Associate Director, Corporate Communications, OCCM

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Singapore Management University is a place where high-level professionalism blends together with a healthy informality. The 'family-like' atmosphere among the SMU community fosters a culture where employees work, plan, organise and play together – building a strong collegiality and morale within the university.

Our commitment to attract and retain talent is ongoing. We offer attractive benefits and welfare, competitive compensation packages, and generous professional development opportunities – all to meet the work-life needs of our staff. No wonder, then, that SMU continues to be given numerous awards and recognition for its human resource excellence.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• This position is for Office of Corporate Communications and Marketing (OCCM).
• Strategic Corporate Communications:
• Develop and execute integrated corporate communications strategies that strengthen SMU’s institutional reputation locally, regionally, and globally.
• Support the Head, Brand & Corporate Communications in shaping and reinforcing SMU’s institutional corporate narrative, positioning, and key messages, ensuring alignment across all communications.
• Partner closely with the Office of Impact to conceptualise and deliver a robust impact communications framework that includes messaging platforms, thematic narratives, and storytelling that clearly articulate SMU’s contributions to industry, government, and society.
• Translate research outcomes, pedagogical innovations, community and industry partnerships, policy contributions, and alumni achievements into compelling evidence-based impact stories.
• Lead the development and production of the SMU Annual Report. This will include coordination with relevant units across the university to curate appropriate information and thereafter to render them in a narrative and format suitable for the Annual Report; writing appropriate introductory messages for the Chairman and President; briefing and working with external agencies for the design and layout of the report as well as their production in both hardcopy and digital form along with overseeing their distribution.
• Media Relations & Issues Management:
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local and international media, serving as a senior contact point for proactive stories, editorial collaborations, and media queries.
• Identify, shape, and pitch high-impact media opportunities that highlight SMU’s thought leadership, research strengths, education innovations, and societal impact.
• Develop forward-thinking media strategies that enhance visibility in priority markets (e.g., ASEAN, China, India, global education and business media).
• Support issues and crisis communications, preparing statements, Q&As and holding lines while coordinating closely with the Head of Brand and Communications, VP OCCM, University Leadership, and relevant internal units.
• Content Strategy & Editorial Leadership:
• Lead the end-to-end content and creative development of the President’s State of the University Address (PSOUA), including narrative framing, scriptwriting, content storyboard, multimedia production (videos, animations, slides), and the curation of performances or interactive segments that drive engagement and retention.
• Ensure all content meets high editorial standards for accuracy, clarity, strategic alignment, and brand consistency.
• Translate complex academic ideas, research findings, and institutional initiatives into accessible, engaging, audience-appropriate storytelling.
• Maintain an editorial calendar that aligns corporate communications outputs with institutional milestones and strategic priorities. These will include, but are not limited to, the establishment of new Institutes, launches of new Overseas Centres, key thought leadership events, both locally and abroad or other institutional initiatives such as the introduction of new academic programmes.
• Stakeholder & Internal Communications:
• Partner with internal units (HR, Schools, Institutes, Centres, Advancement, Registrar, Campus Services, President’s Office) to ensure timely, coherent, and well-coordinated communications of institutional updates.
• Support the Head of Brand and Communications in the development of internal announcements, staff/faculty messages, and university-wide communications that support organisational alignment, transparency, and community building.
• Oversee the planning and organisation of quarterly University Townhalls, including agenda curation, stakeholder coordination, narrative development, and supporting materials that communicate key updates and enable productive dialogue.
• Supervise the editorial and content development of the university newsletter, SMU Engage. This will involve coordination with units across the university to source and curate content to develop into engaging stories; ensuring the distribution and analytics processes are followed and putting in place measures to improve readership and engagement.
• Support communications for organisational change initiatives, policy rollouts, and major operational developments across SMU’s campus ecosystem.
• Project & Team Leadership:
• Lead or support major projects within the Brand & Corporate Communications portfolio, including cross-functional campaigns, high-profile publications, and strategic initiatives.
• Drive project timelines, creative direction, content quality, and stakeholder collaboration to ensure successful outcomes.
• Mentor, coach, and guide junior team members, providing editorial direction, developmental feedback, and support for professional growth.
• Serve as second-in-command to the Head, Brand & Corporate Communications when required, representing the function in meetings and supporting decision-making processes.
• Manage external vendors (creative agencies, videographers, writers, designers) to ensure alignment with SMU’s standards, timelines, and narrative goals.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 8 to 12 years of relevant experience in corporate communications, public affairs, media relations, or strategic communications, ideally in higher education or complex organisations.
• Proven track record in developing and executing strategic communications plans.
• Strong experience producing high-quality speeches, thought-leadership content, and executive communications.
• Familiarity with higher education trends and regional media landscapes (SG, ASEAN, China, India) is advantageous.