Lead, Strategic Communications

University Of Southampton Malaysia; Iskandar Puteri; On-site; MYR 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

University Of Southampton Malaysia – Nusajaya, Johor is seeking a dynamic Lead, Strategic Communications & Alumni Relations to lead strategic communications, media relations and brand governance, enhancing reputation and stakeholder visibility within higher education.

The role drives external/internal communications, alumni engagement, sponsorship opportunities and event planning, shaping the institutional narrative and ensuring consistency across channels.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, International Business, Communications, or a related discipline, or an equivalent professional qualification.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in student recruitment, sales, or business development.
• Proven track record of consistently achieving recruitment or sales targets.
• Experience managing recruitment agents, partners, or stakeholder networks.
• Experience in higher education or international student recruitment is an advantage
• Experience working with CRM systems and data-driven recruitment practices.

Responsibilities

• External & Internal Communications Strategy.
• Develop and implement UoSM’s external and internal communication strategies, including media/public relations, general communications and employee-focused communications.
• Ensure all communications activity is in line with UoSM’s vision, strategy and values.
• Liaise with and gather information from UoSM’s academic staff, professional staff, students, alumni and other relevant stakeholders.
• Content Development & Storytelling: Support the development and execution of external communications strategies and content initiatives, including: press releases and media responses, website content and feature articles, thought leadership content, brochures, newsletters and other communication materials.
• Drive content writing and storytelling efforts to enhance UoSM’s brand visibility and reputation.
• Brand Governance & Quality Assurance: Maintain and enforce brand, tone of voice and visual identity standards in line with University of Southampton requirements.
• Review and approve materials produced by academic schools, agents and partners.
• Proofread all internal and external communications to ensure correct grammar, spelling and punctuation before dissemination.
• Stakeholder, Alumni & Sponsor Engagement: Lead alumni communications, networking initiatives and community-building activities.
• Maintain and grow the alumni database.
• Strengthen relationships with alumni, industry partners and sponsors.
• Identify opportunities for sponsorship, partnerships and fundraising initiatives that support institutional objectives.
• Institutional & Engagement Events: Lead the planning and execution of alumni, corporate engagement and strategic institutional events: alumni gatherings and networking sessions, sponsorship events and conferences.
• Identify, develop and maintain key communication channels, adapting and improving them in line with external trends and business needs.
• Manage and maintain website content to ensure information is accurate, relevant and aligned with UoSM branding and communication objectives.
• Conduct market intelligence, competitor benchmarking and sector monitoring activities.
• Leverage AI-enabled tools to identify emerging trends, opportunities and insights that support strategic communications and stakeholder engagement.
• Track and report on media coverage, share of voice and channel engagement.
• Other Duties: Undertake any other assigned duties, projects and strategic initiatives as directed by the Senior Manager, Marketing and Communications.

Skills

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Alumni engagement

Content storytelling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or related field

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

Lead, Strategic Communications & Alumni Relations

University Of Southampton Malaysia – Nusajaya, Johor

The University of Southampton Malaysia (UoSM) is seeking a dynamic Lead, Strategic Communications & Alumni Relations to be an effective member of the Recruitment, Marketing and Admissions team, leading strategic communications, media relations and brand governance initiatives that enhance UoSM’s reputation, stakeholder relationships and visibility within the higher education sector.

The role plays a key part in shaping and protecting the institutional narrative, ensuring message consistency across all channels, and developing stakeholder and alumni engagement that contributes to institutional reputation, advocacy and prospective student engagement.

Key Responsibilities

External & Internal Communications Strategy.

Develop and implement UoSM’s external and internal communication strategies, including media/public relations, general communications and employee-focused communications.

Ensure all communications activity is in line with UoSM’s vision, strategy and values.

Liaise with and gather information from UoSM’s academic staff, professional staff, students, alumni and other relevant stakeholders.

Content Development & Storytelling.

Support the development and execution of external communications strategies and content initiatives, including:

Press releases and media responses.

Website content and feature articles.

Thought leadership content.

Brochures, newsletters and other communication materials.

Drive content writing and storytelling efforts to enhance UoSM’s brand visibility and reputation.

Brand Governance & Quality Assurance.

Maintain and enforce brand, tone of voice and visual identity standards in line with University of Southampton requirements.

Review and approve materials produced by academic schools, agents and partners.

Proofread all internal and external communications to ensure correct grammar, spelling and punctuation before dissemination.

Stakeholder, Alumni & Sponsor Engagement.

Lead alumni communications, networking initiatives and community-building activities.

Maintain and grow the alumni database.

Strengthen relationships with alumni, industry partners and sponsors.

Identify opportunities for sponsorship, partnerships and fundraising initiatives that support institutional objectives.

Institutional & Engagement Events.

Lead the planning and execution of alumni, corporate engagement and strategic institutional events:

Alumni gatherings and networking sessions.

Sponsorship events and conferences.

Identify, develop and maintain key communication channels, adapting and improving them in line with external trends and business needs.

Manage and maintain website content to ensure information is accurate, relevant and aligned with UoSM branding and communication objectives.

Conduct market intelligence, competitor benchmarking and sector monitoring activities.

Leverage AI-enabled tools to identify emerging trends, opportunities and insights that support strategic communications and stakeholder engagement.

Track and report on media coverage, share of voice and channel engagement.

Other Duties.

Undertake any other assigned duties, projects and strategic initiatives as directed by the Senior Manager, Marketing and Communications.

Key Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, International Business, Communications, or a related discipline, or an equivalent professional qualification.

Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in student recruitment, sales, or business development.

Proven track record of consistently achieving recruitment or sales targets.

Experience managing recruitment agents, partners, or stakeholder networks.

Experience in higher education or international student recruitment is an advantage

Experience working with CRM systems and data-driven recruitment practices.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence a diverse range of stakeholders, including students, agents, and internal teams.