Manager, Communications

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary

Manager, Communications, Japan

Overview

Mastercard is looking for an experienced communications leader to shape how we show up in Japan - one of Asia Pacific’s most important and dynamic markets. As Manager, Communications, Japan, you will lead strategic communications that strengthen Mastercard’s reputation, advance business priorities and bring our story to life across payments, technology, innovation and commerce in a market where trust, long-term relationships, precision and local relevance matter deeply.

This is a high-impact, hands-on role for a seasoned communicator who can offer strategic counsel, build trusted relationships, craft compelling narratives and execute with pace and precision. You will work closely with Japan market leadership, regional and global Communications, and partners across Business, Product, Services, Marketing, Public Policy, Legal and agency teams to ensure communications are commercially relevant, culturally thoughtful and aligned across the enterprise.

The role requires someone who is equally comfortable advising senior stakeholders, managing reputational nuance, developing thoughtful media strategies and rolling up their sleeves to produce high-quality written and visual content. It is well suited to a communications professional who understands the importance of preparation, accuracy, stakeholder alignment and disciplined execution in the Japan market.

The ideal candidate brings the judgement and experience of a senior communications professional, with the agility to stay close to the work - from media strategy and executive visibility to issues management, employee engagement, social storytelling, campaign execution and measurement.

If you thrive at the intersection of business, reputation, policy, technology and storytelling - and want to help define the next chapter of Mastercard’s presence in Japan - this role offers the opportunity to make a visible impact.

The Role

• Lead communications strategy for Japan, translating Mastercard’s global and regional priorities into market-relevant plans that engage customers, partners, employees, media, policymakers and industry stakeholders with clarity, consistency and cultural awareness.
• Shape compelling business and reputation narratives across payments, digital commerce, cybersecurity, data and services, AI, innovation, trust, SMEs, commercial solutions and new payment flows, making complex topics accessible to business, policy and public audiences.
• Drive executive visibility and thought leadership for Japan leaders and visiting regional/global executives, including speeches, talking points, briefing materials, bylines, op-eds, LinkedIn content, customer engagement narratives and preparation for media, industry and employee forums.
• Build strong media relationships and earned visibility across business, financial, technology, trade, consumer and policy media, developing story angles, press materials, Q&As and spokesperson messaging that are timely, accurate and tailored for Japan.
• Lead communications for priority launches, partnerships and campaigns, including Mastercard-led, customer-led and joint announcements, initiatives, research, sponsorships, events and business milestones.
• Provide trusted communications counsel on public policy, regulatory and issues topics, working with Public Policy, Legal, Compliance, Security and Communications partners to manage risk, protect reputation and ensure responses are properly aligned before they go to market.
• Support internal alignment and employee engagement by helping employees understand Mastercard Japan’s strategy, priorities and culture through leadership communications, town halls, internal updates and locally relevant storytelling.
• Create modern, channel-smart storytelling across earned, owned, social and internal channels, including videos, explainers, infographics, presentations, employee communications and executive social content.
• Manage agency and vendor partners, providing clear briefs, strong creative direction, disciplined timelines and high-quality execution across PR, digital, content and production workstreams.
• Use data, measurement and AI responsibly to strengthen insight, speed, consistency and impact across planning, drafting, media monitoring, reputation intelligence, reporting and optimisation.

All About You

• 10+ years of communications experience across corporate communications, media relations, public affairs, business communications, journalism, agency or a related discipline, ideally in financial services, payments, technology, fintech, consulting, digital commerce or another complex, highly regulated industry.
• Strong understanding of Japan’s media, business, policy and stakeholder landscape, with the ability to navigate nuance, build trust over time and develop communications approaches that reflect local expectations as well as global standards.
• Proven ability to develop strategic communications programs that strengthen reputation, support commercial priorities and deliver measurable impact.
• Excellent writing, editing and storytelling skills across executive, media, internal, social, digital and event formats, with the ability to make complex topics clear and compelling.
• Strong business acumen and confidence advising senior stakeholders on communications opportunities, stakeholder engagement, issues management and reputation risk, with the judgement to balance speed, accuracy, consultation and discretion.
• Digitally fluent and visually minded, with experience using social channels, content platforms, measurement tools and approved AI tools to improve insight, quality and execution.
• Highly collaborative, culturally aware and comfortable working across markets, functions and time zones in a matrixed environment.
• Strong project, agency and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and approvals without compromising quality or judgement.
• A thoughtful, detail-oriented working style, with the ability to prepare thoroughly, anticipate stakeholder needs, manage approvals carefully and deliver polished work in both planned and fast-moving situations.

• Excellent written and spoken Japanese and English are essential.

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;

• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;

• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and

• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.