A

Apple

Designs phones, computers and their operating systems

Channel & Partner Communications Lead - Marketing Communications

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/15/2026
No salary listed
Expert
Minato City, Tokyo, Japan
In Person
Growth & MarketingBrand & Creative Marketing

About the job

Requirements
  • At least 18 years of experience in a marketing or advertising agency or an in-house marketing communications organization.
  • At least 10 years of experience leading and developing a team.
  • Business-level fluency in English and Japanese.
Responsibilities
  • Lead the team responsible for driving ambition for Apple's presence in channel environments, recommend ways to close skill gaps to drive integrated partner marketing plans, and represent the group on the Japan Marcom Leadership Team.
  • Drive planning and creative execution of Apple-led channel communications and experiences, including product launches, refreshes, and campaign extensions, ensuring on-time delivery, seamless execution, and ongoing learnings and insights.
  • Ensure alignment internally with worldwide channel functions and sales, and externally with partners.
  • Define clear annual sales and marketing plans for key partners with key sales account managers, including branded merchandising solutions throughout partners' retail estates and integrated communications to support initiatives.
  • Synthesize annual partner plans at the local geographic level and identify key opportunities to feed the marketing planning review process.
  • Understand and share insights about key business partners across a variety of routes to market.
  • Partner closely with worldwide Channel and Partner Communications leads to ensure ongoing alignment of platforms and content across all routes to market.
  • Develop collaborative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Desired Qualifications
  • Understand digital platforms in Japan and provide guidance on consumer journeys to drive platform engagement and content innovation.
  • Have a deep understanding of offline and online retail environments in Japan across different cities and types of routes to market, and be able to drive strategic points of view.
  • See the bigger picture and orchestrate projects through to completion.
  • Have proven leadership experience at all levels of a global organization, working with and inspiring a large team.
  • Have extensive experience in brand communications, including above-the-line and below-the-line communications, and understand the full spectrum of communications.
  • Be a strategic problem solver capable of influencing senior stakeholders internally and externally.
  • Decode creative work quickly and provide real-time feedback on partners' ideas and creative concepts.
  • Have experience partnering with and building productive relationships with creative teams.
  • Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability in dynamic environments and work as a member of a team.
  • Demonstrate strong attention to detail and results orientation.
  • Have experience working with third parties to influence, inform, and guide their creative efforts.
  • Know channel marketing disciplines, including visual merchandising, retail marketing and campaigns, point of sale, and customer-engagement programs.

About the company

Apple designs and sells consumer electronics, from iPhone smartphones and Mac computers to tablets and wearable devices. Its operating systems manage apps and built-in functions for communication and work, while iCloud stores files and synchronizes data across devices. Customers buy additional digital services through subscriptions such as Apple Music and Apple TV, and developers distribute software through the App Store. Apple earns money from hardware sales, subscriptions and digital transactions, selling directly to customers and through retailers and mobile carriers around the world. It was founded in 1976 and has its headquarters in Cupertino, California.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Cupertino, California

Founded

1976

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Business demand is growing: Apple reported $109.4 billion revenue in the June 2026 quarter, up 16% year over year.
  • Eligible US employees get learning support: Apple reimburses career-related tuition and runs Apple University classes.
  • Services earn richer margins: Apple reported 75.6% services gross margin in the June 2026 quarter, versus 40.1% for products.

What critics are saying

  • Assembly depends on Asian partners: Apple outsources substantially all final hardware assembly, reducing direct control over production.
  • iPhone concentrates demand risk: the product generated 49.6% of Apple revenue in the June 2026 quarter.
  • Student support shifts take evenings: Apple College Advisors typically work three evening shifts and one weekend shift weekly.

What makes Apple unique

  • Its chips link hardware and software: Apple designs M-series processors and developer frameworks tuned to their unified memory.
  • Stores double as service hubs: Apple combines device sales, Genius Bar technical help and in-person learning sessions.
  • It owns a spatial operating system: Apple Vision Pro runs visionOS, controlled through eyes, hands and voice.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Tuition Reimbursement

Performance Bonus

Relocation Assistance

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

-5%
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