Business Function
DBS Foundation is deepening its commitment to addressing Asia's most pressing social challenges with a sharpened focus on enabling ageing societies, ensuring essential needs and fostering inclusion for vulnerable communities. With this in mind, we are expanding our marketing team to ensure we effectively communicate our initiatives, reach a broader audience, and amplify the impact of our work.
Role Purpose
The role of VP, Media, PR & Content Strategy will be the strategic owner and architect of DBS Foundation's advocacy voice across Asia. This role is responsible for shaping and scaling DBS Foundation's public narrative, thought leadership, media presence and content ecosystem, positioning the Foundation as a leading voice, knowledge partner and ecosystem enabler on ageing societies, social resilience and financial inclusion.
This role sits at the intersection of strategy, storytelling, influence and reputation, translating DBS Foundation's impact agenda into narratives and platforms that move mindsets, mobilise ecosystems and drive sustained visibility and credibility.
Core Responsibilities
Strategic Narrative & Advocacy Leadership
- Own and evolve DBS Foundation's core narratives and message house, ensuring a strong, consistent One Foundation story across markets, platforms and stakeholders.
- Translate portfolio strategy, programmes and evidence into clear, compelling advocacy-led stories (not just activity-based communications).
- Ensure advocacy is outcome-led — focused on influence, credibility and systems change, not just reach.
Media, PR & Thought Leadership
- Lead an earned-first, quality-led PR strategy that prioritises credibility, depth and influence over volume.
- Build and nurture strong relationships with Tier 1 global /regional and market media, editors and opinion-shapers.
- Shape proactive media agendas through:
- Opinion pieces, commentaries and explainers
- Speaking platforms, conferences and dialogues
- Media briefings, learning journeys and ecosystem access
- Develop and maintain a strong DBSF spokesperson bench (Foundation leadership, Board, regional voices), working closely with senior leadership.
- Elevate DBS Foundation's positioning as a thought leader-in-action, not just a funder.
Content Strategy & IP Ownership
- Set and oversee DBS Foundation's end-to-end content strategy, ensuring it ladders up to advocacy priorities.
- Evolve DBSF's content IPs (e.g. Impact Voices, Beyond Barriers, Ageing Out Loud), with clear editorial direction, governance and quality standards.
- Ensure a strong balance of:
- Thought leadership & insights
- Human, beneficiary and founder-led storytelling
- Evidence-based case studies and learning
- Drive a year-round editorial approach, activating against cultural moments, policy discussions, news cycles and regional priorities.
- Partner closely with Digital and Website teams to create cohesive content journeys across owned platforms.
Regional Integration & Governance
- Build regional consistency across markets while allowing for local resonance:
- Standardise core narratives, messaging and advocacy assets
- Establish playbooks, templates and content governance
- Oversee the development of a centralised content and asset repository
- Work closely with regional and market teams to activate content through owned, internal and partner networks.
- Ensure DBS Foundation presents itself as a regional leader, not a collection of market-level initiatives.
Amplification, Partnerships & Platforms
- Leverage DBS and DBSF's partner ecosystem (Board, evaluators, BFIs, programme partners, speakers) as advocates and multipliers.
- Work closely with Digital and Marketing partners to ensure amplification supports advocacy objectives.
Measurement & Influence Tracking
- Define and institutionalise an advocacy and influence scorecard beyond reach:
- Share of voice (thematic & brand)
- Quality of engagement
- Citations, invitations, speaking platforms
- Media quality and thought leadership penetration
- Ensure robust reporting and insights to guide strategy refinement and leadership decision-making.
Key Stakeholders
- DBS Foundation leadership and Board
- DBS Group Communications, Marketing & Digital (GM&C)
- Regional and market Foundation teams
- Media, thought leaders, ecosystem partners
- Grantees, awardees and programme partners
Ideal Profile
Experience & Expertise
- 10+ years experience in strategic communications, PR, media, content or reputation leadership, preferably with regional exposure.
- Strong track record in thought leadership, narrative-building and advocacy, ideally in purpose-driven, social impact, ESG or complex policy-adjacent topics.
- Strong understanding of digital and social media ecosystems, with experience developing integrated content across owned, earned and paid platforms to drive engagement, influence and advocacy outcomes.
- Experience working in or with large, matrixed organisations and senior leadership.
Capabilities & Mindset
- Strong strategic thinker with the ability to connect impact, evidence and storytelling.
- Comfortable operating at both strategy and executional levels.
- Collaborative, systems-oriented, and skilled at mobilising teams and partners.
- Calm authority, strong editorial judgment, and high standards for quality.
What Success Looks Like
- DBS Foundation is recognised as a leading voice on ageing, resilience and inclusion in Asia.
- Clear, consistent narratives that unify the Foundation's work across markets.
- Media and speaking platforms that reflect depth, credibility and influence.
- Content that is purposeful, differentiated and advocacy-led.
- Strong regional integration, governance and measurable advocacy outcomes.
Location:
DBS Asia Central
Job:
Marketing and Communications
Schedule:
Regular
Employee Status:
Full time
