Director, Corporate Communications & Brand

This role leads strategic communications for Olympus corporate functions, including Human Resources, Information Technology, and Legal, Risk, and Compliance. It advises functional leaders, sets the primarily internal communications agenda, and ensures consistent and effective messaging across internal and external channels and employee engagement activities.

The position acts as the first point of contact for functional leaders, develops messaging strategies, identifies executive communication opportunities, supports CEO-related communications, and manages issue and crisis communications. It also identifies media opportunities and helps align corporate strategy with functional priorities. The role reports to the global Business Partner for Strategic Communications, who reports directly to the global Communications Function lead.

The role works with other Global Communications Business Partners, Global Centers of Excellence, and Regional Integrators. Responsibilities include guiding global and regional communications activities such as employee and leadership communications, round tables, Olympus Exchange events, crisis communications, and, where applicable, social media and public relations. The position represents communications in transformation projects such as IT transformation and employer branding initiatives, manages brand campaigns and guidelines, and oversees the communications budget for the corporate functions.

The position establishes KPIs to evaluate communications effectiveness and uses data and audience insights to improve content, formats, channels, and communication performance. It is also expected to apply modern communication practices and AI solutions, understand basic agile methodologies, manage legal and regulatory compliance, and maintain alignment with global brand and content standards.

A university degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Business, Economics, or a related field is required; an advanced degree is preferred. The posting seeks at least 10 years of communications experience, ideally in medtech and an international environment, and at least three years of proven leadership experience, ideally in communications. Experience in internal communications strategy and execution is required, while change or crisis communications experience is preferred. Additional requirements include cross-cultural collaboration, strong interpersonal and communication skills, project management, the ability to manage multiple projects, experience steering complex agile teams, and a deep understanding of the Microsoft 365 environment. Business English for conversation, reading, and writing and business-level Japanese are stated in the Japanese qualifications section; the English qualifications also describe bilingual skills as advantageous.

The position is a full-time role with one opening and no stated probationary period. Working hours are 8:45 to 17:30 with a 45-minute break, with a flextime system and no core hours. The work location is the Olympus headquarters at 2951 Ishikawa-machi, Hachioji, Tokyo; satellite-office, telework, and home-office arrangements may be possible. The posting states 129 annual holidays, 20 days of annual paid leave, social insurance coverage, a defined-contribution pension plan, employee stock ownership, childcare and nursing-care leave, health examinations, and other welfare programs.