Senior External Communications Specialist

The role 

The Senior External Communications Specialist is an experienced practitioner in Robeco's external communications function.The successful hire sets and delivers media relations and PR, positions the firm and its leaders on investing, sustainability and long-term value creation, and both protects and enhances Robeco's reputation. 

The work is strategic and operational in equal measure. Critically, this is a role where you operate at the level of strategic foresight and corporate narrative, identifying emerging themes, trends, issues and conversations that matter to Robeco as an investor and corporation, and advising the ExCo on what we should engage with externally and how.  

Internal alignment is important; aligning stakeholders, briefing experts and managing the steps each announcement requires across a closely connected organisation. The hire is ExCo-facing and influential, but this is not a line-management position, and they are expected to bring a view on how to bring forward and develop external communications. 

Where it sits 

Corporate Communications reports directly to the CEO. The function comprises 12 people across three areas: Internal Communications, External Communications, and Corporate Sustainability & Reporting, led by the Global Head of Corporate Communications. 

The Senior External Communications Specialist sits on the External Communications side and reports to the Global Head of Corporate Communications. The hire works alongside the PR & External Communications Specialist, who runs day-to-day global PR with marketing and sales, where the new hire handles communications regarding the strategy, ExCo engagement and media positioning next to issue management. 

Key responsibilities 

• Media relations and journalist network. Set and own a proactive global external and PR strategy, and bring an established network of international financial journalists and editors. 

• Executive engagement, spokesperson and speechwriting. Advise the ExCo and senior leaders on media engagement, act as a corporate spokesperson when required, and develop narratives, Q&As, key messages and speeches. Identify and create opportunities to raise the profile of senior leaders, including the CEO and CIO. 

• Strategic theme identification and thought leadership. Proactively identify emerging topics, market trends, regulatory developments and thematic conversations relevant to Robeco as a research-driven, sustainability-focused investor (e.g. AI,