Assistant director, communications

Job title: Assistant director, communications

Reports to: Global head of communications

Job purpose

The assistant director, communications, is responsible for supporting the organisation’s internal and external communications. This role will involve production of content and communication materials, including news releases, research and whitepapers, and distribution of those materials across a variety of platforms.

Duties and responsibilities

Communication/brand:

• Contribute to communication strategy, execution and thought leadership.
• Maintain and enhance our profile by delivering key messages that cement trust in our brand.
• Responsible for producing content and communication materials, including news releases, research, contributed articles, whitepapers, fact sheets, speeches, testimony, scripts, presentations and social media posts.
• Responsible for producing content for both printed and digital materials, including ISDA’s member magazine IQ: ISDA Quarterly.
• Generate new ideas for animations and videos, write scripts, work with production companies where necessary and manage projects to their conclusion.
• Develop ideas for presentations (static and animated), produce those presentations or commission production companies where necessary, and manage projects to their conclusion.
• Develop our presence on social media platforms and leverage digital media to raise awareness and engage.
• Respond promptly and accurately to press enquiries, organize press interviews, and ensure interviewees are thoroughly prepared (ie, through detailed talking points, Q&As etc).
• Organise in-person meetings with press – ie, briefings, press dinners etc.
• Develop timely communication strategies for key ISDA messages and initiatives, and successfully implement those strategies.

Deliver content for members and others:

• Collaborate with product and policy experts internally to identify and develop key messages.
• Write contributed articles and opinion pieces on behalf of the Senior Management Team, CEO and Board.
• Write blogs, speeches, testimonies, reports, whitepapers, case studies, fact sheets and other materials that communicate key strategic messages, plus prepare accompanying materials (ie, presentations).
• Research, write and proof-read articles for ISDA’s magazine, IQ: ISDA Quarterly, and ensure the final version meets high editorial and production standards.
• Remain on top of the derivatives industry by researching key opinions/ articles/ newspapers/ members / regulators and maintaining a strong base of industry information on which opinions can be formed.

Relationship management:

• Develop strong internal relationships across the global organisation and member organisations.
• Develop and nurture relationships with key members of the media.
• Work with the research team to write and/or edit high-quality research papers and oversee the design process through freelance designers.
• Attend industry functions such as association events and conferences in the UK and overseas to network and develop contacts.

 Qualifications    

• University degree

Relevant skills / abilities

• Proven experience of writing about derivatives and risk management to a high level of detail.
• Strong writing skills. Ability to understand and write about complex issues in an easily understandable way.
• Able to communicate clearly and concisely.
• The ability to work collaboratively with others across the organisation.

 Experience    

• A journalist or writer with at least five years’ experience in the financial industry.

About ISDA

Since 1985, ISDA has worked to make the global derivatives markets safer and more efficient. Today, ISDA has more than 1,000 member institutions from 77 countries.

These members comprise a broad range of derivatives market participants, including corporations, investment managers, government and supranational entities, insurance companies, energy and commodities firms, and international and regional banks.

In addition to market participants, members also include key components of the derivatives market infrastructure, such as exchanges, intermediaries, clearing houses and repositories, as well as law firms, accounting firms and other service providers.

Information about ISDA and its activities is available on the Association’s website: www.isda.org. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

Benefits

ISDA offers a great work environment, with competitive salaries and excellent benefits.

• Retirement – 10 per cent non-contributory
• Life, disability, and accident insurance
• Healthcare – medical (AXA)
• 27 days' holiday per year
• Maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave
• Education – ISDA offers a yearly training calendar across all offices
• Flexible working policy
• Season ticket loan available
• Bike to work scheme