Position: Associate Vice President, India Communications
Work Location: Cognizant India
Reporting to the Vice President, Communications & Employer Brand, Cognizant India, and serving as an integral member of the senior management team, the Associate Vice President of India communications will be responsible for three main areas:
(1) Serve as strategic counsel to Cognizant India’s leadership team on external and internal events that may affect the brand reputation; identify challenges and emerging issues, work with the communications team to define and execute rapid response strategies.
(2) Develop and implement integrated and strategic communications plans to protect and grow the company’s reputation in the market with employees, clients, investors, government and community leaders.
(3) Serve as media relations strategist for India market and manage the day-to-day regional media relations function. This leader will triage the day-to-day news flow but, more importantly, will proactively broaden awareness of the company’s strategic priorities and programs through strategic campaigns in support of the communication goals.
(4) Own the internal communications channels in-country and provide strategic content to corporate channels that enhance the Cognizant experience for its 250,000+ employees across India. Partner with People Communications, Human Resources, Legal/Real Estate teams to ensure seamless delivery of key company and executive communications.
(5) Operate with a social-first mindset, ensuring both content that is engaging to employees but can be leveraged across internal and external social media platforms in partnership with Cognizant’s social media team.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic counsel
Serve as a strategic counselor to the VP, India Communications and Employer Brand and the Lead Communicators team on translating corporate campaigns & initiatives (both internal and external) to land successfully in-country. Provide the “reality check” to ensure that the voice of Cognizant resonates properly to bring pride to the brand.
Work in collaboration with Brand, Government Affairs, and Investor Relations, to ensure that all public messaging, its cadence and sequencing, are synchronized and aligned for maximum impact. Ensure that all content produced is consistent with a “master narrative” and oversee how that narrative is communicated across all communications platforms.
Provide media and speaker strategy and opportunities to optimize executive interactions with the Indian media – through owned, earned, paid, or placed channels.
Provide metrics and analytical analysis of in-market execution in order to get the highest ROI (time, cost) Cognizant investments.
Be a visible leader at a Cognizant office.
Media Relations
Develop and nurture close working relationships with the key reporters and editorial boards in our industry and beyond (including leading trade press publications, top ~20 regional news outlets, digital media journalists, etc.)
Drive protocols for issues management (e.g. rapid response to media queries, crisis communications preparedness) and be an expert in current issues, financials, and “pivots” (messaging that counterbalances negative narratives).
Draw upon myriad stakeholders to develop proactive public relations campaigns that are aligned with key company initiatives – including but not limited to: corporate, communications, investor relations, marketing, HR, legal, finance, IT, CSR/Volunteerism.
Working closely with the senior regional leaders and communications teams and all relevant internal stakeholders in any situation to ensure proactive or reactive strategy/response that optimizes the company’s interests.
Partner with Community relations and ESG functions to amplify their in-country efforts through both external and internal communications – Foundation/Outreach/D&I/ESG - and in coordination with the global communication and functional leads for those workstreams.
Proactively place stories in the media which translate Cognizant corporate communications and marketing content; and Cognizant India-specific stories via owned, earned, paid and placed strategies to further understanding of the company, promote and amplify the company’s narrative and drive awareness of the Company’s offerings to clients. This leader will help develop a strategic plan across platforms to deliver that narrative efficiently and effectively while dovetailing with the broader corporate storytelling and narrative.
Establish a speaker’s platform, content, and strategic delivery plan to fully leverage leadership’s external communications. Build a bench of speakers/SMEs from the India Leadership Team + other functional leads through communications training as needed for leadership to ensure consistent messaging.
Internal Communications
Own a holistic India internal communications plan that advances the company’s priorities within India and builds associate identity and pride.
Develop an India content and storytelling approach, connected to the Global Communications editorial priorities. Elevate India specific headlines that can be amplified on a global scale.
Manage all India specific communication channels, including intranet pages, Viva Engage communities and mass mails – regularly updating content, making enhancements and driving associate readership of content. Have a “social media first” mindset when building content.
Oversee the planning and execution of major internal events within India, in partnership with People Communications and other teams.
Support priority communication needs for the leads of each of Cognizant’s India centers.
Partner with Brand, People Communications and Recruiting teams on a strategic approach to employer brand in India, connected to the global strategy.
Support major change, transformation, operations and issues management communications as it relates to the India associate population.
Partner with Internal Communications so that external messaging and internal employee messaging are aligned and sequenced properly.
YEAR ONE CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
Earn the confidence and trust of the VP, India Communications, EVP & CMD and the India Leadership Team by establishing strong working relationships internally, as someone who understands the importance of driving brand awareness, offers good counsel, works collaboratively in problem solving, demonstrates excellent judgment, and adds value.
Establishes strong working relationships with the team and stakeholders, advances positive campaigns and mitigates negative coverage.
Mentors and motivates the team to exceptional performance.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate will be a “roll up your sleeves” leader who has a minimum of 20 years of experience, including, senior management roles in fast-paced, dynamic environments, ideally in the IT industry.
The successful candidate will also have a demonstrated history of developing and implementing strategic communications plans that are integrated, fully leveraged using various communications and public platforms, and aligned with business and/or campaign objectives.
Candidates must have a strong business orientation, as well as the executive presence and gravitas to work with the leadership team.
Lastly, the successful candidate embodies the following behaviors:
Executive presence; be highly inclusive and collaborative across the regional leadership and global functions; breaks silos to create alignment; and problem solves on deadline
Be a leader whose judgment is both respected and sought after by leadership.
Have a “campaign mindset” – always thinks proactively to advance the Cognizant story.
Be an excellent and strategic writer who can write and edit media statements quickly; capture the “voice of the leader” with minimal edits.
Have outstanding relationships and credibility with the media, ideally with top tier technology and business media.
Have a strong hands-on work ethic.
Thrive in the execution of all these tasks.
EDUCATION
A Master’s degree in journalism, communications, or related field is required. An advance degree is preferred.
LOCATION
This is a hybrid role that will seek to spend time in a primary Cognizant office between 2-3 days per week, space permitting.
What we offer
- The chance to work with impact. Here, you’re empowered to bring your biggest thinking to help our company and clients improve everyday life.
- Ownership over your career. Stay at the top of your game through our award-winning learning and development ecosystem. And when your ambitions change or we offer new opportunities, we help you pivot by providing reskilling, on-the-job learning and guidance to find new roles that might be a better fit.
- The opportunity to thrive on a high caliber team with heart. We celebrate each other’s experiences and perspectives and promote a sense of belonging through our affinity groups and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
- A comprehensive total rewards package, including a competitive salary and pension plan with matching contributions.
- Flexible health and financial benefits to support you and your eligible dependents—from day one.
- True work-life balance. Be at your best through paid time off, flexible work arrangements, volunteering opportunities, social events, and so much more.
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion
Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer that embraces diversity, champions equity and values inclusion. We are dedicated to nurturing a community where everyone feels heard, accepted and welcome. Your application and candidacy will not be considered based on race, color, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state or local laws.
If you have a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or submit an application, please email [email protected] with your request and contact information.
While our system allows application in all languages, job required language(s) and proficiency level(s) vary. However, basic English proficiency is required for Company-wide communications purposes.
About us
Cognizant is one of the world's leading professional services companies, transforming clients' business, operating, and technology models for the digital era. Our unique industry-based, consultative approach helps clients envision, build, and run more innovative and efficient businesses. Headquartered in the U.S., Cognizant (a member of the NASDAQ-100 and one of Forbes World’s Best Employers 2024) is consistently listed among the most admired companies in the world. Learn how Cognizant helps clients lead with digital at www.cognizant.com.