Regional Communications Manager - Asia

Focus of the Role

We don’t just talk, we do. Lead the change with us.

At the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, we work with political leaders around the world to drive change. We help governments turn bold ideas into reality so they can deliver for their people. We do it by advising on strategy, policy and delivery, unlocking the power of technology across all three. And by sharing what we learn on the ground, so everyone can benefit. We do it to build more open, inclusive and prosperous countries for people everywhere. 

We are a global team of nearly 800 changemakers, operating in more than 30 countries, across five continents. We are political strategists, policy experts, delivery practitioners, technology specialists and more. We speak more than 45 languages. We are working on over 100 projects, tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges. We’re all here at TBI to make a difference. 

In a world of ever more complex challenges, we believe diversity of background and perspective is a strength. We pride ourselves on a culture that values and nurtures difference. We are dedicated to unlocking potential, not only for the countries we work in but also for each of our team members. No matter where you’re from or who you are, if you’re passionate about the transformative power of progressive politics, we invite you to build a better future with us.

We encourage early application as we reserve the right, if required, to close this role ahead of the date advertised.

Job Introduction

As the Institute grows, we are seeking a Regional Communications Manager for Asia based in our Asia Headquarters in Singapore. The position will be directly responsible for communications activities across our growing Asia region reporting to the Executive Director, Global Strategic Communications. As the position will be based in Asia, there will be a direct line of additional management, reporting day-to-day to the Managing Director, Asia Advisory. 

This is a new role as part of recent changes to elevate the role of communications across TBI. Integral to the new Global Strategic Communications team, the Regional Communications Manager will create and implement a regional communications strategy for Asia and serve as point for building our profile, elevating TBI thought leadership, creating opportunities to position our Asia team for new opportunities, especially our Managing Director, generate client-focused stories, and be the first point of contact for Asia-based media. The first task will be creating a comprehensive communications strategy for the region.

Successfully implemented, the strategy will tell a coherent story and showcase what we do in policy and advisory, and the people we have in leadership to do it.

The successful candidate will be accustomed to complex political environments and able to operate strategically and at pace. With a keen interest in public policy, and direct experience in government and political communications, they will believe in the power of progressive politics and know how to deploy strategic communications to realise a policy objective, understanding the importance of being in the regional debate – and knowing when to start them. They will be politically astute, experienced, and sensitive to the environment in which we operate, namely at the heart of governments.

Reporting to the Executive Director, Global Strategic Communications, the Regional Communications Manager will have wide autonomy to propose, lead, and evaluate opportunities to build the profile of our senior leadership, elevate stories for promotion TBI-wide, in coordination with the Global Strategic Communications team, drive awareness-raising campaigns, cultivate contacts in the media, provide background briefings, spearhead and manage public-facing events that support our business development and profile-raising efforts in the region, and ensure all of the above adhere and reinforce our TBI branding.

This role will also, on occasion, support Global Client Solutions and the local Advisory team, providing a brilliant opportunity to offer practical communications advice to client engagements while seeing first-hand the stories we could tell, and the impact we are having, for internal and external TBI communications.

Finally, this role will also serve as additional media handling and advice to our central media team and spokesperson.

Please note, it is essential you have an existing right to work in Singapore to apply for this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Run day-to-day communications activities, including Asia communications, media, press, social and creative activities for the region, ensuring that the work of TBI is reaching, influencing, and impacting the relevant audiences and stakeholders in your region
• Develop and support a regional communication, press and media strategy for TBI in the regions, to advance our key strategic priorities, particularly brand-building and business development
• Work closely with policy and advisory experts across the global network of TBI ensuring work they are producing has value for client work and potentially communications value; working with them to focus their work in a way that supports the Asia HQ
• Develop and deliver successful local events and brand-building/raising campaigns that will achieve local deliverables
• Establish a marketing plan to promote regional advisory and manage/raise TBI profile, including a comms approach to showcase regional partnerships, value proposition, and key staff (leadership)
• Innovate and deliver programmes in the region that advance and outline the aims of the Institute in a measurable way, through policy and communications
• Develop and manage key performance indicators and analytics to track effectiveness of communications in the region
• Lead issues management and crisis communications as required, in close coordination with the Global Strategic Communications team
• Build strong, collaborative relationships across the Asia region and actively champion TBI’s progressive values
• Create effective, collaborative, and empowering relationships with Country Teams to build their own profile and position them for more client work

Person Specification

The Regional Communications Manager will be an experienced and successful strategic communications operative:

• With experience in leading strategic communications and press office teams for complex, global organisations. Working in an environment subject to media attention is an advantage
• Who has led global policy communications team in developing and implementing communications strategies to support policy initiatives
• With a personal passion for politics and government, bringing demonstrable expertise in politics, and public policy or administration, international relations or another similar field
• Who is strategic, entrepreneurial, can challenge the status-quo and develop plans for successful delivery of challenging objectives
• Who is a skilled communicator and influencer, from executive office level through to technical level, is adept at speaking to senior leadership, knows how to navigate ambiguous environments and is comfortable at managing up and beyond hierarchy
• With demonstrable evidence of building high performing and engaged teams, nurturing talent, and creating an inclusive culture
• With a strong ability to translate new or evolving strategies into effective communications
• With excellent judgment and a proven ability to achieve results and make decisions in changing, complex environments