Communications Manager - Asia

Title: Communications Manager (Asia)                     Reports to: Region Head

Status: Contractor                                                       Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Foundation Overview:

The Max Foundation is a leading global health nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating health equity. For more than 28 years, Max has pioneered practical, scalable, high-quality solutions to bring life-extending treatments and patient-centered health care to more than 100,000 people living with cancer and critical illness in low- and middle-income countries. Max believes in a world where all people can access high-impact medicines, where geography is not destiny, and where everyone can strive for health with dignity and with hope. Learn more at www.themaxfoundation.org.

Role Summary: 

The Communications Manager (Asia) will be  responsible for assisting the region head in developing, planning, and executing comprehensive communications strategies and plans. This position will provide strategic communications advice in collaboration with the global communications team to co-create regional strategies, plans, and initiatives that align with and support the worldwide communications priorities. Their primary focus will be to strengthen the foundation’s visibility, voice, and reputation.

Responsibilities:

Strategy Development

• Develop short and long-term regional communication strategies that align with and build upon the objectives and goals of The Max Foundation’s global communications strategy.

Media Relations

• Establish and maintain relationships with key local journalists covering the nonprofit and healthcare sectors.
• Writing press releases, talking points, and Q&A documents; crafting compelling narratives and positioning the regional head and colleagues as subject matter experts

Content Creation

• Collaborate with the global communications team to create engaging and impactful content across multiple communications channels.
• Provide support during site visits, write patient and physician stories for Max Insider, and capture cell phone photos and video clips while ensuring compliance with brand guidelines.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with the region head and the global communications team to develop a communications and engagement strategy to strengthen relationships and elevate the awareness and reputation of Max at the country level and across the region.
• Engage with key external audiences including partner physicians, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals; hospital administrators and key staff; and key positions within local ministry of health. 

Vendor Management

• Identify and manage external vendors, such as professional photographers, videographers, graphic designers, and printing services, to support implementation of communications strategies. 

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree or relevant certification in a field such as Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Political Science, Psychology/Sociology, or related disciplines is preferred
• 5-7+ years of relevant experience in the global health nonprofit sector, communications, public relations, journalism, and/or social media; previous work experience in public relations/advertising agencies, healthcare, and/or nonprofits is a plus
• Strong knowledge and hands-on experience in communications within the region, particularly on global healthcare issues
• Excellent analytical skills and proven ability to make critical decisions
• Proven experience in developing and executing effective communications strategies
• Experience working in a global and multicultural capacity across time zones and among a diverse team
• Excellent journalistic and writing/editing/oral skills in English and Bahasa Malaysia is required; written and verbal fluency in Mandarin is a plus
• Strong technical writing skills; proven analytical skills to measure the effectiveness of communication strategies, initiatives, and campaigns
• Skilled in leveraging various communication platforms, including traditional and social media, as well as multimedia tools, to deliver targeted messages to key audiences
• Self-starter who takes ownership over tasks and has meticulous attention to detail
• Willing and able to travel domestically or internationally

Skills and Attributes:

• Passionate about The Max Foundation’s mission and vision, and determined to lead and accomplish all goals related to current and future strategic plans
• High attention to detail and a high standard for quality work product
• Understanding of and comfortable in a global environment, with an emphasis on low and middle-income countries
• Passion for exceptional collaboration, and flexibility to do what it takes to elevate positive culture
• Comfort working in a complex, fast-paced, and high-workload environment
• Caring, humble, and people-oriented servant leader
• Resourceful, finds solutions using all available data to overcome challenges impacting the organization

Compensation: We offer compensation commensurate with experience. No relocation provided.

To Apply: Visit our website at https://themaxfoundation.org/careers/ to apply. Please include resume and cover letter.

The Max Foundation is dedicated to diversity in staff and is an equal opportunity employer.