Head of Communications Switzerland 80%

Some careers open more doors than others.

If you’re looking for a career that will give you plenty of opportunities to develop, join HSBC and your future will be rich with potential. Whether you want a career that could take you to the top, or simply take you in an exciting new direction, HSBC offers opportunities, support and rewards that will take you further.

Global Communications, designs and implements communications strategies which support HSBC’s business objectives, in line with our values, and enhance and protect our reputation among key stakeholders. 

We are currently seeking an experienced professional to join our team.

The role holder will be responsible for delivering an integrated employee communications and media relations strategy in Switzerland, an important market for HSBC where it runs Global Private Banking, Asset Management and Wholesale Banking operations. The focus will be on the Swiss Private Bank, a flagship business that employs several hundred employees in Switzerland.

The incumbent will play a key role in ensuring that employees understand and support the strategy and business priorities of HSBC Switzerland. He/she will contribute to this by advising the Country Head and the Swiss leadership team, preparing staff events and producing communications on internal initiatives. Externally, the role holder will act as a media spokesperson, manage reputational issues (e.g. legal matters) and deliver proactive profile-building activities including media interviews, press releases and other PR initiatives.

As a member of HSBC’s Communications team in Europe, the incumbent will work closely with other members of the Communications function as well as business stakeholders in Switzerland, ensuring that the Swiss communications strategy is aligned with business plans and global communication priorities. The role holder will be the subject matter expert for Communications in Switzerland, operating with a high degree of autonomy and advising the local management team on all communication matters.

The role holder will have a functional reporting line to the Regional Head of Communications, Europe, with an entity reporting line to the CEO of the Swiss Private Bank & Country Head Switzerland. 
 

In this role you will:

Impact on the Business/Function 

• Deliver an integrated employee communications and media relations strategy in Switzerland with sound judgment and operating with a high degree of autonomy
• Lead employee communications in Switzerland, ensuring that colleagues understand the strategy and are informed and engaged, by preparing staff events, advising management and producing communications on business activities and internal initiatives 
• Manage external communications for all HSBC businesses operating in Switzerland, which includes acting as a media spokesperson, handling reputational issues (e.g. legal matters) and undertaking proactive profile-building activities such as media interviews, press releases and other PR initiatives

Leadership & Teamwork 

• Work seamlessly and collaboratively with regional and global Communications teams and other stakeholders 
• Keep up-to-date with latest communications research, techniques and approaches and proactively share these within the function 
• Demonstrate a high standard of HSBC’s values

Operational Effectiveness & Control 

• Ensure adherence to HSBC’s Communications governance and policies
• Comply with Group policies and procedures, maintain all required records
• Own, support, collaborate on, track and analyse the delivery and impact of communications initiatives

To be successful in the role, you should meet the following requirements:

• Working knowledge of Switzerland and Swiss media, ideally with an existing network of journalist contacts
• Good media relations skills, experience in both proactive PR and issues management a distinct plus
• Full written and spoken fluency in English and a good command of German or French, ideally both  
• Strong writing and storytelling skills with proven ability to produce clear, engaging narrative
• Good interpersonal, planning, influencing, negotiation and project management skills
• Credibility with senior business leaders 
• Broad, expert knowledge of communication trends and best practice
• Experience in financial services communications, ideally in Private Banking or banking in Switzerland 
• Role model management skills and behaviours
• Proven ability to deal with ambiguity and pressurised situations
• Due to immigration restrictions in Switzerland we will only be able to consider applications from Swiss or EU citizens or from candidates holding a valid Swiss work permit

You’ll achieve more when you join HSBC.   

HSBC is committed to building a culture where all employees are valued, respected and opinions count. We take pride in providing a workplace that fosters continuous professional development, flexible working and opportunities to grow within an inclusive and diverse environment. Personal data held by the Bank relating to employment applications will be used in accordance with our Privacy Statement, which is available on our website.

As a business operating in markets all around the world, we believe diversity brings benefits for our customers, our business and our people. This is why HSBC is committed to being an inclusive employer and encourages applications from all suitably qualified applicants irrespective of ethnicity, religion, age, physical or mental disability/long term health condition, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by local law in the jurisdictions in which we operate. Within the work place you will have access to various employee resource groups which aim to promote and achieve a healthy work / life balance and support our diversity ambitions. HSBC has in place processes in order to avoid nepotism, which means to avoid creating circumstances in which the appearance or possibility of conflicts of interest may exist within the hiring process.

We want everyone to be able to fulfil their potential which is why we provide a range of flexible working arrangements and family friendly policies.

HSBC is a signatory company of the Advance Charter. This Charter is a commitment towards gender equality in business and hence a workplace environment that supports a fair and balanced approach to hiring, remunerating, promoting and retaining female talent.

Within HSBC in Switzerland all internal candidates from Group and external applicants are required (subject to local laws), to pass satisfactorily a series of additional checks both as part of the application process and, if successfully recruited into the role. The Group reserves its position with regard to any steps which it may take in relation to any material adverse findings which arise either when the checks are first carried out as part of this recruitment exercise, and/or if relevant, on an ongoing basis.

To discover more about HSBC, please check our website: https://www.hsbc.com/about-hsbc

Please apply via our careers website at the following link : https://mycareer.hsbc.com/external

Taleo reference: 0000HESS