Lead Public Affairs

Job Description

Your Role

As the Lead for Public Affairs in Japan, you will be the strategic architect for Intuitive’s reputation, policy, and stakeholder engagement in the market. You will partner closely with country leadership and cross-functional teams to design and implement a holistic public affairs strategy that enables commercial success, mitigates risk, and positions Intuitive as a leader and the partner of choice in advancing minimally invasive care and robotic-assisted surgery among key stakeholders. 

This is a highly visible role where you will:

• Provide Strategic Counsel: Advise the Japan leadership team on stakeholder expectations, reputational-driven opportunities, emerging issues, and strategic engagement.

• Drive Influence: Shape a positive policy and media landscape to support the adoption of Intuitive’s technologies, including da Vinci and Ion.

• Promote and Protect Our Reputation: Safeguard our reputation and articulate our value to media, policymakers, industry influencers, and patient advocates.

• Lead Integrated Campaigns: Seamlessly connect corporate communications, government affairs, and advocacy efforts for maximum impact.

Qualifications

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Execution

• Serve as the internal expert on Japan’s public affairs environment, including political cycles, regulatory trends, healthcare reimbursement policies, and media dynamics. Translate insights into actionable, market-specific strategies.

• Build strong, collaborative relationships across commercial, clinical affairs, regulatory affairs, market access and other functional teams to ensure aligned objectives and integrated execution of public affairs initiatives.

• Demonstrate leadership in managing a multi-functional scope—from long-term strategy development to day-to-day tactical execution, including budget management and agency oversight.

Corporate Communications & Media Relations

• Develop and implement proactive PR and communications plans that elevate the profile of Intuitive Surgical, its da Vinci and Ion systems, and its broader ecosystem in the Japanese healthcare market.

• Craft compelling narratives and localized messaging that resonate with Japanese stakeholders, including media, healthcare professionals, policymakers and medical societies, while supporting business goals such as market access and adoption.

• Cultivate and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with key Japanese media outlets, healthcare journalists, and industry influencers, including regional and national press to build Intuitive’s leading reputation. 

• Design and execute high-impact disease awareness campaigns to drive stakeholder engagement, patient education, and meaningful behavior change.

• Lead reputation and issues management, including spokesperson preparedness training, media simulation drills, crisis communications planning, and real-time response coordination.

.  Policy & Stakeholder Engagement

• Monitor the political and regulatory landscape in Japan, including MHLW, METI, and related bodies, providing timely intelligence and strategic recommendations to leadership.

• Strategically support the President of Intuitive Surgical Japan and the leadership team in high-stakes engagements with policymakers, regulators, medical societies, industry association, including narrative development, briefing preparation and follow-up.

• Identify and develop an integrated government affairs and stakeholder engagement approach that advances Intuitive’s business and policy objectives, including reimbursement, regulatory pathways, and innovation-friendly policies.

Social Impact

• Design and implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs that create tangible social impact, while fostering high levels of employee engagement and internal advocacy.

Support for Ion Launch (in 2027)

• Collaborate closely with the Ion team and cross-functional partners (commercial, regulatory, market access, and clinical affairs) to lead public affairs efforts that support the successful launch of the Ion endoluminal system in Japan. Build strong awareness and advocacy among key stakeholders, including policymakers, medical societies, patient groups, and media.

• Develop and execute a targeted stakeholder engagement plan to educate opinion leaders on the clinical value and patient benefits of Ion, positioning it as a transformative tool for early lung cancer diagnosis.

• Proactively identify and address potential policy, regulatory, or reputational barriers to Ion adoption, working cross-functionally with commercial team, regulatory affairs, market access, and clinical affairs teams.

• Create and disseminate tailored messaging and briefing materials that articulate Ion’s unique value proposition to Japanese healthcare decision-makers and influencers.

• Lead the media strategy and execution of Ion product launch media programs, delivering high-impact outcomes that drive patient awareness and adoption of early lung cancer diagnosis.

Who You Are:

Skills & Experience

• Experienced Leader: 15+ years in public affairs, or strategic communications within healthcare, technology or related regulated sectors.

• Market Expert: Deep understanding of Japan’s healthcare system, political institutions, media landscape, and stakeholder dynamics.

• Influential Communicator: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in both English and Japanese, with the ability to simplify complex topics for diverse audiences.

• Strategic Integrator: Proven ability to connect policy, communications, and advocacy into a unified program that delivers business results.

• Collaborative Partner: Adept at working within a global, matrixed organization—building consensus, managing projects, and influencing without direct authority.

• Educated Professional: Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in Communications, Public Policy, Business, or Marketing is a plus.

Leadership & Personal Attributes

• You lead with humility, integrity, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

• You exercise sound judgment and are trusted to advise senior executives on sensitive issues.

• You are a proactive team player, willing to support broader team goals beyond your direct remit.

• You are metrics-aware, able to quantify and communicate the impact of public affairs initiatives.

• You are deeply attuned to the cultural and business nuances of Japan and can navigate them effectively.

Additional Information

Ready to Shape the Future of Healthcare in Japan?

If you are a strategic public affairs leader passionate about advancing innovation and building reputation in one of the world’s most important healthcare markets, we invite you to apply.

Intuitive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

当社は、法令に従い、全ての応募者について、その適性と能力のみを基準として公正に採用選考を行います。

この職位は、業務上のニーズや、採用候補者の経験、知識、技能に応じて、ここに記載されている職務レベルと異なるレベルで採用される場合があります。

報酬は、主に採用された職務レベルと候補者の資格に基づき、適用される法律に従って決定されます。