Senior Director of Marketing

Senior Marketing Director – Japan Our client is a global leader in premium beauty and professional haircare, recognized for innovation, strong brand equity, and a growing international footprint. With a presence across APAC and beyond, they are committed to transforming consumer experiences and elevating their brand in one of the most competitive markets worldwide.

We are seeking a transformational Senior Marketing Director to lead brand presence in Japan—one of the most sophisticated and competitive beauty markets globally. The ideal candidate has deep experience in professional haircare or prestige beauty, understands Japanese consumer and retail dynamics, and has a proven track record of building brand equity from the ground up.

This leader will own the full marketing function—brand, retail, trade, digital, and PR—delivering measurable impact on awareness, desirability, and revenue.

Responsibilities:

• Brand Strategy & Awareness: Develop and execute a Japan-specific strategy to elevate the brand into a desirable lifestyle name.
• Lead cultural activations, collaborations, and high-impact campaigns.Trade Marketing: Design omni-channel plans across salons, retail, and e-commerce.
• Strengthen distributor and retail partnerships, ensuring localized execution that resonates with Japanese consumers.Product Launches: Lead go-to-market planning, localization, and performance tracking for new products.
• Advocate for Japan-specific SKUs, packaging, and formulations.PR & Digital: Build strong media, influencer, and industry networks.
• Drive digital campaigns on Japanese platforms and support e-commerce activation.Market Intelligence: Analyze competitors, trends, and consumer behavior.
• Provide regular performance reporting and optimize budget for ROI.Global Collaboration: Champion Japan's needs within global teams.
• Align marketing with local sales priorities and integrate into international launches.

Requirements:

• 10–20 years of marketing experience in professional haircare (preferred) or prestige beauty with a leading international brand in Japan.Proven success in building brand equity and driving awareness growth.Deep knowledge of Japan's beauty retail landscape and distributor management.Strong leadership background with experience in product launches and multi-channel campaigns.Native/business-level Japanese fluency plus strong English for global collaboration.Willingness to travel regionally and internationally.
• What Sets You Apart:Change Agent: Hungry to build, not just maintain.Brand Obsessed: Focused on equity, awareness, and desirability.Proactive Leader: Identifies opportunities, builds cases, and drives execution.Industry Connected: Strong relationships with Japanese beauty media, retailers, and influencers.Analytical & Insightful: Converts data into clear, actionable strategies.Culturally Intelligent: Deep understanding of Japanese consumer psyche and aesthetics.