Integrated Communications Lead

At Barings, we are as invested in our associates as we are in our clients. We recognize those who work diligently for us and reward them for personal and professional integrity, communication skills, distinct competencies and expertise in specific strategies, ability to collaborate as a team member and true dedication to the interests of our clients.

We thank you for your interest in joining the Barings team, and invite you to explore our current employment opportunities.

Title: Integrated Communications Lead

Business Unit: Human Resources and Communications

Location: Charlotte, NC- New York, NY- Boston, MA

Barings is a leading global investment manager sourcing differentiated opportunities and building long-term portfolios across public and private fixed income, real estate, and specialist equity markets. With investment professionals based in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, the firm, a subsidiary of MassMutual, aims to serve its clients, communities and employees, and is committed to sustainable practices and responsible investment. Learn more at www.barings.com.

Job Summary

This key position on our Global Communications team is responsible for helping develop and execute the firm's strategic communications strategy. The individual in this new role will lead and support campaigns internally and externally across the communications function for the firm and work closely with the Global Head of Corporate Communications, Investments and Business Functions, particularly Global Technology & Data, Risk and Operations. S/he will have a proven track record of high-quality writing, change and/or transformation communications, project management and working successfully across a highly matrixed globally dispersed and diverse organization.

Primary Responsibilities

• Developing a comprehensive and cohesive internal and external communications strategy to share Barings' modernization and digitization story in a clear and compelling way to fuel business growth. This includes internal communications, public/media relations, thought leadership communications platforms, message coaching, etc. to position the firm to deliver on our mission, vision, values and growth agenda.
• Develop and manage communications campaigns and programs for a global workforce of approximately 1,900 employees across all investment business lines and all functions globally.
• Lead the planning and development of integrated communication strategies and tactics that effectively communicate the vision and goals of strategic initiatives in alignment with the firm's growth agenda.
• Along with the Head of Corporate Communications, help advise and support senior leaders on strategic communications messaging, channels and delivery style; provide communications strategy plans and execution timelines on key transformation work.
• Optimize communication platforms and advance technology resources for integrated communications programs.
• Monitor and evaluate overall effectiveness of communication strategies and tactics for continuous improvement.
• Continually generate ideas and opportunities to innovate, which can include communication channels, process, and other ideas intended to improve Barings' competitive position in communications.
• Along with Head of Corporate Communications, manage incidents from the tech team and communicate as appropriate in a timely manner.
• Ensure appropriate processes are followed and obtain final approvals from subject matter experts, work stream owners and HR, Business Resiliency, Compliance/Legal team.
• Responsible for initiating, directing and executing programs to outside PR agencies to effectively communicate the firm's future positioning involving digital transformation and its talented, growing bench of expertise.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will be a transformative, adaptive communications professional who is currently working with a Fortune 500 company, major financial services firm, asset manager or technology company and has significant experience building successful change communications platforms and storytelling within a sophisticated global company. This role requires an exceptionally strategic thinker, with a combination of technical knowledge and an ability to communicate at the executive level while at the same time the capacity to mine information from all facets of the firm across cultures and time zones.

The ideal candidate will need credibility, gravitas, a strong executive presence and influencing skills to gain support from senior leaders. S/he will have a strong and pragmatic approach to getting things done, with a deep understanding of aligning communications to generating new business and growing top and bottom lines. S/he will be a transformational builder who is comfortable with leading complex initiatives from inception through successful execution.

S/he will have worked in a dynamic environment with the ability to navigate scalable company integrations with ease. This communications practitioner must demonstrate an ability to prepare strategy, compelling messaging and manage the development and execution of communications plans for the enterprise, help advise on communications solutions that help achieve business objectives, develop strategies and implement tactics to communicate business and project priorities.

• Fortune 500 and/or deep financial services, technology experience, ideally with a B2B customer focused company or firm
• Bachelor's degree in communications or related discipline and 10 years' experience in a communication setting (both internal, external, integrated team).
• Excellent writing and editing skills; ability to write for a variety of audiences across multiple communication channels/formats/vehicles- print, online, broadcast, social, infographics, surveys
• International experience with a sensitivity around cultural differences
• Experience in identifying the relationship between business and communication objectives
• Thoughtful and influential personal style with the ability to develop strong working relationships with senior leaders who have various degrees of comfort working with communications experts
• Experience in using technology tools for measurement and frequent, comprehensive, accurate reporting.
• Excellent organizational skills and experience handling multiple projects simultaneously with the ability to tie results to strategic business objectives.
• Experience in change management, with the ability to bring people along on the journey and achieve high levels of understanding and adoption.
• An entrepreneurial and creative approach to developing new, innovative ideas that will stretch the organization and push the boundaries in the communications and AM industry.
• The ability to effectively balance the desire/need for broad change with an understanding of how much change the organization is capable of handling, to create realistic goals and implementation plans that are achievable and successful.
• The ability to set clear and challenging goals; tenacious and accountable in driving results.
• A risk-taker who seeks data and input from others to spot unintended circumstances from decisions and takes smart risks.
• Adaptability - a high level of intellectual curiosity and ability to navigate through a highly disruptive and rapidly changing environment, as well as a highly matrixed organization.
• Attention to detail, ability to deliver high-quality work.
• Flexible; able to work in ambiguous situations - Ability to set priorities and work both independently and collaboratively.
• Takes personal responsibility - Can be relied on to complete tasks timely and well, demonstrates "ownership" regardless of the outcome, proactive in exploring and exploiting new opportunities.
• High level of integrity, able to handle highly confidential information.

Salary Range: $110,000- $160,000

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Barings is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer; Minority/Female/Age/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Individual with Disability/Protected Veteran. We welcome all persons to apply.

Barings offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

CORE BENEFITS & WELLNESS

• Medical (including Virtual Care), Prescription, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Fitness Center Reimbursement Program (Including Online Memberships)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Fertility Benefits

FINANCIAL WELL-BEING

• 401(k) Plan w/Company Match
• Pension Plan
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with Company Contributions
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) - Health Care & Dependent Care
• Retirement Health Reimbursement Account

LIFE INSURANCE

• Basic and Supplemental Life Insurance
• Spouse and Child Life Insurance

TIME OFF, DISABILITY AND LEAVE OF ABSENCE

• Paid Vacation, Sick Days and Annual Holidays
• Paid Leave of Absences (Maternity Leave, Parental Leave, Caregiver Leave, Bereavement Time)
• Short and Long Term Disability Plans
• Paid Volunteer Time

OTHER BENEFITS

• Education Assistance Program
• Charitable Matching Gifts Program
• Commuter Reimbursement Program
• Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement Program