13 February 2012

Director, Communications and Public Affairs (APEC Secretariat)

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is the premier champion for free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific. The APEC Secretariat, based in Singapore, is looking for a suitable candidate to join its dynamic Communications & Public Affairs team as its Director.

The objective of the Secretariat's communications team is to effectively publicise and promote awareness and understanding of APEC, its achievements and activities among key target audiences.

The key tasks of the Director (Communications & Public Affairs) are:

  • Design, develop, implement and direct internal and external communications policies and strategies for APEC, including effective outreach strategies for APEC's Executive Director and other APEC representatives and fora as required;
  • Direct the Secretariat's communications and media activities for major events such as the APEC Leaders' Meeting and APEC Ministerial meetings and provide communications advice and assistance to host economies;
  • Provide oversight of the Secretariat's outreach, media, website, speech writing, public affairs, intellectual property, publications, meeting documentation and promotional activities, and direct the development of all forms of communications collateral;
  • Manage the communications team comprising six full-time staff and periodic use of freelance contractors and interns.

The candidate must be from an APEC economy and should possess the following requirements:

  • At least an honours degree in Mass Communications, Journalism or related fields.
  • At least 8 years of relevant work experience, with at least 3 years in a supervisory capacity with responsibility for developing, implementing and managing strategic communications.
  • Ability to demonstrate skills in a wide range of communication areas.
  • Experience in managing a team of multi-cultural communications professionals, working with communications budgets and project management.
  • Excellent spoken and written English.
  • Experience in a trade and investment environment would provide a distinct advantage.

Details of the post and information on APEC can be viewed at www.apec.org.

Your application must include a cover letter and a comprehensive resume detailing your qualifications and experience, how they match those required, three references and expected salary. You should also submit examples of your recent written works.

Applications should reach us no later than 8 August 2010 via recruit@apec.org or sent to the Director (Administration), APEC Secretariat, 35 Heng Mui Keng Terrace, Singapore 119616, Fax: (65) 6891-9690.

Only short-listed candidates will be notified.


Job Title:             Director (Communications and Public Affairs) 
Department:      Communications and Public Affairs 

Reporting To:     Executive Director (ED) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION 
Education/Training Requirement
  • Degree in Mass Communications or higher.
Work Experience Requirement
  • Communications specialist with 7+ years experience in international/regional government or corporate communications, public relations practice and/or other related fields. 
  • Excellent knowledge of and skills in managing a wide-range of communications areas including: communications planning; website management; media relations; outreach and speech writing; publications; public affairs issues such as logo and intellectual property management; documentation and records management.
  • Should have experience managing a team of multi-racial communications professionals and of budget formulation, and project management.
  • Possess relevant skills and experience to effectively represent and promote APEC to a wide range of audiences both in the public and private sector. 
JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Overview

  • Management of all communications and public affairs operations of the APEC Secretariat to effectively publicise and promote internal and external awareness and understanding of APEC, its achievements and activities among key target audiences.

Principal Functions

  1. Develop and implement internal and external communications strategies and policies for APEC.
  2. Provide oversight of all APEC communications, public affairs, media liaison, outreach and promotional activities.
  3. Direct the development of all forms of communications collateral including publications, websites, audio visual, electronic and display resources, media releases and communications toolkits for worldwide use in APEC communications programmes.
  4. Direct and oversee the design and implementation of an effective annual outreach strategy for the ED; and provide the ED with all the resources he/she requires to carry out the activities such as speech drafting and research capacity.
  5. Provide strategic advice to the host economy – for example on correct logo and intellectual property usage and best practices for media relations and event management.
  6. Assist, where possible and relevant, with the implementation of the host's communications-related responsibilities and activities throughout the year.
  7. Plan and direct the Secretariat's communications and media strategies for major events such as the Leaders' Meeting and other annual Ministerial meetings and events.
  8. Coordinate, with the assistance of the News Manager, media interviews, briefing sessions, roundtables and other media-specific activities. Lead in the development and dissemination (internal and external) of APEC's key messages, in coordination with host and member economies.
  9. Develop and execute outreach programmes to key stakeholders.
  10. Ensure effective delivery of public affairs and information services to APEC member economies, committees and working groups to support individual communications efforts and provide strategic counsel for the development of customised communications plans.
  11. Promote communications best practice within APEC and ensure alignment of economy/committee/working group communications with APEC's overall strategic communications objectives.
  12. Manage Secretariat liaison with media, general public and interest groups.
  13. In collaboration with other members of the communications team, conceptualise and develop written APEC communications material, including press releases, media advisories, fact sheets, background briefing papers, articles for print and online publication.
  14. Manage APEC identity standards and enforcement of copyright and protocols for use of APEC name and logo.
  15. Manage Communications Team comprising six staff members and periodic use of freelance contractors and interns.