Head of Communications & Government Affairs, GC

About the role

The Head of Communications & Government Affairs, GC is a critical role for Dyson across the Greater China region, championing and promoting the company’s high-profile products through media and other external stakeholders, whilst protecting and shaping its reputation and internal communications.

The leader will be responsible for directing and managing the public perception of Dyson through a programme of proactive and reactive communications both internal and external. It will promote and sustain the company’s reputation for high technology products with better performance, and our mission to improve daily lives. The role will play a key role in both product and corporate related stories and work in close partnership with our Government Affairs department to ensure understanding/ adherence of public policy, issues management, and long-term stakeholder engagement.

With an eye to the future, the Head of Communications & Government Affairs, GC will develop and deploy long term narratives that support Dyson’s evolution across its growing portfolio of technology in both the Beauty space, and the home/technology space. The successful candidate will have exceptional relationships with media and other external partners in these spaces, and have demonstrable experience of managing PR agencies operating in these areas.

Reporting into the Global Director of Communications, with a dotted line into the Regional President for Dyson in the Greater China region, this individual will set and guide the strategy for all communications narratives and ensure the team consistently articulate Dyson’s vision and missions across Product, Reputation and Government Affairs.

Dyson’s Global Communications Team is charged with storytelling on a global scale, bringing to life Dyson technology, products, people, places and the company philosophy. The department is responsible for public relations, public affairs, internal communications and the James Dyson Award – our international design award for students of design and engineering.

Accountabilities

Communications:

• Manage, build and protect the Dyson reputation through a programme of proactive and reactive communications.
• Ensure the public views Dyson positively, challenging mistruths wherever they exist.
• Develop narratives for delivery to the Greater China region across categories and corporate, ensuring they are well packaged, relevant and consistent throughout the organisation.
• Develop strong and meaningful relationships with the top media at a senior, decision making level.
• Drive team to develop and maintain strong in-house media and influencer relationships, ensuring Dyson maximises coverage and endorsement opportunities.
• Effectively manage PR agencies where used.
• Create and launch new campaigns to support new products and communications activities.
• Measure success of campaigns and report back to senior leadership.
• Ensure that all opportunities for the local Leadership Team, Global Leadership Team and Board are properly vetted.
• Act as a key advisor to the President and leadership teams on transformation agenda, culture-building and during issue management or crisis communications scenarios.
• Partner closely with the President to drive best-in-class internal communications and engagement initiatives.
• Drive development of creative content and rich storytelling for publication in owned channels and other social channels we operate.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive and integrated approach to managing issues related to customer, legislative and regulatory matters, as well as effective crisis management to protect the reputation of Dyson in China.
• Represent Greater China on the Global Communications Leadership Team.
• Be a champion of Dyson culture, while developing and retaining key talents in China.

Skills and abilities

• Art of the raconteur. Must be able to skilfully tell stories in written, verbal and visual form.
• Experience in crisis communications and successfully navigating reputation threatening issues.
• An eye for design, speed and agility when devising plans and responding to a brief.
• The power of influence - ability to build and manage stakeholder relationships internationally and at all levels both internally and externally.
• Talent development - ability to improve people, realise their potential and facilitate career paths locally and globally.

• Deep knowledge of the technology and/or retail system and related regulatory policies, including extensive contacts and good relationships with key media and policy decision makers.
• Adept diplomatic skills with demonstrated capability to manage potential geopolitical challenges.

Professional experience

• Significant experience (at least 12 years) in Communications, Journalism or agency, with no less than 10 years in a leadership position, with an MNC in the technology, retail, beauty, or related industry in Mainland China.
• Proven experience in building world-class communications/ public affairs teams and developing key talents.
• High energy, with the maturity to properly position, and propel, Communications at both strategic and tactical levels.

• Excellent negotiation, facilitation and influencing skills as a relationship-builder, comfortable with operating within a global communications team where many key relationships are international – UK, Singapore and in key Clusters.

• Proven track record and highly self-motivated and proactive with the mindset of making each external and internal campaign different and better versus the last.
• Dealing with crisis related short deadlines and working in high pressure situations to drive outcomes in the best interest of the company.
• Strong leadership skills in terms of people management, ability to influence people and work with top management in managing changing business environment and ambiguity.
• Demonstrated ability to build a strong team culture and to coach, develop and performance manage a team in a global matrixed organization.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills (English and Chinese), both written and verbal.

Dyson is an equal opportunity employer. We know that great minds don’t think alike, and it takes all kinds of minds to make our technology so unique. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and employment decisions are made without regard to race, colour, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other any other dimension of diversity.