Head of Digital Strategic Partnerships & Investment Optimization

We are Kao, listed as one of the world’s most ethical companies for the last 19 years.

Our Americas brand portfolio spans across three sectors; Consumer Care (John Frieda, Bondi Sands, Bioré, Jergens, Curél), Professional Hair (Goldwell, Oribe, KMS Hair, Kerasilk), and Molton Brown.

Our corporate philosophy, the Kao Way, guides us in everything we do – acting with integrity, courageously driving innovation, and treating each other with trust and respect.

About our role: 

Reporting to the VP, AEMEA DX Marketing Centre of Excellence, as Head of Global Platform Partnerships & TikTok Acceleration you will lead two high-impact, enterprise-critical initiatives within the AEMEA Global DX Marketing Center of Excellence:

1. Own and elevate direct senior relationships with global platform owners (Meta, Google, ByteDance) to unlock priority access, commercial opportunities, innovation roadmaps, measurement/insights, and scaled enablement.  Working closely with the Japan HQ team.
2. Deliver TikTok excellence and acceleration playbooks through a live “lighthouse” project on a major global brand in a major market—translating learning into repeatable frameworks, operating standards, and performance outcomes.

This role will operate in a highly matrixed environment, partnering closely with Japan HQ teams, global brand teams, and eCommerce teams, while building strong strategic relationships with senior leaders at key agency partners.

This is a rare opportunity to shape a newly created global DX Marketing CoE, build high-leverage partnerships with the world’s most influential platforms, and accelerate commercial outcomes through TikTok excellence—while leading a talented team across three major global hubs.

At Kao, we offer amazing benefits that are available to you on your first day of employment (healthcare, 401(k) plus company match), 37 total days off (vacation + holidays + sick) and a competitive salary range of $150,000 - $190,000. We also offer a hybrid work environment.

What you will do: 

1) Global Platform Partnership Ownership (Meta, Google, ByteDance)

• Establish and manage senior, direct relationships with global platform owners, ensuring consistent engagement cadence and clear mutual value creation.
• Negotiate and secure strategic support (e.g., beta access, learning agendas, joint business plans, measurement upgrades, creative and commerce innovations).
• Build a structured platform governance model (QBRs, shared roadmaps, escalation paths, stakeholder mapping, decision rights).
• Translate platform capabilities into actionable guidance for brand, eCommerce, and market teams (toolkits, playbooks, training, “what good looks like” standards).
• Partner with procurement / legal / compliance as required to support engagement models and partnership agreements.

2) TikTok Excellence & Acceleration Playbooks (Lighthouse Project)

• Lead the development of TikTok excellence standards across strategy, creative, influencer/creator, media, commerce, and measurement.
• Run a live flagship project on a major global brand and major market to prove impact and generate scalable learning.
• Define the TikTok operating model: briefing standards, creative iteration loops, testing roadmap, KPI framework, and measurement approach.
• Codify outputs into scalable playbooks and implementation support for other brands/markets.

3) Matrix Leadership & Stakeholder Management (Japan HQ, Brand, eCommerce)

• Drive alignment across Japan HQ, global brand teams, and eCommerce stakeholders—clarifying priorities, timelines, and outcomes.
• Influence without authority: align teams on shared goals, resolve conflicts constructively, and maintain momentum across competing agendas.
• Ensure CoE work integrates with brand strategy, commercial priorities, and eCommerce growth plans.

4) Strategic Agency Partner Leadership

• Build strong working relationships with senior agency leadership, ensuring agency roadmaps support CoE priorities.
• Set clear expectations for performance, innovation delivery, and operational excellence across media, creative, measurement, and commerce.
• Drive agency collaboration models that enable speed, quality, and learning transfer across markets.

5) Team Leadership & Delivery Excellence

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of up to 9 across multiple DX initiatives.
• Establish clear workstreams, milestones, decision forums, and reporting rhythms.
• Maintain high standards in stakeholder communication, executive-ready storytelling, and outcome-based delivery.

Success Measures (First 6–12 Months)

• Platform partnerships: Documented joint plans with Meta/Google/ByteDance; improved access to priority capabilities (betas, insights, support); measurable value delivered to brands/markets.
• TikTok acceleration: Lighthouse project delivers clear performance uplift and learning; playbooks produced and adopted by multiple stakeholders.
• Operational effectiveness: Strong governance, clear ways of working across time zones, predictable delivery cadence.
• Stakeholder satisfaction: Demonstrated trust and alignment with Japan HQ, global brand teams, and eCommerce leaders.
• Team performance: Clear role clarity, development progress, and consistent delivery across DX initiatives.

What you will need: 

Critical Capabilities & Leadership Attributes

• Proven ability to operate in a global matrix, influencing senior stakeholders across functions and geographies.
• Deep understanding of digital media ecosystems and platform operating models (Meta/Google/ByteDance), including measurement and performance drivers.
• High level of PowerPoint and presentation skill required
• Strong expertise in TikTok growth levers (creative excellence, creator/influencer ecosystem, commerce integration, test-and-learn, measurement).
• Executive communication: ability to synthesize complexity into clear executive narratives, recommendations, and decisions.
• Strong partner leadership: credible, assertive, and collaborative with senior agency and platform counterparts.
• High learning agility, structured problem-solving, and bias for action in a newly created CoE environment.

Experience & Qualifications (Guidance)

• Senior experience in digital marketing, platform partnerships, performance marketing, or digital transformation, ideally in global consumer brands, agency leadership, or platform/tech ecosystems.
• Demonstrated success leading multi-stakeholder, cross-border programs with measurable business outcomes.
• People leadership experience with proven ability to scale capability and delivery through a team.
• Comfort operating across USA/UK/Tokyo time zones with disciplined stakeholder management and delivery rigor.

At Kao, we believe the diversity of our teams strengthens our global mission. Here we trust and respect each other, collaborating in a friendly and inclusive work environment to achieve great results.

What you can expect from us:

• An entrepreneurial environment where passionate and innovative teams come together.
• Respect, teamwork and collaboration are at the heart of how we work.
• A workplace culture that prioritizes employee wellbeing
• A broad range of benefits, including flexible working, competitive salaries, health and wellbeing offers, retirement, insurance options, and more…
• Learning and development opportunities

Your voice matters here — we value entrepreneurial thinking and innovation from our teams.

To find out why 33,000 people across the Globe work at Kao please visit: https://www.kao.com/americas/en/careers/

Discover careers at Kao and how we live our purpose, Kirei – Making Life Beautiful.
https://kao.voyse.io/

Kao is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans.

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