Head of Digital Strategic Partnerships & Investment Optimization

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.

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.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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,…