Communications & Engagement Manager

Housing & Development Board; Singapore; On-site; SGD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Housing & Development Board (HDB) in Singapore is seeking a communications professional to join the Strategic Communications & Engagement Group. You will help develop engagement strategies to support HDB’s policies, programmes and initiatives.

You will analyze complex issues, craft messages, build relationships with stakeholders, and support crisis readiness and narrative development.

Qualifications

• Experience in strategic communications, public engagement, public policy, issues or crisis management, media relations or related areas.
• Ability to translate analysis into practical recommendations.
• Curious and perceptive with interest in current affairs and public policy.

Responsibilities

• Developing and implementing communications and engagement strategies for HDB policies, programmes and announcements, considering public sentiment and stakeholder perspectives.
• Analyzing complex issues, anticipating concerns, and recommending appropriate communications approaches.
• Building relationships with external stakeholders and partners to strengthen public understanding and amplify key messages.
• Supporting engagement initiatives through narrative framing and design of collaterals.
• Supporting issues and crisis management with response strategies and readiness.
• Strengthening communications capabilities by consulting with colleagues on effective approaches.

Job description

[What the role is]

As a member of HDB’s Strategic Communications & Engagement Group, you will be part of the Engagement and Partnerships Department, which develops communications and engagement strategies to support HDB’s policies, programmes and initiatives.

You will work on a range of issues – from new policies and programmes to complex or sensitive issues that may attract differing public views – and develop strategies to build public understanding and trust.

[What you will be working on]

Your responsibilities include:

• Developing and implementing communications and engagement strategies for HDB’s policies, programmes and announcements, taking into account public sentiment, stakeholder perspectives and implementation considerations.
• Analysing complex and emerging issues, anticipating public and stakeholder concerns, and recommending appropriate communications and engagement approaches.
• Building relationships with credible external stakeholders and partners who can strengthen public understanding of HDB’s work and, where appropriate, amplify key messages within their networks.
• Supporting HDB’s engagement initiatives through development and framing of narrative and key messages and designing collaterals.
• Supporting issues and crisis management, including developing response strategies and strengthening HDB’s communications readiness.
• Strengthening communications and engagement capabilities across HDB by consulting and working with colleagues on effective approaches.

[What we are looking for]

We are looking for someone with agency, who is able to adapt quickly and is comfortable with ambiguity, to tackle problems where the answers may not always be obvious.

You should have strong critical thinking and judgement, and be able to make sense of complex issues, consider different perspectives and translate your analysis into practical recommendations.

You should also be:

• Resourceful and solutions-oriented, able to seek out the right information and people and find practical ways forward.
• Curious and perceptive, interested in understanding different perspectives, connecting the dots and keeping abreast of current affairs and public policy.
• A strong communicator and relationship-builder, with an excellent command of English and the ability to engage effectively with different stakeholders.

Experience in strategic communications, public engagement, public policy, issues or crisis management, media relations or related areas would be useful but is not essential. Applicants with no prior work experience are welcome to apply; we value demonstrated judgement, initiative and problem-solving ability from a range of experiences.