Assistant Vice President Communications Manager

Job description

Using insight from internal and external measurement, the role holder acts as a local representative of the Global Communications function, providing communications advice and execution for the Lines of Business (LoBs) and Functions in the US in support of HSBC's strategy, purpose and values.

Responsibilities encompass the full spectrum of communications activities managed by the Global Communications function, including: building and protecting HSBC's reputation, using insight to drive discussions and communications planning, and creating engaging content.

The role holder reports to the Head of Communications, US and works directly with the Senior Communications Managers supporting LoB and Function communications teams, globally, to execute plans in-country.

Impact on the Business

Building, protecting and promoting our reputation:

· Creates and builds relationships with external stakeholders that will take an interest in, and want to talk about HSBC, whether positively or negatively (e.g. media, trade bodies).
· Utilises media relationships to deliver coverage for relevant Global campaigns and positioning for the Global Businesses and Functions that reinforces HSBC's leadership on priority global themes.
· Identifies opportunities for cross-border and cross-business media activity in support of key trade/business corridors or collaboration efforts.
· Responds quickly to a crisis, escalating appropriately and advising the business on reputation risk, calmly guiding them through what they should and should not communicate.
· Uses media measurement to inform and guide media activity.
· Delivers global employee campaigns locally ensuring the messages match HSBC's values and resonate appropriately with the relevant audiences, adjusting them accordingly for country audience.
· Strict adherence to the global Media Relations Governance Policy.

Using insight to drive discussions and communications planning:

· Collates existing insight from HSBC's internal measurement (Snapshot, Exchange) to inform decision making and prioritise communication activity.
· Identifies themes and issues from multiple sources and pulls it together into a concise and insightful summary.
· Utilises research and develop insights to provide communications counsel and help inform Country ExCo debate, decision-making and strategy.

Creating engaging content:

· Identifies stories, pictures or metaphors that will help bring information and data to life in a way that will resonate with the audience, ensuring alignment to Global Business/Function strategy and priorities.
· Understands the benefits and drawbacks of different communications channels and identifies and selects which to use and when.
· Ensures content and messages are regularly updated in order that they remain valid.

Customers / Stakeholders

· Proactively builds relationships with key local stakeholders, using expertise to provide communication insight to leadership teams.
· Communicates in an honest and open way to establish rapport and build useful relationships with people in or outside the function and/or HSBC as part of day-to-day work
· Collaborates with the global Communications teams and other key stakeholders.
· Deliver fair outcomes for our customers and ensure own conduct maintains the orderly and transparent operation of financial markets

Leadership & Teamwork

· Personally demonstrates a high standard of HSBC's values by leading by example, taking accountability and encouraging others to do the same.
· Plans and priorities work to ensure they are in line with business needs and that resources are used effectively, efficiently and in a timely manner.
· Recognises when colleagues are under pressure and readily supports them.
· Proactively shares knowledge and best practices across the function in the region.

Operational Effectiveness & Control

· Builds budgets, financial plans and forecasts with supervisory assistance within country.
· Maintains accurate financial information, monitoring spend against expenditure.
· Ensures adherence to all Communications governance and policies.
· Complies with Group policies and procedures and maintain all required records.
· Encourages people to question their own or others actions in the best interests of HSBC and all stakeholders, and supports them in doing so.

Management of Risk

· The jobholder will ensure the fair treatment of our customers is at the heart of everything we do, both personally and as an organisation.
· This will be achieved by consistently displaying the behaviours that form part of the HSBC Values and culture and adhering to HSBC risk policies and procedures, including notification and escalation of any concerns and taking required action in relation to points raised by audit and/or external regulators.
· The jobholder is responsible for managing and mitigating operational risks in their day to day operations. In executing these responsibilities, the Group has adopted risk management and internal control structure referred to as the ‘Three Lines of Defence'. The jobholder should ensure they understand their position within the Three Lines of Defence, and act accordingly in line with operational risk policy, escalating in a timely manner where they are unsure of actions required.
· Through the implementation the Global AML, Sanctions and ABC Policies, supporting Guidance, and Line of Business Procedures the jobholder will make informed decisions in accordance with the core principles of HSBC's Financial Crime Risk Appetite.
· The following statement is only for roles with core responsibilities in Operational Risk Management (Risk Owner, Control Owner, Risk Steward, BRCM, and Operational Risk Function
· The jobholder has responsibility for overseeing and ensuring that Operational risks are managed in accordance with the Group Standards Manual, Risk FIM, & relevant guidelines & standards. The jobholder should comply with the detailed expectations and responsibilities for their core role in operational risk management through ensuring all actions take account of operational risks, and through using the Operational Risk Management Framework appropriately to manage those risks.


This will be achieved by:

· Continuously reassessing risks associated with the role and inherent in the business, taking account of changing economic or market conditions, legal and regulatory requirements, operating procedures and practices, management restructurings, and the impact of new technology.
· Ensuring all actions take account of the likelihood of operational risk occurring, addressing areas of concern in conjunction with Risk and relevant line colleagues, and also by ensuring that actions resulting from points raised by internal or external audits, and external regulators, are correctly implemented in a timely fashion.

Observation of Internal Controls

· The jobholder will adhere to, and be able to demonstrate adherence to, internal controls and will implement the Group compliance policy by adhering to all relevant processes/procedures.
· The term ‘compliance' embraces all relevant financial services laws, rules and codes with which the business has to comply. This will be achieved by adherence to all relevant procedures, keeping appropriate records and, where appropriate, by the timely implementation of internal and external audit points, including issues raised by external regulators.
· The following statement is only for roles with managerial or specific Compliance responsibilities
· The jobholder will implement measures to contain compliance risk across the business area. This will be achieved by liaising with Compliance department about business initiatives at the earliest opportunity. Also and when applicable, by ensuring adequate resources are in place and training is provided, fostering a compliance culture and optimising relations with regulators.

Desired profile

Qualifications :

·  4-7 years of progressive experience as a communications professional.
·  Candidate will preferably have skills in both media relations and employee communications
·  Proven track record in developing, managing and implementing effective communication strategies, internally and externally.
·  Ability to understand business issues and devise communication solutions that deliver results, constructing fresh approaches where appropriate and making connections to other issues.
·  Able to work within an ambiguous environment, prioritize and reconcile competing demands and resolve complex issues
·  Focused, self-motivated and results-oriented
·  Able to work collaboratively
·  Authoritative, self-confident, credible
·  Sense of humour and positive attitude

EEO/AA/Minorities/Women/Disability/Veterans