Strategic Communications Director

We’re looking for an ambitious Strategic Communications Director who can leverage their expertise to develop our strategic communications framework that can be used to drive and grow new revenues. This is a rare opportunity to play a leading part in extending our stakeholder communications proposition and helping fulfil our purpose, ensuring companies are more trusted and valued in the eyes of their Stakeholders.

Reporting into the CEO - Asia Pacific, the role will entail you collaborating closely with the rest, but not limited to, of Asia Pacific to enhance our reputation for strategic thought leadership within the Industry; lead the development and oversee the delivery of high quality strategic communications solutions through our Stakeholder Communications teams; leverage your knowledge and expertise to provide strategic advice to clients about how to solve their strategic communications challenges, build a network of strategic and tactical partners who may be required support us in the delivery of our strategic solutions; share best practice knowledge with colleagues and clients and where necessary support business development and marketing activities through speaking at Black Sun events, providing thought leadership pieces and engaging in new business pitches.

The role will require you to have an excellent understanding of the latest issues and opportunities that companies face today. You will also possess a strong level of knowledge around the main disclosure frameworks to report on strategic performance. You will hold experience in leading the development of large strategic communications or reporting programmes for blue-chip organisations, including materiality assessments.
The measures of success will include the successful development and support of our strategic communications offer to both existing and prospective clients, the enhancement of our reputation as leaders in the field and new revenue growth from strategic communications.

The role is well suited to a passionate, motivated, and experienced senior communications professional with a strong intellectual aptitude and strategic capabilities. An excellent level of writing is required with a strong vocabulary and impeccable grammar. Ideally, you will have previous experience in delivering strategic communications campaigns on client or agency side. You will have excellent interpersonal and presentational skills, be able to inspire people to deliver great work and have a collaborative approach to working with both clients and internal teams. High quality standards and a strong commercial acumen is a must, as well as the desire to want to make a material contribution to successfully growing our business.

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Key role responsibilities*
- To work with clients in developing strategic communication frameworks that present their strategic strategies in a clear and meaningful way
- To develop highly effective communications plans that deliver clients’ strategies and programmes across channels, either as one-off campaigns over short or longer timeframes, or as content on websites or in reports.
- To work with Black Sun’s creative teams to develop stunning visual and verbal idents for communications strategies that incorporate clear narratives and powerful messaging that help to differentiate clients from their peers.
- To lead stakeholder engagement activities on behalf of clients including interviews, workshops, focus groups and surveys.
- To conduct deep dive research into the strategic communications of Black Sun clients to assess their current communications approach, content, and overall effectiveness.
- To help present Black Sun’s wider strategic communications offer to existing Black Sun clients and demonstrate the value of developing an impactful communications framework and plan, beyond simply disclosing, or reporting data and information
- To help pitch for and win new business and meet Black Sun’s ambitious strategic proposition growth plans
- To manage and develop Black Sun’s own strategic insight and engagement research and benchmarking toolkit and methodologies.
- To contribute to the development of Black Sun’s impressive thought leadership and editorial productions.
- To provide guidance, education, support, and expertise to internal teams as required, ensuring the account teams are well equipped to drive discussions with clients

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Skills and experience: *
- At least five years’ experience in strategic communication roles, preferably in reporting or strategy
- Degree-level qualification in either strategic or communications preferred although strong experience and skillset is most important
- History of working with multinational organisations to develop strategies, plans and engagement campaigns
- Knowledge of key trends in strategic communications - key issues, engagement channels, stakeholder segmentation (e.g., investors, customers, employees, communities, NGOs, supply chain)
- Comfortable presenting to (often lar