We are Kao, listed as one of the world’s most ethical companies for the last 20 years. Our EMEA brand portfolio spans across three sectors: Consumer Care (John Frieda, Guhl, Bondi Sands, Bioré, Jergens, Curél), Professional Hair (Goldwell, Oribe, KMS Hair, Kerasilk), and Molton Brown. Our corporate philosophy, The Kao Way, guides us in everything we do – acting with integrity, courageously driving innovation, and treating each other with trust and respect.
About our role
Reporting to the Head of Strategic Partnerships & Investment Optimization, AEMEA, this role leads the AEMEA performance and investment effectiveness mini squad. It sets the regional standard for “plan, do, check, act” execution, agency and partner performance management, and investment governance. The role ensures capability building and measurable business impact at scale, in close partnership with Accenture and senior AEMEA stakeholders, with a clear focus on return on investment.
What you will do
* Lead partnership with Accenture: joint delivery plan, capability programs, tools, and measurable impact reporting.
* Lead the performance and return on investment mini squad strategy, roadmap, and operating model across AEMEA.
* Establish regional standards for measurement, learning agendas, experimentation, and benefits realization; ensure adoption and quality.
* Own regional agency performance governance: evaluation framework, scorecards, improvement plans, and escalation paths.
* Drive investment governance: decision forums, prioritization principles, and business case quality; ensure transparency and accountability.
* Senior stakeholder engagement: communicate progress, risks, and impact; influence funding and decisions with clear rationale.
What you will need
* University level education
* Advanced training in measurement, media effectiveness, experimentation, or finance for marketers preferred
* Minimum 10 years of experience in digital transformation, digital marketing, electronic commerce, analytics, or consulting
* 5+ years leading regional programmes, capability building, or performance governance
* Strong experience influencing senior stakeholders and aligning markets to shared standards
* Demonstrates strong business, financial, and analytical thinking, applying data, measurement, and optimisation expertise to support effective digital investment decisions and drive business outcomes.
* Strong leadership capability with the ability to raise standards, coach and develop others, foster accountability, and build trust‑based, high‑performing teams and partnerships.
* Excellent stakeholder management, influencing, and executive communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex topics clearly and persuasively across markets, functions, agencies, external partners, and regional/global headquarters, including close collaboration with teams in Japan.
* Proven experience managing agency and partner relationships with a strong focus on governance, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.
* Comfortable navigating ambiguity and complexity, with strong prioritisation, programme management, and structured execution capabilities in dynamic regional environments.
* Curious, open‑minded, and proactive in challenging existing ways of working through evidence‑based thinking and new approaches.
At Kao, we believe the diversity of our teams strengthens our global mission
Here we trust and respect each other, collaborating in a friendly and inclusive work environment to achieve great results.
What you can expect from us
* An entrepreneurial environment where passionate and innovative teams come together.
* Respect, teamwork and collaboration are at the heart of how we work.
* A workplace culture that prioritises employee wellbeing, with opportunities to get involved in initiatives such as Mental Health First Aiders, our Charity Committee, and DEI communities.
* A broad range of benefits, including flexible working, competitive salaries, health and wellbeing offers, pension schemes, insurance options, and more.
* Learning and development opportunities.
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