Senior Strategist

Edelman is a voice synonymous with trust, reimagining a future where the currency of communication is action. Our culture thrives on three promises: boldness is possibility, empathy is progress, and curiosity is momentum. 

At Edelman, we understand diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) transform our colleagues, our company, our clients, and our communities. We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging.

About the Role

The Senior Strategist is a core member of Edelman Japan’s Strategy team, responsible for developing sharp, insight-led strategies that drive client communications and brand programs. Working across accounts including a meaningful portfolio of health and pharmaceutical clients,  this role bridges research and ideas, translating cultural intelligence and audience understanding into actionable communications frameworks that inspire creative work and deliver measurable results.

The Senior Strategist operates with a high degree of autonomy on day-to-day account strategy, while partnering closely with Head of strategy and APAC senior leadership on larger planning initiatives and new business pitches. Approximately 30% of this role will be dedicated to health brand strategy spanning pharmaceutical, wellness, and patient communications, making prior experience in the health category an important part of the profile we’re looking for .

We’re hiring for attitude as much as skill. We want someone who brings energy, rigor, and imagination to every conversation, who can simplify the complex, say something genuinely interesting, and make themselves the most useful person in the room. If you’re creatively driven, team-first, and ready to lean in, this role is for you.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to work with a diverse portfolio of leading Japanese and global brands across multiple industries.

• A collaborative, intellectually stimulating team environment with strong investment in professional development.

• Mentorship from experienced strategists and senior leaders within Edelman’s global network.

• Access to Edelman’s global strategy community, proprietary research (including the Edelman Trust Barometer), and best-in-class tools.

• A culture that genuinely values curiosity, bold thinking, and the belief that great strategy makes a difference.

Key Qualifications

Experience

• 6–10 years of experience in strategy, planning, or insight roles within an agency or communications agency or strategic communications consultancy environment.

• Demonstrated experience developing brand strategies, communications frameworks, and creative briefs for external clients.

• Direct experience working on health or pharmaceutical brands is required. Familiarity with the Japanese healthcare and pharmaceutical landscape including patient communications, HCP engagement, and the regulatory environment is strongly preferred.

• Track record of contributing to or leading new business pitches is a must.

Skills & Capabilities

• Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to identify clear insights and build logical, compelling arguments.

• Proficiency in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and an instinct for when and how to apply them.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to craft and deliver persuasive narratives to diverse audiences.

• Solid craft skills in building client-ready presentations, proposals, and strategy documents.

• Familiarity with digital media, social platforms, and the role of earned media in integrated communications.

• Comfort with data and analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, social listening platforms, audience segmentation tools).

Mindset & Character

• Brings energy, rigour, and imagination to every conversation. Can say something genuinely interesting or unexpected that shifts the thinking in the room.

• Able to simplify the complex: gives clear, direct answers rather than woolly or indirect ones. Knows how to get to the point.

• Asks good questions. Is as comfortable interrogating a brief as responding to one.

• Team-first, lean-in attitude. Makes themselves the most useful person in the room, not the most visible.

• Creatively driven. Has genuine curiosity about culture, ideas, and what makes communication work, and brings that energy into creative partnerships.

• Has a clear point of view on AI and its role in the strategy process. Embraces it as a tool, thinks critically about how it changes the work, and isn’t afraid to experiment.

• Intellectually curious with a genuine interest in human behavior, culture, and the forces shaping society and business.

• Comfortable making decisions and operating autonomously; knows when to escalate and when to just get on with it.

Language

• Japanese: native or equivalent fluency (required).

• English: business-level proficiency in written and spoken communication (required).

Key Responsibilities 

Strategy Development

• Develop insight-led strategic recommendations and communications frameworks for assigned Brand and Reputation clients.

• Craft clear, inspiring creative briefs that define target audiences, cultural context, strategic territories, and success metrics.

• Explore the intersection of culture, brand, and audience to identify differentiated positioning and messaging strategies.

• Translate client business goals into desired human behaviors, identifying barriers and opportunities for engagement.

• Lead strategy development for health and pharmaceutical clients, accounting for approximately 30% of the role. This includes developing communications strategies for prescription brands, OTC products, and corporate health initiatives with a strong grasp of the regulatory environment, patient and HCP audience dynamics, and the unique trust imperatives of the health category in Japan.

Research & Insight

• Lead primary and secondary research initiatives including qualitative interviews, focus groups, and quantitative surveys.

• Apply a research-driven approach to uncover human truths, audience attitudes, and cultural tensions relevant to client challenges.

• Monitor and synthesize trends across client verticals, media, culture, and digital platforms to surface actionable insights.

• Leverage tools such as social listening platforms, audience analytics tools, and syndicated research sources.

Client & Account Partnership

• Serve as a day-to-day strategy partner for clients, contributing strategic input throughout the campaign lifecycle.

• Present strategic work with confidence and clarity, building trust and credibility with client stakeholders.

• Partner with account and creative teams during planning cycles to stress-test ideas and sharpen executional direction.

• Support the planning and facilitation of client workshops, ideation sessions, and strategy presentations.

Collaboration & Contribution

• Collaborate across Edelman business units such as creative, digital, DxI (research and intelligence solutions) and earned media to deliver integrated strategies.

• Build strong working relationships with creative partners; push and sharpen ideas in partnership with creative directors and copywriters, not just in handoff.

• Contribute to new business pitches, from research and insight development through to final presentation; actively participate in pitch teams and be comfortable presenting work under pressure.

• Support senior strategists and account directors on major planning initiatives, stepping up as a lead strategist where appropriate.

• Contribute to the development of Edelman's internal strategy practice by sharing learnings, tools, and best practices with the wider team.

If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. 

At Edelman, we understand diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) transform our colleagues, our company, our clients, and our communities. We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging. 

We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.