Manager, Asia Pacific Internal Communications

Role purpose

Work with the Director of Internal Communications to support in the delivery of the Firm’s internal communication strategy across the Firm’s Asia Pacific region. The successful candidate  will  be responsible for providing both 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, as well as 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, including 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 who is passionate about story-telling, and can 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. This includes 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. with a particular focus 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

Travel requirements

About The Team

Function

The Firm’s BDMC function works closely with our partners and leadership teams to:

• Increase our revenue, profitability, and share across markets, industries, and clients
• Enable us to win, retain and grow business through powerful pitches, engaging thought leadership, and strong relationship management
• Lead market and client intelligence efforts to create new service line opportunities in industry and practice groups
• Channel the Baker McKenzie brand, identity, and culture through a single communications voice

You will report to the Director, Internal Communications.

Key relationships:

• Asia Pacific functional leadership and Management Committee, regional practice and function leads
• Global Communications team and in-market colleagues
• Colleagues across the BDMC function

About The Candidate

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 organisation, 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; distils a range of possibilities by thinking in a considered, prudent manner
• Strategically minded with the ability to see the bigger picture and continually keep the Firm’s priorities and business objectives at the forefront.
• Has a capacity to take on new ideas and develop knowledge and to 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
• 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; champions the Global Internal Communications team and develops relationships through collaboration, curiosity 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, embracing individuality and diversity
• Treats delicate or confidential issues with discretion

About Baker McKenzie

Complex business challenges require an integrated response across different markets, sectors, and areas of law. Baker McKenzie's client solutions provide seamless advice, underpinned by deep practice and sector expertise, as well as first-rate local market knowledge. Across more than 70 offices globally, Baker McKenzie works alongside our clients to deliver solutions for a connected world. 

We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion for all. Our unique international culture is reflected in the drawing together of a worldwide family of individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds in all of our offices. We encourage the best people -- regardless of race, religion, or belief if any, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, or age -- to fulfill their professional aspirations with us.