Corporate Communications Manager

L'Oréal; Petaling Jaya; On-site; MYR 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global cosmetics company is seeking a Corporate Communications Manager in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. The successful candidate will be responsible for shaping the company's public perception, developing communication strategies, and managing media relations. With over 12 years in corporate communications and expertise in FMCG or tech industries, the ideal candidate must possess excellent English communication skills and a strong digital proficiency. This position will play a crucial role in safeguarding the brand's reputation while engaging key stakeholders and the public.

Qualifications

• At least 12 years of experience in corporate communications or media/stakeholder engagement.
• Experience in FMCG, telco, tech, marketplace, pharma, or oil & gas industries.
• Proven track record in stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Develop tailored media relations strategies for the region.
• Lead the corporate brand campaign and advocate for local stories.
• Proactively manage reputational risks and crises.

Skills

Corporate communications

Stakeholder engagement

Content creation

Media relations

Crisis management

Education

Background in Communications, Public Affairs, or related field

Job description

The Corporate Communications Manager plays a critical role in building, protecting and enhancing L'Oréal's reputation across all audiences within the region. This encompasses shaping positive public perception, mobilizing and engaging the organization, and understanding the socio-political landscape to anticipate and navigate emerging trends and challenges.

This position is instrumental in developing and implementing impactful communication strategies that resonate with the local public and target stakeholder expectations. The position works closely with the local leadership team and the Zone CA&E team –to ensure alignment with global brand strategy while adapting approaches for maximum local relevance.

By acting as a strategic advisor and external radar, this position plays a vital role in informing data-driven decision-making, mitigating reputational risk, and positioning L'Oréal as an industry leader within the region.

Media Relations

• Develop and execute a tailored media relations strategy for the region, identifying key media outlets and partnership opportunities to effectively reach target audiences and build a strong brand presence.
• Proactively seek opportunities to elevate the profile of the Country Manager through strategic media engagement, including personalized media training and executive communications support.
• Oversee external executive communications, ensuring alignment with L'Oréal's global narrative and brand messaging.
• Identify, train, and upskill local spokespeople to confidently represent L'Oréal in media interactions.
• Continuously monitor and analyse media coverage and performance metrics to measure impact and inform future strategic direction.
• Collaborate effectively with Zone and Global teams on Tier 1 media opportunities, leveraging global resources and expertise while ensuring local relevance.

Reputational Issues & Crises

• Proactively identify and monitor potential reputational risks within the region, escalating concerns to the Zone CA&E team to ensure timely and effective response.
• Lead cross-functional task forces to address market-specific reputational issues and crises, developing and implementing action plans to mitigate risks and safeguard L'Oréal's image.
• Ensure seamless adoption and implementation of global and zone governance frameworks for managing reputational issues and crises within the market.
• Develop and deliver training programs to upskill the local Management Committee and key people on best practices for identifying, managing, and communicating during reputational issues & crises.
• Maintain consistent and transparent messaging on sensitive issues, ensuring alignment with L'Oréal's values and communication guidelines.
• Regularly monitor, track, and analyse the effectiveness of RIsC management practices, identifying areas for improvement and sharing key learnings.

Content & Advocacy

• Lead and execute the paid media strategy, jointly with the global CA&E and local CDMO team to ensure the right positioning of our Corporate Brand campaign.
• Lead the local execution of the global editorial calendar, tailoring content and campaigns to resonate with MYSG audiences and achieve maximum impact.
• Proactively identify and leverage compelling local stories and proof points that strengthen and enrich L'Oréal's global narrative.
• Collaborate with Zone and local CDMO teams to define and implement a robust digital strategy encompassing both paid and organic channels to reach key audiences.
• Proactively identify local stories to be featured in L'Oréal Groupe's social media presence in the region, ensuring brand consistency and alignment with the global social media strategy.
• Create and adapt content as needed to ensure local relevance and engagement across all digital platforms.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive social media strategy for the region, setting clear objectives, identifying target audiences, and measuring performance

Qualifications and Experience

Professional Experience in the Field: A proven track record (at least 12 years) of success leading corporate communications, and/or media & stakeholder engagement initiatives, demonstrating expertise across both traditional and digital channels.

Industry & market scope: Significant experience working within/with FMCG/telco/tech/marketplace/pharma/oil & gas, showcasing a deep understanding of cultural nuances and communication best practices for diverse audiences.

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills: High/native-level fluency in English to enable effective communication and relationship-building across the region, the Zone and with the global team.

Excellence in Content Creation: A keen eye for detail and a commitment to producing high-quality communication materials that are clear, concise, and impactful across various channels.

Stakeholder Management: Proven ability to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes, effectively managing relationships, and building consensus among diverse internal and external partners.

Digital Savvy & Adaptability: Highly adaptable communicator with a strong understanding of both traditional and digital media landscapes, and proficient in leveraging new media and digital tools to reach target audiences.

Ideally, candidates will have a background in Communications, Public Affairs, Journalism, Crisis Management, Marketing or a related field. Previous experience working in a fast-paced, matrixed organization (agency or corporate) is highly desirable. For external candidates, previous experience in a corporate communications role is essential (non-negotiable).