Media and Communications Manager, Japan

The Organisation

SteelWatch is a recently established international climate change non-profit driving corporate accountability in the steel sector with a focus on companies headquartered in Europe and Japan. Internationally the Japanese steel industry is one of the biggest influencers and also one of the largest climate laggards in the global landscape. SteelWatch has a vision that the steel industry will commit to a 1.5 degree warming trajectory this side of 2030.

The global steel industry has the power to make or break our ability to preserve a liveable climate. Despite promises to reduce emissions decades from now, the world’s largest steelmakers are moving far too slowly. The role of SteelWatch is to challenge the complacency of steelmakers and drive urgent action. It does this by scrutinising steel companies, campaigning for changes in corporate behaviour, and building a new narrative that this sector is not hard to abate but essential and urgent to transform.

Benefits & Culture

• Work as part of a diverse, international, and flexible team of ambitious changemakers
• Unlimited growth and development opportunities; fast-growing, progressive start-up NGO
• Results-focused, respectful, and autonomous high-performing team
• Competitive compensation offered

The Role

You are an experienced and dynamic media and strategic communications expert. In this role you will lead the development of the media and communication strategy to deliver industry-wide corporate change with a goal of ending coal-based steelmaking in Japan in the coming decade.

Specifically you will;

• Develop and maintain strong relations with journalists and ensure regular flows of news
• Prepare communications products and media engagement tools, including press releases
• Organise press briefings, media tours and media coverage
• Provide analysis of the Japan landscape including corporate activities, policy, and politics
• Track / analyse media, to identify trends, breaking news, and other influencing narratives
• Provide editorial and translation support to climate partners
• Build capacity of the internal team and ally groups on strategies
• Develop metrics to measure narrative shift impact, produce reports, including for funders

Skills Required

You have a track record of developing and executing media and communications strategies for influencing narratives in Japan. Experience in journalism and climate change is highly desirable but not essential, as are abilities to collaborate with external partners. As a member of the first international climate NGO specialising in steel decarbonisation, you will work with other SteelWatch team members located across the Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Europe.

You have the following experience;

• Solid understanding of Japan’s media landscape (domestic, international, and digital)
• Ability to understand and articulate systemic problems and solutions
• Strong editorial and writing skills in Japanese and in English
• Experience in working in an organisation with global scope
• Experience in handling media relations and developing a pitch
• Skilled with media monitoring and analysis for influencing narratives
• Ability to collaborate effectively with a wide variety of partners, from allies to analysts, to communication experts
• An appetite to work in a start-up

If you share the SteelWatch vision of challenging the global steel industry to urgently deliver its fair contribution to a liveable planet and want to support civil society to hold the sector accountable, please submit your resume and cover letter, addressing the key skills above, in English, quoting #

• or call Lois Freeke or Aya Long at NGO Recruitment in Sydney Australia in confidence on +61 (0)
• to discuss your interest.

You must have your own work working rights for Japan and speak native level Japanese to qualify for this position.

Please note there is no formal closing date for this role, if you are interested, we would encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

NGO Recruitment values equitable recruitment practices and is committed to representing candidates reflective of the diverse organisations and communities we work with. We welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds, ages, and identities, and are happy to adjust our recruitment process to support accessibility needs. If you are interested in this position and have most of the skills or experience we are looking for, please go ahead and apply.

SteelWatch strives to be an equal opportunities employer and actively welcomes applications from candidates from historically underrepresented groups in the climate change movement. If you require any adaptation or assistance during the application process, please let us know.