Head of Digital Strategic Partnerships & Investment Optimization

Head of Digital Strategic Partnerships & Investment Optimization

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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 & Tik Tok Acceleration you will lead two high-impact, enterprise-critical initiatives within the AEMEA Global DX Marketing Center of Excellence:

• Own and elevate direct senior relationships with global platform owners (Meta, Google, Byte Dance) to unlock priority access, commercial opportunities, innovation roadmaps, measurement/insights, and scaled enablement. Working closely with the Japan HQ team.
• Deliver Tik Tok 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 Tik Tok excellence—while leading a talented team across three major global hubs.

What you will do:

1) Global Platform Partnership Ownership (Meta, Google, Byte Dance)

• 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) Tik Tok Excellence & Acceleration Playbooks (Lighthouse Project)

• Lead the development of Tik Tok 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 Tik Tok 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 work streams, 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/Byte Dance; improved…