Job Description

Jellyfish is a global, full-service digital marketing agency that blends technology, creativity, and data expertise to deliver dynamic, impactful marketing solutions. With a unique fusion of tech enthusiasts, creative minds, and media professionals, we empower our clients on every step of their digital journey. Diversity of thought, bold innovation, and strategic excellence are at the heart of everything we do.

We challenge the status quo, reinvent media activation, and craft influential digital stories for some of the world's most exciting brands.

Job Description

We are seeking a Paid Media Director & Market Lead to spearhead our Paid Media and broader digital media capabilities in the Japanese market. This high-impact role will be the market lead and strategic visionary for Paid Media in Japan, and is designed for a digitally native, commercially minded leader with deep expertise in both global platforms (Google Ads and Meta – required) and Japanese performance ecosystems including LINE and YAHOO!Japan.

As a Paid Media Director within our APAC team reporting to VP of Paid Media APAC, you will oversee a growing team of Paid Media specialists, drive innovation in digital strategy, and foster a high-performance culture focused on excellence, collaboration, and digital transformation.

You will also play a strategic, client-facing role - particularly for local and regional initiatives - while collaborating with cross-market teams of channel and platform specialists. You will often be a strategic investment lead: guiding media activation strategy, unlocking value for clients, and championing best-in-class media solutions that blend local nuance with global standards.

Your Primary Responsibilities Will Include:

1. People Management & Local Market Leadership

• Lead, inspire, and develop a team of 5-10+ local and international Paid Media professionals, with plans to grow.
• Cultivate a collaborative, inclusive, and high-achieving work environment.
• Facilitate a strong, proactive, collaborative culture between local and international/offshore team members.
• Provide hands-on coaching, mentorship, and career development support.
• Conduct performance reviews and develop individual growth plans.

2. Strategic Direction

• Define and execute the Paid Media strategy for Japan in alignment with APAC and global goals.
• Lead innovation across media planning, activation, and measurement—balancing local platform execution with global strategy alignment.
• Champion scalable operations, campaign QA, and delivery excellence across all media types.
• Embed best-in-class practices across Search, Social, Display/Video, and Retail Media.

3. Client & Partner Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients and internal stakeholders.
• Foster and manage local relationships with key technology and platform partners, such as Google, Meta, YAHOO!Japan, Amazon, etc.
• Collaborate seamlessly with other Jellyfish capabilities and global teams.
• Act as a strategic advisor, identifying and addressing client needs proactively.

4. Commercial Accountability & Performance

• Take commercial ownership for the growth and sustainability of the Japan Paid Media function - including revenue planning, staffing alignment, and margin management.
• Support business development and client retention, including new business pipeline support and strategic pitch involvement.
• Expand local adoption of Google Marketing Platform tools (SA360, DV360, Campaign Manager 360) - with a focus on enablement, consultation, and sophistication building.
• Deliver performance reporting and strategic insight to APAC leadership, with a continuous improvement mindset.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in Paid Media Advertising, within an agency setting.
• Bilingual fluency across both Japanese and English is required.
• Experience working with Japanese clients and detailed understanding of the Japanese media ecosystem.
• Experience in leading and scaling digital marketing teams in dynamic, agile environments.
• Demonstrated experience in matrix organisations with cross-market collaboration.
• Expertise across major digital marketing and advertising platforms and channels, including Paid Search, Paid Social, Programmatic Display and Video, and Retail Media.
• Expertise in Google Marketing Platform tools, including:
  • Search Ads 360
  • Display & Video 360
  • Campaign Manager 360
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into executable plans.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Exceptional organisational, analytical, and prioritisation abilities.

Note: We emphasise skills, expertise and behavioural attributes over years of experience and traditional degrees. If you want to join our collaborative team, we invite you to apply today with your resume in English.

Additional Information

Join Jellyfish and experience a workplace where we prioritise your growth, celebrate your contributions, and empower you to tailor your work environment to suit your needs.

Reward: You'll be eligible to join our discretionary annual bonus scheme.

Custom Work Environment: Work remotely for up to 60% of your days and shape your day between 8am. and 6:30pm with flexible working hours.

Growth, Your Way: Grow your career with one paid day each month for self-development and access to Jellyfish Learn with unlimited online courses.

Unfortunately, there has been an increase in fake recruiters impersonating Jellyfish and unlawfully using our brand name. If you are unsure if an email with a job offer you have received is genuinely from Jellyfish, or if you suspect any fraudulent activity, please report it to talentacquisition@jellyfish.com .

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