Job Information
Abbott Director Public Affairs, South East Asia in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Primary Job Function
Develop and execute strategic plans, programs and stories that deliver high impact results focused across 5 key areas: Storytelling and Media Relationships, Content, Proactively Managing Issues, Engaging Employees, and Driving / Supporting the Business. Effectively work with and support country and other regional team members, Business and HQ PA, to achieve desired outcomes.
This role has cross-divisional, corporate responsibility, with focus across businesses including Nutrition, Devices, Diagnostics, and Established Pharmaceuticals in Southeast Asia. Specific business focus / responsibilities will be regularly reviewed and assigned by the Director, Public Affairs, Asia Pacific, as priorities shift.
Geographically, this role is responsible for Southeast Asia countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines), except for Singapore and Vietnam where there are existing PA Heads in country (however, there may be times when additional support will be provided to these countries for major projects).
This individual must be able to think strategically and provide thoughtful counsel to a broad range of internal and external contacts across all levels of management.
The individual will work in close partnership with Country Commercial Leaders, General Managers and various Functional Leaders to create and execute the annual communications and content strategic plan. This individual will be part of the country leadership and represent public affairs at Business Advisory Council meetings.
Core Job Responsibilities
Media & External Relations: Deliver hard hitting earned media that delivers advantage. Cultivate, maintain and develop sound relationships with editors, media and other key external influencers to help build, enhance and protect the company's reputation and drive our business forward. Leverage those relationships to proactively build awareness about Abbott and its offerings through country media. Act as a company spokesperson for Abbott within the region for Corporate and division responses, formulating appropriate messaging to support Abbott’s image, brands and business.
Storytelling: Deliver impactful external visibility for Abbott through storytelling. Results should focus on Corporate / Enterprise, trend, business, brand, and reputation build reputation-building stories. Support Abbott by thoughtfully leveraging the unique offerings of Abbott’s broad portfolio through strategic product communications.
Content: Develop cool, experiential content that sparks action.
Proactively Managing Issues: Effectively manage Abbott's public issues, Anticipate and identify potential issues and develop action plans to address them. Manage day-to- day crises and issues relating to the company and its businesses/brands across Southeast Asia markets. Ensure key contacts and key spokespeople in the markets understand when to engage Public Affairs as it relates to an issue.
Engaging Employees: Lead the ongoing enterprise-wide, employee communications. Provide support to raise the internal communications capability of leaders in Southeast Asia markets.
Driving / Supporting the Business: Deliver communications across Southeast Asia that will build Abbott’s competitive advantage, position and market share. Convey stories about
Abbott’s innovation in the APAC sub-region and working with the country cross-functions, commercial to drive advocacy.
Management Responsibilities
The candidate will be part of the Regional Public Affairs Team for Asia Pacific, reporting to the Director, Public Affairs, Asia-Pacific. This role has no direct reports. This person works in a matrixed way with others in Regional, Business and HQ Public Affairs.
This role has shared responsibility for the APAC Regional Team budget, as well as project budgets given by local businesses. This person is a direct liaison to the Country Commercial Leaders in the Southeast Asia countries.
Ideal Background
Minimum education is a Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
Minimum 15+ years corporate communications/public relations experience.
Experience as an international affiliate of a MNC preferred.
Understanding of international market dynamics and U.S. business practices necessary.
Strong critical thinking skills and ability to synthesize complex information
Excellent verbal and written communications skills required.
Experience in managing PR agencies
Proven record in managing media & editor relations; stakeholder relations; business, brand and corporate communications; and issues/crisis management in a collaboration-oriented environment.
Proven success in a fast-paced and results-oriented environment.
Skilled at providing strategic counsel and pushing back on recommendations when necessary
Fluency in English, both written and verbal, required
Ability to speak in other languages, i.e., Mandarin, Bahasa Malaysia is an advantage
Public Affairs Competencies
Communication Skills
Composure
Dealing with Ambiguity
Judgement
Sense of urgency / speed of action
Collaborative, results orientated
Work independently
Creative
An Equal Opportunity Employer
Abbot welcomes and encourages diversity in our workforce.
We provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities.
To request accommodation, please call 224-667-4913 or email corpjat@abbott.com