Manager, Corporate Affairs & Communications

At American Express, our culture is built on a long history of innovation, shared values and Leadership Behaviors, and an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities and colleagues. As part of Team Amex, you'll have the opportunity to make an impact, learn and grow while helping us define the future of American Express.

The American Express Corporate Affairs & Communications (CA&C) team is a strategic function that works to enhance and protect the continued strength of the American Express brand through public relations, social media and content, colleague communications and community impact initiatives.

We are looking for an experienced communications professional to lead the Corporate Affairs & Communications agenda across Southeast Asia, with primary responsibility for Singapore and Thailand, while supporting communications across other partner card markets in the region. Reporting to the Vice President of CA&C Asia based in India, this role will serve as the senior day-to-day communications partner to business leaders in Southeast Asia, providing strategic counsel and developing integrated communications strategies that advance business priorities, strengthen the company's reputation and build engagement with key internal and external audiences.

The role, as a head of the function, requires a strong combination of strategic thinking and hands-on execution. The successful candidate will be expected to anticipate reputational opportunities and risks, navigate complex issues, build compelling narratives, advise senior leaders and translate business priorities into effective communications.

1. Strategic Communications & Reputation Management

• Develop and execute integrated communications strategies that support business priorities, strengthen corporate reputation and advance key market narratives across Singapore and Thailand and other Southeast Asia markets.

• Identify opportunities to proactively tell the American Express story across media, social and owned channels, as well as via thought leadership, partnerships, research, events and business milestones.

• Lead media relations programs, managing relationships with journalists, influencers and external stakeholders to generate high-quality coverage and visibility.

• Anticipate and manage reputational risks, providing issues management counsel and developing messaging, holding statements and response strategies when needed.

• Act as a member of the crisis response team, ensuring timely, accurate and coordinated communications during issues and incidents.

• Monitor the external environment and identify emerging trends, risks and opportunities relevant to the business and brand.

2. Executive & Leadership Communications

• Serve as a trusted adviser to senior leaders and spokespersons, providing communications counsel on business priorities, stakeholder engagement and reputation considerations.

• Develop executive messaging, talking points, speeches, Q&As, briefing documents and communication materials for internal and external audiences.

• Manage executive media interviews, speaking opportunities and stakeholder engagements, including preparation, coaching and message development.

• Partner with senior leaders to strengthen executive visibility and thought leadership through media, owned content and strategic communications opportunities.

3. Colleague Communications & Engagement

• Develop and execute internal communications programs that connect colleagues to the company's strategy, priorities, culture and key milestones.

• Create compelling content and storytelling initiatives that engage colleagues and reinforce business objectives.

• Lead and/or support town halls, leadership forums, colleague events and other strategic engagement initiatives.

• Ensure communications align with enterprise policies, governance requirements and disclosure guidelines.

4. Stakeholder, Agency & Team Management

• Build strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders internally and externally; and become a trusted partner and adviser to business unit leaders to deliver coordinated communications outcomes.

• Collaborate with Corporate Affairs & Communications colleagues across Asia and globally to ensure alignment with enterprise priorities while addressing local market needs.

• Lead and develop a communications team member, providing coaching, prioritization and oversight to ensure successful delivery of market communications priorities.

• Foster a collaborative and high-performing team environment while driving strong stakeholder engagement across the organization.

• Manage communications agencies and external partners, ensuring quality execution, strong counsel and effective use of budgets.

• Measure communications outcomes and provide recommendations to strengthen future strategies and programs.

• At least 10 years’ experience working in a similar role with a large organization is a must. Experience with working in communication agency or editorial organization is a plus.

• Demonstrated experience developing and executing strategic, integrated communications programs, with the ability to connect communications activity to business and reputational outcomes.

• Strong editorial mindset, natural storytelling ability and excellent capability to develop compelling narratives and messages

• Strong knowledge and experience across media relations, corporate reputation, issues management and social media. Well established media network and contacts are needed.

• Demonstrated ability to operate as a trusted adviser to senior executives and business leaders, with strong judgment and the ability to influence effectively.

• Excellent written and verbal English communications skills. Proficiency in Mandarin or Thai is a plus. Ability to operate effectively within a global and matrix environment; International experience is a plus

• Creative and strategic problem solver, self-starter and proven track-record to drive tangible communication results backed up with data and analysis.

• Proactive, flexible and collaborative, with excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills. Ability to influence others and be comfortable in communicating at all levels.

• People leadership experience, with the ability to coach, develop and motivate talent.

• Requires ability to handle highly sensitive and in many cases confidential company information as well as managing multiple stakeholders.

• Able to manage and respond quickly to multiple priorities while driving results and delivery against deadlines. Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, matrixed and highly regulated environment.