08 Aug Communications Manager – APAC | Global Architecture Firm

Locations: Brisbane, Australia | Job ID: 1478478

• Prominent role leading communications, branding and marketing strategy 
• Join a respected, supportive and well-resourced team with a focus on having fun while embracing career development.
• Full-time role with flexible working arrangements considered.
• Working with a high regarded BD leader as part of a growing team. 
• Well suited to a seasoned communications and marketing leader or aspiring manager.
• Exclusive to Dalton Handley.

Our client is one of the world’s leading architecture firms, known for their involvement in the development of high-profile Olympic and FIFA World Cup Stadia. As a result of this firm’s continued success and strong growth trajectory, an exciting opportunit for a communications and marketing leader to join their team has arisen; in this role you will play a lead role in driving and implententing communications, brand and marketing strategies in conjuction with senior leadership. 

The Role

In this senior position, you will oversee and support the strategic communication activities across the Asia-Pacific region (APAC) with a focus on designing, implementing and evaluating external campaigns and initiatives that progress our brand profile, market presence and emphasise the expertise and experience of leadership and wider teams. These external campaigns can run across various channels (website, social media) and via external media.

The role will be a key part of the APAC Communications team, and also work with regional and global counterparts as part of a wider Communications strategy across the firm’s global channels (website/social).

While the primary focus of this role is on progressing the firm’s external communication campaigns and storytelling, this role will also take on the management of internal communication initiatives, working alongside other internal teams to help progress key programs of work within this stream.

Key Responsibilities

External Communication:

• Work with Head of the BD function and senior fee earners/project leads to develop an ongoing external communication plan for each of APAC’s priority markets aligned to the overall business development strategy, detailing key stories to tell, preferred methods of communication, evaluation metrics, and where needed, the involvement of local PR agencies to assist.
• Take full ownership over the writing, and reviewing, of externally facing copy, press releases etc. focusing on a telling the stories of the firm’s projects and people, dependent on the specific requirements.
• Build and maintain relationships with reporters and other key industry stakeholders who are critical to helping get the relevant communication piece out to the right markets and in front of the right people or organisations.
• Build and maintain an updated media distribution and contacts list for each key APAC market.
• Proactively write, pitch and release relevant news and feature stories to local and national media outlets and publications.
• Be the APAC lead for the firm’s media monitoring and tracking for brand mentions, maintain media clips and provide regular reporting to market leads on brand recognition and impact.
• Working closely with project leaders to manage design awards submissions.
• Create a calendar of conference and speaking opportunity to drive thought leadership for key  staff across the region
• Provide regular reporting to the functional head and senior leaders when required regarding external communication items and priorities.
• Create strategic social plan for APAC. Draft and post items to the firm’s social channels as required.

Internal Communication:

• In collaboration with Line Manager, develop a proactive internal communications strategy and lead communication planning for organisational changes and important events/initiatives.
• Draft and post APAC-related stories to global intranet channels
• Develop new and improve existing communication tools (e.g., APAC Team meetings, intranet, regular all staff emails) to support team member’s sense of belonging, connection and awareness of key business initiatives and future positioning.
• Interactions with HR re internal comms
• Implement reporting metrics to evaluate the success and performance of the relevant plans and initiatives and that measure return on investment.
• Create and maintain an APAC calendar of communication and events that highlights key internal communication events and initiatives, working closely with all relevant teams to drive them forward.
• Provide regular reporting to all stakeholders leaders when required regarding internal communication items and priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor and/or higher tertiary degree in communications, marketing, business or similar.

Knowledge and Experience

• Prior experience in communications and brand marketing – minimum 8 years.
• Experience working with external media and PR agencies, including successful management of relationships to ensure value and suitable ROI.
• Experience and ability to craft relevant and meaningful stories for external and internal audiences aligned to brand, market priorities and focus areas.
• Experience working internationally, or on international projects, within an external communication focused role or similar (desirable).
• Experience working with government agencies within the context of this role is desired, but not essential.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing communication strategies and plans that cover a diverse range of requirements.

Skills

• A bias towards having a growth mindset, highlighted by a positive attitude, resourceful nature, and excellent problem-solving capabilities.
• A true passion for storytelling and writing communication pieces that are fit for purpose and reach target audiences.
• Ability to ask the right questions when needed and to pull the stories out of team members, project leaders and senior leaders.
• Ability to interact with diverse groups of people, develop strong networks and build credibility inside and outside the organisation.
• Strong organisational and project management skills.
• Excellent communication skills: verbal, technical writing, and creative writing as well as proofreading and editing.
• Ability to work independently, multi-task/manage multiple projects simultaneously and achieve successful results within project deadlines.
• High level skill in the areas of research, analysis and report presentation and delivery.
• High level skill in data analysis and in measuring return on investments measures and indicators.
• High level skill using Microsoft Office products and presentation software.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and ability to get work achieved through others

For more information or to register your interest, please contact Charles Handley at charles@daltonhandley.com