Deputy Director, Strategic Communications & Digital and Social Media

[What the role is]

Ever wonder what it is like to be the storyteller behind Singapore’s digital revolution? At IMDA, you will join fellow Architects of Singapore’s Digital Future (ASDF). We are building something extraordinary, for Singapore and Singaporeans.

Imagine:
a. Ensuring that Singapore remains connected always to the world via our digital routes, not just the traditional air and sea routes
b. Spurring SMEs to use AI practically, cutting costs, transforming business models and delighting customers
c. Working with the industry to keep the online streets of Singapore safe, just like our physical streets
d. Forging with private and people sector partners an inclusive society as Singapore digitalises, where no one, whether young or old, is left behind

As ASDF, these are some of the bold dreams we turn into reality.

At IMDA, public communications work is not only about telling catchy stories or headlines. It’s about empowering many more to better embrace our digital future. Because when technology meets powerful storytelling, that is when real change happens. You too can be an ASDF.

We are looking for that new ASDF, a creative mind who can see beyond the buzzwords, and turn digital transformation from a fancy techie phrase into stories that resonate in void decks and board rooms alike. So, come, join us, and be one of the cool kids doing cool stuff at a cool place we call IMDA and our home.

The Deputy Director will lead the team to develop and implement a strategic approach towards corporate communications for the organisation. This covers:
a. Strategic communication. This includes (i) building and refining the key organisational messages, and (ii) putting them out effectively in public domain to gain mindshare of relevant stakeholders.
b. Digital & Social Media management. Lead and oversee IMDA's digital and social media teams whilst ensuring integrated, cohesive messaging across corporate and digital touchpoints to effectively reach target audiences.
c. Data-driven insights for our public communications work.
d. Media relations. This involves building and maintaining relations with local and foreign media, and engaging both local and international publications.
e. Crisis communication. This involves reviewing the processes and structures, as well as leading public communications if incidents arise.

[What you will be working on]

Strategic Communications

• Develop, refine and execute the overarching narrative for the key areas of work of IMDA among the target audience groups, and advance IMDA’s core interests through public communications. This involves the following:
• Plan and pull the key theme messages together into an overarching narrative, and put in place enabling processes and best practices to develop, refine and execute the narratives
• Build the message house for IMDA and work with the relevant HODs and within CMD team structure to ensure coherence in IMDA’s messaging across multiple audience groups so as to support the overarching narratives
• Lead and coordinate efforts with other government agencies and ministries as required
• Deliver the overarching narrative effectively, whether through social media, media coverage or offline presence such as events and interviews.
• Manage profiling of IMDA through ExCo members in terms of official engagements, via media or events, including presence of IMDA ExCo on social media platforms to ensure consistency of messages across platforms

Digital & Social Media management

• Lead the Digital & Social media teams who manage IMDA’s owned channels (website & social) to communicate and educate key target audience groups
• Be able to integrate messaging and approach across ‘Corporate’ and ‘Digital & Social’ media channels so that there is cohesiveness in messaging across all channels and touchpoints
• Develop and manage social media platform presence for IMDA and senior management in terms of content calendaring and content development
• Understand and have knowledge in marketing technology, be able to identify gaps in process and tech-stack to meet needs of IMDA across multiple channels
• Understand data analysis and be able to draw out insights from data obtained through owned channels and integrate across other touchpoints and channels to deliver comms & marketing dashboard that will be able to drive decision-making
• Lead engagement and counsel with Group Heads & Division HODs on developing effective communication across IMDA’s owned channels

Data management and use

• Collect and track data to gauge effectiveness of our public communication efforts (whether strategic communication, line communication or brand management). Build tools and capability that empower IMDA lines as well as colleagues within CMD to leverage these data insights to refine their public communication approach.

 Implementation and media relations

• Oversee all aspects of media management work for IMDA-wide engagements, including preparation of media briefings, materials, media pitches and interview requests
• Develop necessary corporate level collateral and assets in support of IMDA key events, which includes both external and internal facing events
• Maintain and strengthen relations with local and foreign media and publications. 

Team Development

• Lead and manage team members to further develop their capabilities and skillsets, continually improving standards of output from team
• Put in place effective processes and tools (such as dashboards).

[What we are looking for]

To thrive and be successful in this role, you must have / be:

• A strategic and dynamic leader, with at least 12-15 years of relevant experience in communication, media and journalism
• Government communications experience will be required, with at least 8 - 10 years in a supervisory role
• Excellent media relations, written and spoken communication skills, with strong ability to nuance sensitive messaging and to make sound decisions
• Ability to have an integrated view across all Lines/business units within IMDA in order to build an overarching strategic messaging platform
• Adept at collaborating and managing multiple stakeholders internally and externally, as well as being able to prioritise work for team to ensure quality output is met
• Experienced people manager with the interest to coach and develop staff
• Strong team player who can work collaboratively within and across teams
• Strong understanding and interest in technology, prior experience in ICT sectors is a plus

Position will be commensurate with experience.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

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