Associate Director, Smithfield

Job description

Edelman is a voice synonymous with trust, reimagining a future where the currency of communication is action. Our culture thrives on three promises: boldness is possibility, empathy is progress, and curiosity is momentum. At Edelman, we understand diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) transform our colleagues, our company, our clients, and our communities. We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging. About the Company Edelman Smithfield is a global financial communications advisory within Edelman, specializing in capital markets, transactions, crisis, investor relations and activism defense. The firm advises public and private companies on complex, high-stakes situations, helping leaders communicate clearly with investors, regulators, media, and stakeholders worldwide across sectors, geographies, and market cycles globally. Edelman was established in 1952 and today is the world’s largest communications firm. A family-owned company, we deliver innovative solutions that build trust and engagement with a particular focus on an 'earned creative ideas' approach to create impactful campaigns. Celebrating 20 years in 2025, Edelman Japan blends local cultural understanding with global expertise to offer strategic communications solutions for both domestic and international audiences. Our culture thrives on three promises: boldness, empathy, progress, and curiosity. About the Role Serves as a deputy to the Senior Vice President in growing Edelman Smithfield Japan’s financial portfolio. The Associate Director plays a senior client-facing role, leading complex financial communications programs. This position combines strategic advisory work with team leadership, media engagement, and business development support and includes contributing to Edleman Japan’s Corporate Accounts. The Associate Director is expected to act as a trusted counselor to senior client executives while ensuring high-quality execution across accounts. Key Qualifications 10-15+ years of experience in public relations, strategic communications, or related fields with five or more in the financial industry Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Communications, Journalism, Business, or a related field Strong understanding of capital markets, financial statements, and corporate governance Proven experience advising senior executives and managing complex client relationships Demonstrated leadership and people-management experience Excellent written and verbal communication skills Strong judgment and ability to perform under pressure Proven experience leading and/or playing a key role on accounts Strong financial management experience, including contribution margin accountability Experience managing high-performing teams Experience working with multinational and Japanese clients Key Responsibilities Serve as a senior advisor to clients on financial communications, investor relations support, corporate reputation, and transaction-related messaging Lead the development of integrated communications strategies for earnings, M&A, IPOs, restructurings, crises, and regulatory issues Day-to-day management of assigned client accounts, ensuring delivery against strategic objectives, timelines, and budgets Oversee preparation of core materials, including press releases, financial communications plans, Q&A documents, investor presentations, and talking points Contribute to overall business strategy and practice development Build and maintain senior client, media and industry relationships and networks Lead, mentor, and develop mid- and junior-level team members Key Requirements Business-level English and professional-level Japanese proficiency Strong executive presence and senior client advisory capability Commercially driven with strong business acumen Excellent presentation and persuasive writing skills Strategic thinker with strong decision-making ability High accountability, leadership maturity, and collaborative mindset If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. At Edelman, we understand diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) transform our colleagues, our company, our clients, and our communities. We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging. We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.