Associate Director, Public Affairs

APCO WORLDWIDE ADVISORY SERVICES PTE. LIMITED; Singapore; On-site; SGD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

A strategic advisory firm in Singapore is seeking an Associate Director, Public Affairs to lead complex advisory work across Southeast Asia. You will drive integrated strategies for diverse clients in fast-evolving sectors like FMCG and technology. The ideal candidate has 10-15 years of experience, strong communication and analytical skills, and a proven ability to navigate diverse regulatory environments. Join us in redefining advisory with intelligence and impact.

Benefits

Positive work environment

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• 10–15 years of professional experience in public affairs, government relations, or strategic communications.
• Proven ability to operate across multiple industries.
• Strong communication and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead multi-market advisory programs across the ASEAN region.
• Advise C-suite executives on market access and reputation positioning.
• Manage key anchor accounts and pursue new business opportunities.
• Position APCO as a thought leader within the region.
• Lead and mentor multi-market teams.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Communication

Analytical skills

Team management

Client relationship management

Education

10–15 years of relevant experience

Job description

About the Role

APCO Worldwide is seeking a seasoned and strategic Associate Director, Public Affairs to lead complex, multi-market advisory work across Southeast Asia, with Singapore as the regional anchor. This role is designed for a professional who is energetic, analytical and has a track record of leading a diverse portfolio of international clients. APCO operates on a stake-first, issues-driven model—bringing together intelligence, advocacy, communications, and strategy to help clients navigate risk, shape policy environments, and influence outcomes that matter.

The Associate Director will drive integrated public affairs and strategic advisory mandates for clients across FMCG, health, technology, sustainability, defense, and other fast-evolving sectors. The ideal candidate will have a cross-sector worldview, an instinct for identifying power dynamics, and the ability to translate complexity into strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership
  • Lead multi-market advisory programs across the ASEAN region, ensuring Singapore serves as the operational and strategic hub for regional execution.
  • Diagnose and interpret political, regulatory, and societal dynamics to craft forward-looking strategies and issue campaigns.
  • Advise C-suite executives on market access, policy shifts, and reputation positioning in highly regulated and politically sensitive environments.
  • Integrate intelligence, communications, and policy insights to deliver unified, high-impact solutions for clients facing complex challenges.
• Client and Business Growth
  • Manage key anchor accounts across multiple markets, ensuring strategic alignment and delivery excellence.
  • Identify and pursue new business opportunities with both multinational and regional clients, particularly those navigating geopolitical or regulatory transition.
  • Build APCO’s reputation as the trusted strategic advisor for organizations seeking to expand, protect, or influence their license to operate in Southeast Asia.
  • Collaborate across APCO’s global offices to deliver cohesive cross-regional client programs.
• Market Influence and Thought Leadership
  • Position APCO as a thought leader within the region’s public affairs and policy ecosystem through industry commentary, roundtables, and high-level partnerships.
  • Build relationships with key Singaporean and ASEAN policymakers, business leaders, think tanks, and industry associations.
  • Actively monitor and interpret emerging policy trends in Singapore and neighboring markets, advising clients on strategic implications.
• Team and Capability Development
  • Lead, mentor, and inspire multi-market teams to deliver integrated solutions rooted in insight and consequence.
  • Foster a culture of curiosity, analytical rigor, and high-performance execution across public affairs, policy, and communications disciplines.
  • Support APCO’s transformation into a unified regional advisory hub, championing collaboration and knowledge-sharing across markets.

Qualifications and Experience

• 10–15 years of professional experience in public affairs, government relations, policy strategy, or strategic communications, ideally in a consulting, corporate, or institutional context.
• Proven ability to operate across multiple industries—technology, health, FMCG, sustainability, defense, and emerging sectors.
• Demonstrated success in building and executing multi-market public affairs and reputation strategies.
• Strong communication, analytical, and leadership skills; adept at navigating senior client relationships and high-stakes issues.
• Regional experience managing teams and projects across diverse markets and regulatory environments.
• Fluency in English required; proficiency in one or more regional languages (Bahasa, Thai, or Vietnamese) is an advantage.

Careers at APCO

Through our recruitment, hiring and retention efforts, APCO is committed to building teams to bring the best possible expertise and robust perspectives to our clients. We embrace differences in experience, viewpoint and ideas, starting with our values and extending to our behaviours, policies and practices. We aim to create a positive work experience and welcoming environment where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.

APCO in Southeast Asia

The Future of Advisory Starts Here.

The traditional advisory model no longer works. The world’s most ambitious leaders need more than insights—they need intelligence, influence, innovation, and impact to navigate the most complex challenges of our time.

At APCO, we build uncommon ground where business, policy, and technology converge to shape the future. From geopolitical intelligence to issues-based campaigning and smart market entry strategies, our Singapore hub is redefining what advisory means in Southeast Asia and beyond.

Operating at the heart of one of the world’s most dynamic regions, we are a global centre of excellence for integrated advisory and advocacy—where industries are diverse, opportunities are vast, and the potential is unlimited.

From change management to crisis response, digital transformation to CEO transitions, we help organisations not just navigate, but master complexity. Whether shaping policy, guiding Southeast Asia’s next-generation business leaders, or building coalitions for societal impact, we are the partner that leaders trust when the stakes are high and the rules have yet to be written.

At APCO Southeast Asia, we help clients make the decisions that matter. Powered by a cutting-edge tech stack and led by the region’s top talent, we provide intelligence, shape influence, drive behavioural and regulatory outcomes, and create lasting impact across industries and society.