Entertainment Group (entertainment, sports, lifestyle).

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