Vice President, External Communications (Japan), Corporate Communications

Job description

Over the last 20 years, Ares’ success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values – Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy – and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry. Job Description Corporate Communications & Marketing aims to protect and promote Ares’s brand and reputation. It is the core function that coordinates all internal and external communications including employee newsletters and townhalls, media relations, branding, content and digital strategy. Ares is seeking a highly motivated candidate for the position of Vice President, Corporate Communications, Japan. This role will help lead media relations and other external communications efforts for Ares in Japan, partnering with internal and external stakeholders to promote and protect the Ares brand. It will also work with internal stakeholders to manage internal communications for the Japanese workforce. Primary Functions and Essential Responsibilities Lead external communications efforts in Japan Integrate and manage a small communications team in sync with requirements from headquarters Streamline workflows between the Japan team and those in other regions to present Ares as a globally unified platform Partner with the global Corporate Communications & Marketing team to develop and drive a cohesive, strategic approach to media engagement, corporate announcements, speaking opportunities, and content promotion for Ares and its newly launched logistics brand, Marq Work with the local team and PR agencies to maintain and strengthen relationships with key media across broadcast, top-tier financial, and relevant trade outlets in Japan Manage potential reputational issues for Ares, Marq and/or portfolio companies and assets Collaborate with senior leadership, investment teams, legal and compliance to draft, edit and prepare event‑driven communications materials, including press releases, talking points, media statements, and other briefing documents Collaborate with senior Ares investment professionals, as well as fund and public investor relations colleagues, to support external thought leadership campaigns and materials Attend and manage media engagements at key industry conferences in Japan for senior business leaders and investment professionals Support media engagement tracking and reporting, conduct competitor analyses, and assist with press release distribution and industry awards submissions, as needed Assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating consideration for Ares’ reputation, clients, and assets Collaborate with senior Ares investment professionals to manage internal communications for Ares in Japan, in close partnership with Ares’ Employee Communications Lead Qualifications Bachelor’s degree. Master’s degree will be a plus Minimum of 10 years of work experience in fast‑paced, strategic communications roles in a multinational company/companies in Japan Significant in‑house and/or agency experience in media relations for financial institutions, preferably in asset management and/or private markets Exceptional verbal and written communication skills in both English and Japanese Awareness and sensitivity to cultural and social nuances to integrate Ares and Marq communications teams in Japan with those in other regions A team player with a track record of operating with limited oversight to deliver high‑quality work in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment and under tight deadlines Good interpersonal and networking skills and the ability to work with cross-functional, multi-cultural teams and agency partners Ability to mine unique stories, craft compelling narratives, and place them in relevant and impactful earned, owned, and sponsored channels Strong background in developing integrated communications plans that align with top‑line corporate messaging Demonstrated project management and decision‑making skills Reporting Relationships Principal, APAC External Communications, Corporate Communications There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.