Lead, External & Brand Comms

Overall Purpose of The Job

The Team Lead of External and Brand Communications is the main point person in charge of maintaining and burnishing our organisation's reputation. This role is responsible for developing and shaping narratives, managing media relations, and delivering high-quality external communications that reinforce the organisation's brand and strategic priorities. The candidate also leads the management of crisis communications and issues management, as well as develops and implements strategic communications and PR efforts to protect / enhance SPH Media's corporate image and awareness of the company's brands, products, services and initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

The scope of responsibilities is as set out:

Media Relations & Reputation Building

• Serve as a key point of contact for media queries, interviews, and story development
• Prepare media invites, media factsheets, media releases, Q&As and media statements to drive publicity for SPH Media's events and products
• Monitor media coverage, sentiment trends, and emerging issues that may impact the organisation's reputation
• Proactively build strong relationships with key media outlets and engage editors and journalists to pitch for and secure positive media coverage

External Communications Strategy & Execution

• Develop and implement communication strategies that support organisational objectives, major announcements, and stakeholder initiatives.
• Draft and oversee the production of media releases, speeches, corporate statements, factsheets, and other external-facing materials.
• Ensure messaging consistency, accuracy, and alignment with the organisation's corporate narratives and with the Internal Communications team as needed.
• Support communications planning for announcements, events, partnerships, and public-facing campaigns.
• Provide communications counsel to internal stakeholders to ensure coherent and strategic engagement with external audiences.

Issues Management & Crisis Communications Support

• Support the development of escalation protocol, holding statements, and crisis response frameworks.
• Assist with rapid-response communications during sensitive or high-impact situations.
• Work closely with the internal stakeholders to ensure preparedness and alignment during crisis and to manage issues.

Content Development & Narrative Building

• Produce clear, compelling, and audience-relevant content that communicates organisational impact and thought leadership.
• Work with creative, digital, and social teams to extend messages across owned platforms for integrated storytelling.
• Help shape leadership messaging, corporate stories, and sector-relevant narratives.

Measurement, Insights & Continuous Improvement

• Track and analyse media coverage, campaign performance, and stakeholder feedback.
• Provide insights and recommendations to refine and drive data-driven communication strategies to enhance effectiveness.
• Develop, and execute strategic communications strategies and plans to drive positive media coverage, strengthen corporate reputation, and promote brand awareness of the company's products and services

Job Profile

Required Qualifications

• Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or related discipline.
• 10 to 15 years of experience in external communications, public relations, or media-facing roles, ideally within the media, corporate, or public sector.
• Strong understanding of Singapore's media landscape and familiarity with newsroom environments will be an advantage. Another advantage is experience with issues management and crisis communications.

Required Competencies

• Excellent command of spoken and written English is a prerequisite. Proficiency in a second language is an advantage.
• Excellent editing, and messaging skills with an ability to translate complex issues into clear, compelling narratives.
• Experience in developing and successfully executing communications and PR plans
• Self-directed and results driven personality
• Strong knowledge of media and communications channels across multiple touchpoints, including social media
• Strong stakeholder engagement and presentation skills
• Excellent editing and messaging skills with an ability to translate complex issues into clear, compelling narratives.
• A good sense of judgment and sensitivity when dealing with reputational issues and public-facing communications.
• Proven ability to manage multiple stakeholders, tight timelines, and cross-functional projects.
• Resourceful, organised, and confident in working with senior leadership.