Manager, Asia Pacific Internal Communications

Role purpose: To work with the Director of Internal Communications supporting the delivery of the Firm’s internal communication strategy across the Firm’s Asia Pacific region. The role holder will provide strategic and tactical internal communications advice and support, with responsibility for leader and partner communications, town halls, lateral hiring announcements, people-related news and initiatives, script and speech writing, etc. They will also support local offices with their internal communications planning and announcements. This role will work closely with the Director of Internal Communications on rolling out firmwide projects in the region, with occasional crisis management support, and the Director of Asia Pacific BDMC with strategic regional BD/client-focused initiatives.

This is a hands-on role, working closely with the Firm’s Asia Pacific leaders across practices and functions, and would suit a highly proactive individual with excellent interpersonal, influencing, and project management skills. The role holder would need to be a strategic and creative thinker, passionate about story-telling, and able to build strong and effective working relationships with stakeholders at all levels and across cultures. Strong writing skills are a must as is the ability to work collaboratively.

Main responsibilities:

• Work with leadership to ensure their business objectives and the Firm’s strategy are appropriately and consistently communicated across the region; Help to embed a stronger listening culture across the region
• Draft engaging content and communications/engagement plans tailored to different audiences including the regional newsletter, leader, and partner communications, lateral hiring announcements, people-related news and initiatives, video storyboarding, script and speech writing, development of talking points, end-of-year party etc.
• Proactively source stories from across the region and consider novel and dynamic ways to bring these stories to life and engage our people
• Use data, where possible, to drive and inform content decisions, including content effectiveness and cut-through, and employee engagement strategies
• Continue to leverage internal communication channels to share key client wins, new mandates, panel appointments, etc., focusing on our transactional capabilities. Use creative, high-quality story-telling and initiatives across channels to share client successes/case studies and promote the Asia Pacific client listening program
• Work with the Internal Communications Director to assist in the management and the deployment/rollout of firmwide / client-focused initiatives and campaigns across regional and local markets
• Ensure all internal communication is consistent with the Firm’s vision, strategy, key messages, and style guide
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal communication skills during all interactions with stakeholders and colleagues

Technical skills, qualifications and experience

• Graduate degree in Communications or related discipline
• Must be able to write compelling copy, when needed, to react to rapid change or crisis
• A communications expert, with significant experience operating at a senior level within a high-profile, dynamic, and fast-moving organization, ideally in professional services
• Strong project management skills with significant experience leading large-scale projects and the ability to manage competing priorities
• Experience operating at manager-level working across multiple geographies
• A proven track record of defining and successfully implementing engaging and outstanding communication strategies
• Channel the Baker McKenzie brand, identity, and culture through a single communications voice
• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills are a must. Fluency in Mandarin is a plus but not essential

Personal qualities

These personal qualities represent the shared characteristics of high performers across Baker McKenzie, regardless of job level and location.

Know-how

• Demonstrates the ability to identify the real issue, and to anticipate requirements and potential consequences; distills a range of possibilities by thinking in a considered, prudent manner
• Has the capacity to take on new ideas, develop knowledge, and think holistically about business and address media, analyst, employee, and client audiences
• Able to move through a variety of tasks requiring different approaches, knowledge, and expertise, with the agility of mind and capacity for analysis and synthesis

Dedication

• Driven by a strong personal sense of integrity and upholds exemplary quality standards
• Prepares thoroughly, takes responsibility, uses initiative, and is self-reliant to ensure work progresses to the fullest extent possible
• Hardworking and diligent with a keen understanding of client demands
• Demonstrates composure when dealing with difficult situations

Personal Impact

• Uses complex, coordinated influencing/negotiation strategies, adapted to people, organizations, and/or the situation, e.g. networks
• Leverages direct reports to facilitate increased collaboration across the organization
• Builds partnerships based on a common agreement that acknowledges individual differences but creates a new commonality beyond root belief large-scale
• Creates a positive impression at all times; develops relationships through collaboration and reciprocity
• Negotiates to achieve mutually satisfactory outcomes; shows good judgment on when to stand strong and when to compromise
• Invests in, nurtures, and builds a network of productive relationships

Humanity

• Respectful to others, regardless of their position, and earns the respect of others by being transparent
• Has care and concern for others and a genuine interest in others as people
• Treats delicate or confidential issues with discretion