Marketing & Communications Manager - Japan

Job description

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER - JAPAN   • Location: Tokyo, Japan • Department: Marketing & Communications • Reports to: Japan CEO, with dotted line to the Chief Marketing Officer • Employment type: Permanent • Workplace model: Hybrid – ICEYE Japan Office (Shibuya, Tokyo) • Employment is subject to applicable security screening (incl. SUPO, where required)   WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS Lead ICEYE's marketing and communications function across Japan, building the sovereign ISR brand and go-to-market presence with defense, government, and strategic partners across Japan. This is a senior, hands-on leadership role: you will set the local strategy, build the team and agency network, and act as the primary marketing and communications voice for ICEYE's Japan business, working in close partnership with the Japan CEO, the global CMO, and the wider Marketing & Communications organization. WHO WE ARE ICEYE is the world leader in sovereign intelligence from space. We deliver persistent monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to changes in any location on Earth. ICEYE owns the world’s largest and most advanced SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellite constellation. To our customers we provide intelligence with unmatched quality, latency and revisit times, in any weather, day or night. To governments who choose to operate their own constellation we provide this proven capability as a sovereign system. ICEYE-built constellations serve customers in defense and intelligence, environmental monitoring, insurance and emergency management. We enable fast decisions that contribute to a safer future. Founded and headquartered in Finland, ICEYE operates globally with over 1000 employees across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. YOUR DAY-TO-DAY RESPONSIBILITIES - Own and lead the marketing and communications strategy for ICEYE Japan, aligning campaigns, brand positioning, and stakeholder engagement with national defense, security, and government priorities across Japan. - Build and lead the local marketing and communications function, managing agency and freelance partners today and mentoring team members as the function grows. - Design and execute high-impact campaigns across PR, events, digital, social media, and thought leadership content that position ICEYE as the sovereign ISR partner of choice for Japan defense and government decision-makers. - Localize global messaging for the Japan market, overseeing media relations, press office operations, executive communications, and local social media presence. - Lead the planning and execution of strategic events, trade shows (e.g. ISIEX, Dubai Airshow, World Defense Show & SPEXA), customer workshops, and high-level engagement visits to ensure a strong brand presence. - Design a comprehensive communications strategy and build thought leadership positioning for ICEYE and its executives in Japan. - Develop localized sales enablement materials, briefings, and tools tailored to Japan defense, government, and intelligence audiences to support pipeline progression. - Build and execute trade and channel co-marketing initiatives with local partners, integrators, and industry associations across in Japan. - Own the regional marketing budget, KPI reporting, and CRM/dashboard discipline, reporting outcomes to the Japan CEO and the global CMO. - Coordinate cross-functionally with global marketing, regional sales, and external Public Affairs/Government Relations agencies to align communications with institutional engagement priorities. - Act as a trusted advisor to the Japan CEO on brand, reputation, and stakeholder communications, and to the global CMO on regional market intelligence and narrative consistency. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR Must haves: • 10+ years of marketing and/or communications experience in a B2G environment, including senior or leadership experience, with campaigns in defense, government, or the public sector — ideally in Japan. • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with native fluency in Japanese; Business level fluency in English is strongly preferred. • Demonstrated experience building or leading a marketing/communications function, including managing budgets, agencies, and, where applicable, direct reports. • Track record of proactive, self-driven execution with measurable impact, strong conceptual skills, and comfort operating at both strategic and hands-on levels. • Experience in trade and channel co-marketing, with the ability to build credibility with senior defense, government, and policy audiences. • Proven ability to collaborate and influence across diverse stakeholders, including global marketing, regional sales, executive leadership, and external agency partners. • Flexible, positive attitude with an entrepreneurial, hands-on drive, thriving in a fast- paced, agile growth environment. Nice to haves: • Experience in marketing or PR engagement wit