VMA GROUP: Senior Business Partner External Communications

A couple of years ago, a FMCG multinational set up a company to market different products. They now need a Senior Business Partner External Communications.

• Help create the category in which Fontem operates



• Manage and build the Group’s corporate reputation



• To support Fontem to ensure that Fontem can market, sell and communicate their products in as many places as possible



• Manage the CEO’s reputation

First of all, the Senior Business Partner External Communications needs to have perfect native English writing skills: articles, research reports, blogs, tweets, white papers and all kinds of other documents for a large variety of stakeholders, for both digital and social media and traditional channels. A thorough understanding of stakeholder effectiveness of various channels is needed in order to get messages across.

S/he needs to be a storyteller, with the ability to adapt the tone of voice to different channels. Content will both be suggested by functional leadership and needs to be pro-actively developed.

The Senior Business Partner External Communications will report to the SVP CORA and will build and support the implementation of the Group External Communications approach in all parts of the business to all external stakeholders including (major) media, politics, industry, retail and the public opinion at large.

The role will include proactively handling media relations both in a supportive role for senior management and in an active spokesman responsibility. There will be close cooperation with senior management worldwide. In order to cooperate with Public Affairs, also assisting in writing relevant white papers, a good understanding of public affairs based on actual experiences is essential.

Working as a key part of the CORA team the Senior Business Partner External Communications will also guide and support the central planning of all communication activities, including liaising with internal communications. To do this s/he will provide input to the planning and development of new channels as well as sourcing news and content.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support and  help develop the overall communications and media strategy



• Make sure the message gets heard and communicated in major media worldwide



• Write all relevant documents for a large variety of stakeholders also based on pro-active content creation



• Select and monitor the appropriate communication channels and adapt content for these channels



• Support senior management in external communications



• On occasion act as spokesman



• Supports the CORA team in establishing the  External Communications approach across the business



• Works closely with functional leadership (CEO/COO and SVP CORA) to establish individual tailored approaches to external stakeholders, fora and media



• Designs and delivers inspiring responses to functional communications requirements

ROLE SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS; EXPERIENCES & SKILLS (critical success factors):

• Outstanding native English writing skills (no compromise)



• A sound media network and the ability to pitch stories



• A thorough understanding of the international media landscape and the use and effectiveness of various channels



• A solid understanding of the public affairs function



• Understanding of complex organisationss to work across locations and diverse audience groups



• Stakeholder analysis leading to identification of best channel practices



• Setting up and monitoring a system of relevant KPI‘s



• Proactive, stress resilient, intelligent & street smart, international travel,  business maturity; Masters degree in a relevant discipline



• The ability to work with agencies

In the first instance please send your CV in word format via email to Willem de Ruijter on wderuijter@vmagroup.com quoting reference WDR19034.

VMA Group is the global recruitment and training specialist for corporate and marketing communications.

To view all our current vacancies, please visit our website at www.vmagroup.com.  

VMA Group is committed to equal opportunities and is a Diversity Pledged Recruiter.