Senior External Communications Specialist

This search is being managed by Logan Sinclair. Please contact Ben Burling () if you are interested in learning more about the opportunity.

Department

Corporate Communications

Position & Requirements

The Senior External Communications Specialist is an experienced practitioner in Robeco's external communicationsfunction.Thesuccessful hire sets and delivers media relations and PR, positions the firm and its leaders on investing,sustainabilityand 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, issuesand conversations that matter to Robeco as an investor and corporation, and advising the ExCo on what we should engage withexternallyand how.

Internal alignment is important;aligning stakeholders, briefingexpertsand managing the steps each announcement requires acrossa closely connectedorganisation. 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.

Corporate Communications reports directly to the CEO. The functioncomprises12people across three areas: Internal Communications, External Communications, and Corporate Sustainability & Reporting, led by the Global Head ofCorporateCommunications.

The Senior External Communications Specialist sits on the External Communications side and reports to the Global Head of Corporate Communications.The hireworks alongside the PR & External Communications Specialist, who runs day-to-dayglobalPR with marketing and sales,wherethe new hirehandles communicationsregardingthestrategy, ExCo engagementandmedia positioningnext toissue management.

• Media relations and journalist network. Set and own a proactiveglobal external and PRstrategy, andbring an established network ofinternationalfinancial journalists and editors.

• Executive engagement,spokespersonand speechwriting. Advise the ExCo and senior leaders on media engagement, act as a corporate spokesperson whenrequired, and develop narratives, Q&As, key messages and speeches.Identifyand create opportunities to raise the profile of senior leaders, including theCEO andCIO.

• Strategic theme identification and thought leadership. Proactivelyidentifyemerging topics, market trends, regulatorydevelopmentsand thematic conversations relevant to Robeco as a research-driven,sustainability-focused investor (e.g. AI, ESG market evolution).Partner closely with various internal experts (product specialists, investment writers, portfolio managers) toidentifyand develop emerging strategicmessaging.Bring forward ideasand strategic proposals rather than simply executing existing briefs.

• Asset-management and sustainability fluency. Be credibleregardingRobeco's specialist active strategies acrosssustainable investing, quantitative strategies, credits, thematic, and emerging markets.Hold these conversations comfortably, and stay on top of trends and innovation, including AI.

• Reputation: protect and enhance. Manage issues and crises with Legal and Compliance, with holding statements and playbooks ready, and proactively build reputation where it supports commercial growthand organizationalpresence, currently Asia and the US alongside Europe.

• Integrated, multi-stakeholder working andguidance.Plan internal and external communications as one, recognising that internal and external work are handled together.Brief internal experts, align the business, and treat internal communications as equal to external. Guide and support colleagues across communications and other functions in translating strategic themes and ExCo priorities into clear, consistent narratives.

• 8 to 12 years in external communications or media relations, preferably within asset management or financial services.

• An established, highly active network of financial journalists, editors and opinion leaders across investment,sustainabilityand markets-focused media. You should arrive ready to pitch ideas and build on existing relationships from day one, not build a network from scratch.

• Asset-management and sustainability fluency, with the credibility toadvise senior leaders and the interest toenjoy the technical conversation, not just relay it.

• Ability to find and create opportunities for Robeco to react to in terms of current positioning or communication, and the strategic thinking to propose how those opportunities should be communicated

• A collaborative, multi-stakeholder operator who respects internal communications and works pragmatically.

• The ability to influence and align senior stakeholders without direct authority, given this is not a line-management role.

• On top of trends and innovation, including AI.

• Based in Rotterdam, or willing to be present there, to take part in the internal coordination that drives much of the work.

• Scope and appetite to grow over time would be an advantage.

Robeco is a pragmatic,collegiateand fast-moving company, with sustainability,researchand long-term value creation at its centre. Communications works close to the business, the marketing departmentand close to its leaders, and the function is small enough that internal and external work are handled together. This is a role for someone who values that coherence and contributes to it. There is real scope for someone in this role to shape how Robeco thinks about and executes external communications strategy. You will have the autonomy and the platform toinfluence not just what we communicate, but what conversations we choose to lead.

All applications will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. An assessment and integrity test may be used in the selection procedure.

Robeco Recruiting Team