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, ESG market evolution). Partner closely with various internal experts (product specialists, investment writers, portfolio managers) to identify and develop emerging strategic messaging. Bring forward ideas and strategic proposals rather than simply executing existing briefs. 

• Asset-management and sustainability fluency. Be credible regarding Robeco's specialist active strategies across sustainable 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 growth and organizational presence, currently Asia and the US alongside Europe. 

• Integrated, multi-stakeholder working and guidance. 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.  

Who we are looking for 

• 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, sustainability and 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 to advise senior leaders and the interest to enjoy 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. 

Why Robeco 

Robeco is a pragmatic, collegiate and fast-moving company, with sustainability, research and long-term value creation at its centre. Communications works close to the business, the marketing department and 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 to influence not just what we communicate, but what conversations we choose to lead.