Japan Communications Consultant

Summary

Help increase Ember’s reach and influence among key decision-makers in Japan by designing and delivering strategic communications activities to shape narrative and raise the profile of our energy experts and analytical products.

Description

The objective is to establish Ember as a credible, independent, data-driven energy think tank that has measurably shifted the energy debate in influential political, business, financial and media circles toward accelerating the clean transition on economic and energy security grounds.

Working closely with Ember’s communications team and specialist analysts in Japan, you will lead innovative communications strategies to reach and influence target audiences with Ember’s high-quality data, analytical products and thought leadership championing renewables and electrification.

Ember is a non-profit organisation that works to accelerate the clean energy transition with data and policy. With a globally distributed team and a pioneering and collaborative work culture, it has established itself as a go-to source of energy intelligence for decision-makers worldwide.

Please note: this opportunity is offered on a freelance/contractor basis only. The role is overseen by Ember’s Asia communications manager.

Key deliverables

1. Develop a communications strategy for Japan

2. Coordinate a strategic information campaign focusing on a priority topic, reaching target audiences across multiple channels and messengers across several months

3. Support the launch of up to five research publications, with activities including:

• Editing technical reports in English and Japanese, in line with Ember’s house style
• Designing media materials and pitching to journalists
• Producing digital and social media launch materials
• Engaging amplifier organisations to help raise the profile of the work

4. Build Ember’s communications capabilities in the region

• Adapt and translate Ember’s core narrative for target audiences
• Expand our journalist database (<50 new contacts) and establish a close relationship with key contacts in at least five top-tier outlets
• Set up at least three target audiences for LinkedIn advertising campaigns
• Coordinate closely with at least 20 communications colleagues in local clean energy and climate CSOs, business and finance networks, academic groups, and journalist and strategic communications networks.
• Build the communications skills of technical specialists, including by delivering media training in local language
• Review Ember’s website in Japanese and help implement improvements
• Review Ember’s custom AI translation tools and support to improve their quality, including improving our Japanese style guide

5. Achieve influential communications impact

• Secure at least 20 media articles in top-tier, conservative-leaning and/or financial/economic outlets
• Leverage at least two business or political voices to publicly advocate for the clean transition
• Secure two opinion articles or other reactive media coverage at timely policy moments
• Increase the click-through-rate for targeted LinkedIn ad campaigns

6. Evaluate communications impact, including tracking media and digital metrics and sharing lessons learned, conducted every quarter and at the end of the project

7. Other ad hoc responsibilities as required – such as attending internal meetings, contributing to grant reporting

Location

Fully remote. Ember is a remote-first organisation; some overlap with UK/European working hours is expected.

Requirements

Must have

• Experience in designing impactful communications strategies that reach and influence policymakers and those they trust
• Proven track record securing top-tier media, with an established journalist network, and in engaging audiences via digital channels
• Experience in editing complex technical and analytical research, and supporting subject matter specialists to communicate in a compelling way
• Ability to adapt communications style to suit different platforms and audiences, including opinion articles and social media content
• Technical skills in using CRMs, social media (eg LinkedIn advertising), CMS (eg WordPress), LLMs (Claude, Gemini), and media monitoring tools (eg Meltwater), and willingness to learn new technologies and skills
• Proven track record in building stakeholder relationships, particularly with amplifiers
• Professionally fluent in English and Japanese

Nice to have

• Experience in the energy sector, particularly economics or energy security
• Understanding of the national policy context and influential stakeholders
• Additional language skills

Contract period

Until 31 December 2027

Total fee: £20,000

This is a freelance consultancy engagement, not an employed position: we are seeking an independent contractor to deliver this work on a fixed-fee basis.

In your proposal, please provide your day rate and an outline work schedule

Invoices will be paid on a monthly basis upon completion of work, unless another arrangement is agreed.