APCO Worldwide

The Role

You will be joining APCO colleagues in Tokyo and across the global network who are smart, collaborative, diverse and curious. Clients come to APCO to help solve tricky problems, create new ideas and campaigns, and connect with others, and together we work on some of the most interesting and challenging issues of the day. We believe in the power of communication to affect change and we are excited by purposeful work.

APCO will offer you a collegial work environment, countless training and development opportunities, and an opportunity to build an international career across cultures and borders. Tokyo is one of APCO’s newest and fastest-growing teams.

Responsibilities

You will support client projects by drafting client materials; researching issues, trends, stakeholders, and best practices; engaging in select media relations opportunities; coordinating meetings and events; and supporting a wide array of ad-hoc client deliverables.

The successful candidate should be ready to:

• Support our high profile, globally recognized corporate and non-profit clients
• Develop an understanding of client issues through research and monitoring
• Produce thoughtful, well-written deliverables under tight deadlines
• Actively participate in internal and client meetings and brainstorming sessions
• Offer creativity and can-do practicality
• Enjoy engaging with a variety of stakeholders
• Engage in business development activities including writing proposals and developing pitch decks

Qualifications

• Intern or full-time experience in communication, public relations, policy, sustainability, or advocacy work
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related field
• Keen interest in and opinion on current affairs, public policy and media
• Exceptional writing and analytical skills, and especially ability to write both strategically and creatively under tight deadlines
• Strong presentation skills
• Ability to manage multiple work-streams and control quality of output
• Digital/social media fluency; beneficial if experienced in conducting research using digital tools
• Previous agency or consulting experience preferred
• Full proficiency in both English and Japanese language (JPLT-N1 for non-native speakers)

Careers at APCO

Through our recruitment, hiring and retention efforts, APCO is committed to building teams to bring the best possible expertise and robust perspectives to our clients. We embrace differences in experience, viewpoint and ideas, starting with our values and extending to our behaviors, policies and practices. We aim to create a positive work experience and welcoming environment where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.

APCO in Tokyo

APCO’s Tokyo-based team prides itself on a proven record of advising multinational companies to realize strategic advantage and achieve their top- and bottom-line business goals by:

• Aligning with societal and government priorities
• Anticipating potential issues and mitigating negative risks
• Navigating regulatory scrutiny and using regulation to call out others
• Responding rapidly to crises to maintain and rebuild reputation
• Identifying and engaging key local stakeholders and third-parties
• Advocating for policies that create or expand their market

Our clients—a majority of whom draw from the health and tech industries–choose APCO for our unique combination of global mindset and local market knowledge and relationships. They trust that our insights and ideas will properly balance what's needed in Japan with the increasingly complex geopolitics of their business and with the uncertainties wrought by climate change, pandemic threats, rising prices, growing inequality, disinformation and various forms of ethnic and political tribalism.

Delivering on that promise is our diverse team of consultants, who have studied or worked in a dozen countries and who speak at least a half-dozen languages. Their international experience and perspectives enable us to deliver unmatched, world-class counsel and service that sets our clients apart and sets them up for continued success in Japan and beyond.

About APCO

APCO is a global advisory and advocacy firm helping leading corporations, foundations and governments navigate a complex world and create lasting impact.

Founded in 1984, with one woman’s vision and bold action, APCO has grown into an independent, majority women-owned firm of more than 1,200 employees with work spanning 80 markets around the world.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., APCO is comprised of strategic advisers, consultants and creators, working together across borders and functions, to provide services and expertise on financial, competitive, political and societal issues.

APCO is a trusted partner to bold purpose-led leaders, lawmakers, government officials, NGOs, the media and other stakeholders in the health, energy, technology, transportation & infrastructure and food & consumer products sectors. For 40 years, the firm has provided public affairs, crisis & reputation, impact, corporate reputation and global solutions services.

APCO is renowned for its ability to champion clients’ interests and permission to operate, build their reputation and strengthen their standing. APCO’s integrated approach and team of tenacious and empathic talent create connections and winning strategies that accelerate progress and deepen impact.

By bringing diverse people and ideas together, and working beyond traditional boundaries, APCO builds the un/common ground upon which progress is made.