Brand and CSR Manager/Assistant Manager

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Brand and CSR Manager/Assistant Manager

🔹 Company: Manulife

🔹 Location: Tokyo, Japan

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time, Hybrid

🔹 Category: Marketing

🔹 Date Posted: 2025-08-08

🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years

🔹 Remote Status: On-site/Hybrid

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Executing brand strategies and managing brand campaigns
• Collaborating with various teams to ensure alignment with brand objectives
• Effective execution of CSR initiatives and integration with brand strategy
• Managing vendor relationships and project budgets
• Promoting brand values and brand governance cross-functionally

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong project management skills, and the ability to work effectively within a matrix organization.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Support the Brand Director in executing MLJ's unique brand value propositions for the Japanese business and key stakeholders

✅ Implement visual identity embodying MLJ’s brand value propositions by working together with internal creative teams and external vendors

✅ Determine appropriate KPIs for MLJ’s brand penetration, monitor and analyze progress with those KPIs, and manage the feedback loop with the deployment plan

✅ Identify actions for MLJ’s brand deployment, including internal branding activities, marketing activities, and stakeholder touchpoint improvement activities

✅ Together with the Brand Director, manage campaign efforts, ensuring alignment with brand strategy and objectives

✅ Utilize consumer/customer insights to develop targeted campaigns that resonate with the intended audience

✅ Collaborate with creative teams (internal and external) to develop compelling campaign assets

✅ Work with media planning and buying teams to ensure optimal placement and reach of campaign materials

✅ Track and analyze campaign performance, providing regular reports and recommendations for optimization

✅ Work with the Brand Director in defining and executing the company’s brand-led Impact Agenda

✅ Lead the integration of CSR initiatives into brand strategy and consumer-facing communications

✅ Collaborate with internal CSR and sustainability teams to ensure initiatives align with brand purpose and values

✅ Work closely with Brand Engagement and Comms teams and craft compelling storytelling around impact efforts for earned, owned, and paid channels

✅ Oversee and manage relationships with internal cross-functional teams and external vendors to ensure timely and effective execution of branding activities

✅ Embed brand strategy in marketing activities such as SNS marketing, community partnerships, content strategy, digital lead generation, and digital customer engagement by translating local brand value into appropriate customer targeting, messages, creatives, etc.

✅ Develop and provide branding training, materials, and tools to support distribution channels and agents in their sales and customer engagement efforts, ensuring brand consistency and monitoring effectiveness

✅ Collaborate with the Corporate Communication team to ensure internal and external communications reflect local brand values and guidelines

✅ Implement and enforce brand guidelines to ensure consistency across all marketing and communication materials

✅ Conduct regular audits and reviews to ensure all departments adhere to branding standards

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of collaboration, strong communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree

Experience: 10 years of experience in brand marketing including CSR planning and execution

Required Skills:

• Native Japanese speaker, with fluency in English
• Proven track record in managing vendor relationships and executing integrated marketing campaigns with knowledge in both traditional and digital channels
• Strong analytical, communication, and project management skills
• Able to supervise the quality of creative development, media planning, and buying
• Able to track and articulate the return on investment of branding activities with relevant marketing and business data
• Proven experience in executing brand strategies in alignment with global brand governance
• The ability to work effectively within a matrix organization
• Excellent organization and prioritization skills
• Ability to work with ambiguity and manage change effectively

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the insurance industry
• Knowledge of the Japanese market and consumer behavior

ASSUMPTION: While not explicitly stated, experience in the insurance industry and knowledge of the Japanese market may be beneficial for this role.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: ¥12,000,000 - ¥15,000,000 per year (Estimated, based on industry standards for a senior marketing role in Tokyo)

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Retirement savings plan
• Employee assistance program
• Training and development opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexible work arrangements available

ASSUMPTION: The salary range is estimated based on industry standards for a senior marketing role in Tokyo. Actual salary may vary based on experience and performance.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Insurance

Company Size: 10,001+ employees (Large enterprise)

Founded: 1887 (Headquarters: Toronto, Canada)

Company Description:

• Manulife is a leading international financial services group that helps people make their decisions easier and lives better
• With global headquarters in Toronto, Manulife operates in Canada, Asia, and Europe as Manulife, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States
• Manulife has over 40,000 employees, over 116,000 agents serving ~34 million customers worldwide, and over $1.3 trillion in assets under management and administration

Company Specialties:

• Life insurance
• Health insurance
• Retirement solutions
• Asset management

Company Website: www.manulife.com

ASSUMPTION: Manulife is a large, established company with a global presence, offering a wide range of financial services and products.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Senior Manager/Individual Contributor

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Brand Director, works closely with various teams including growth marketing, customer experience, advanced analytics, corporate communications, and regional/global brand teams

Work Arrangement: Hybrid (2-3 days per week on-site, with the rest of the time working remotely)

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to take on additional responsibilities and grow within the marketing department
• Opportunities to collaborate with regional and global brand teams, providing exposure to different markets and perspectives
• possibility to transition into a leadership role in the future

ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for professional growth and development within a large, global organization.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Modern, collaborative workspace with on-site amenities

Office Location(s): Hatsudai Head Office, Tokyo

Geographic Context:

• Tokyo is a major global city with a vibrant business environment
• The Hatsudai area is a bustling commercial district with easy access to public transportation
• Tokyo offers a high quality of life, with numerous cultural, recreational, and dining options

Work Schedule: Standard business hours (9:00 AM - 5:30 PM), with flexibility for remote work

ASSUMPTION: The work environment is modern and collaborative, with a focus on employee well-being and work-life balance.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screening with the hiring manager
• On-site or virtual interview with the hiring manager and other stakeholders
• Final interview with the Brand Director

Key Assessment Areas:

• Brand strategy and management skills
• Campaign management experience
• Project management and vendor relationship skills
• Communication and collaboration skills
• Alignment with Manulife's brand values and company culture

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your brand marketing experience and relevant skills
• Prepare examples of successful brand campaigns you've managed, including metrics and outcomes
• Demonstrate your understanding of Manulife's brand and how your experience aligns with the company's brand strategy

ATS Keywords: Brand Marketing, CSR Planning, Project Management, Campaign Management, Vendor Management, Brand Strategy, Global Brand Governance, Matrix Organization, Stakeholder Engagement, Customer Insights

ASSUMPTION: The application process is thorough and competitive, with a focus on assessing the candidate's brand marketing skills and cultural fit with Manulife.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Office Suite
• Project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello, Jira)
• Marketing automation platforms (e.g., Marketo, HubSpot)
• Data analysis tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Tableau)
• Design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch)

ASSUMPTION: The required tools and technologies are standard for the marketing industry and can be learned on the job if necessary.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Integrity
• Client-centric
• Reliability
• Innovation
• One Manulife

Work Style:

• Collaborative
• Agile
• Data-driven
• Customer-focused
• Diverse and inclusive

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you align with Manulife's core values and work style?
• Are you comfortable working in a matrix organization and collaborating with various teams?
• Do you have experience managing vendor relationships and executing integrated marketing campaigns?

ASSUMPTION: Manulife values a diverse and inclusive work environment, with a strong focus on collaboration and customer-centricity.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously
• Working effectively within a matrix organization
• Balancing brand consistency with local market needs and preferences
• Keeping up with industry trends and best practices in brand marketing

ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong project management skills, effective communication, and a strategic mindset.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Compared to other brand manager roles, this position has a stronger focus on CSR planning and execution, as well as vendor management
• In the insurance industry, brand managers often have a more narrow focus on product-specific branding, whereas this role takes a broader, enterprise-wide approach
• Career progression in this role may involve transitioning into a leadership role within the marketing department or moving into a regional or global brand management position

ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique combination of brand management, CSR planning, and vendor management responsibilities, with opportunities for professional growth and development within a large, global organization.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing and executing a brand campaign to launch a new insurance product in the Japanese market
• Integrating CSR initiatives into the brand strategy for a major corporate social responsibility report
• Managing a rebranding project for a regional office, including visual identity, brand guidelines, and stakeholder communications

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the breadth of responsibilities and the strategic nature of the role.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the brand strategy for the Japanese market and how this role contributes to its execution?
• How does this role collaborate with other marketing teams, such as growth marketing and customer experience, to ensure brand consistency across all touchpoints?
• What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
• How does Manulife support the professional development and growth of its brand managers?
• What are the biggest challenges facing the brand team in the next 12-24 months, and how can this role help address them?

ASSUMPTION: These questions demonstrate a strategic understanding of the role and a commitment to driving brand success at Manulife.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your brand marketing experience and relevant skills
• Prepare examples of successful brand campaigns you've managed, including metrics and outcomes
• Demonstrate your understanding of Manulife's brand and how your experience aligns with the company's brand strategy
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to confirm receipt and reiterate your interest in the role

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.