Senior Communications Officer - Media The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank whose mission is financing Infrastructure for Tomorrow in Asia and beyond - infrastructure with sustainability at its core. We began operations in Beijing in 2016 and have since grown to 111 approved members worldwide. We are capitalized at USD100 billion and AAA-rated by the major international credit rating agencies. Collaborating with partners, AIIB meets clients' needs by unlocking new capital and investing in infrastructure that is green, technology-enabled, and promotes regional connectivity.
The mission and vision of AIIB's Communications Department (COM) is to build stakeholder trust by creating breakthrough communications that show how AIIB invests in infrastructure that lifts lives and serves generations. As AIIB marks its first decade of impact, COM helps the Bank effectively tell its story. Whether it is preparing official communications for use by and within the Bank, leading storytelling campaigns or initiatives, producing institutional documents, communicating with staff, or informing external audiences about what we do and why we do it, COM provides strategic advice and support on how to craft messages, get media coverage, share on social media, and build awareness with our internal and external stakeholders across global markets.
COM is seeking a Senior Communications Officer - Media to serve as a senior leader responsible for shaping the Bank's narrative and elevating its regional and international standing through strategic media engagement. This is a pivotal role requiring an accomplished communications professional - from corporate communications or with a journalism background - with the credibility to represent the Bank externally and the authority to drive media strategy internally. A background in media is advantageous. A proven record of delivering in-house is essential.
The successful candidate will build and maintain institutional relationships with top-tier international and regional media, transition AIIB from reactive to proactive media engagement, and help broaden the Bank's spokesperson capacity beyond presidential communications. They will report to the Head of Communications Channels and work closely with the Director General of Communications and senior leadership to ensure AIIB's story reaches global audiences through earned media of the highest caliber.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and execute proactive media strategies that advance AIIB's mission, moving beyond event-driven communications to systematic narrative-building.
- Curate creative story angles and media packages that generate coverage independently of institutional milestones and announcements.
- Lead the development and placement of opinion articles from the AIIB president and vice presidents in relevant media outlets.
- Collaborate with thematic leads within COM to create strategic story lines that identify, prioritize, and sequence media opportunities across the Bank's work, including climate, finance, regional connectivity, and development impact.
- Lead the activation of media protocols under the Bank's crisis communications framework, providing reputational risk assessment to senior management and advisory on appropriate media engagement strategies.
- Build and maintain institutional relationships with prominent international and regional media organizations at the editorial leadership level.
- Cultivate relationships across the media ecosystem: top editors and commentators, foreign and business editors, Bretton Woods institution reporters, and key vertical specialists.
- Coordinate media relationship-building efforts across Bank leadership and COM team leads to ensure institutional rather than individual relationships.
- Ensure that the Bank has a well-maintained contact list of journalists and media outlets across all platforms and a successful process of maintaining regular contact and collaboration with the media.
- Provide strategic media counsel to AIIB senior management on global media trends, media positioning, corporate brand reputational risk, and emerging sensitive issues.
- Coordinate and oversee media training for senior leadership to build the Bank's spokesperson bench for both written and broadcast media.
- Manage the Bank's engagement with media, ensuring leaders are matched with appropriate outlets and opportunities and are provided with interview preparation, messaging development support, and briefing materials.
- Establish and oversee Bank-wide protocols for media engagement, enquiry handling, and press-release coordination.
- Develop and maintain the Bank's core media messages, and ensure consistency across all communications.
- Serve as a senior point of contact for media inquiries, ensuring timely and coordinated responses across the institution.
- Implement and maintain media relationship management systems to track engagement and build institutional knowledge.
- Collaborate across departments to identify and develop compelling media stories that demonstrate AIIB's impact and mission delivery.
- Manage media events, draft and edit news releases, and produce content that resonates with target audiences.
- Oversee and develop the Bank's media monitoring and analytics capacity, providing regular analysis of coverage, correcting inaccuracies, and ensuring internal awareness of relevant coverage and sentiment.
- Oversee the development and maintenance of all media materials, ensuring alignment with the corporate brand and business priorities.
- Work with external PR agencies and senior media advisors to extend AIIB's reach in key markets while ensuring that ownership of strategic relationships remains internal.
Requirements:
- Minimum 10 years' experience in media relations, journalism, or strategic communications, with significant experience at a senior level, preferably including people management experience.
- Master's degree or equivalent in communications, journalism, political science, economics/finance, international relations, public affairs, or other related fields from a reputable university.
- Background in multilateral institutions, international finance, infrastructure, or development preferred.
- Demonstrated track record of building and maintaining relationships with top-tier international media, including strong current contacts.
- Experience with media in Asia is a plus.
- Exceptional ability to simplify complex information into compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
- Excellent writing skills, with mastery of news writing, opinion-article development, and executive communications.
- Ability to advise at executive levels.
- Sharp news sense and strategic mindset, with the ability to work proactively and identify media opportunities before they emerge.
- Collaborative, with the ability to navigate internal stakeholder dynamics and build trust across teams.
- Positive, solutions-oriented approach, dedicated to influencing public understanding of AIIB's role and impact.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
AIIB is committed to diversity, transparency, and inclusion. We believe our strength comes from having a team with the right diverse skills, experiences and abilities selected through a merit-based competitive process. We actively encourage applications from people from both within and outside AIIB members, regardless of nationality, religion, gender, race, disability, or sexual orientation.
Previous experience and qualifications will determine the grade and job title at which successful applicants will enter AIIB.
Join us and help create a prosperous and sustainable Asia while growing your career in a diverse and innovative environment.
ALL CURRENT VACANCIES * Closing Date: All opportunities close at 11:59 p.m. (GMT+8) on the dates listed.
** Job Type: Recruitment of staff is conducted through a merit-based competitive selection process. AIIB shall strive to provide employment opportunities open to all suitably qualified applicants, regardless of religion, gender, race, disability, sexual orientation or nationality.