Senior Director, Public Affairs & Communications

Role brief

We have an immediate opportunity in Shanghai for a seasoned professional to join APCO Greater China’s senior management team.

You will serve as a proactive business builder and trusted client advisor. You will identify opportunities, cultivate relationships, and drive business growth with multinational organizations operating in China, as well as with China-headquartered enterprises navigating geopolitical complexity, reputational risk, and cross-border business disruption. You will collaborate closely with APCO’s Greater China teams to deliver integrated solutions that help clients thrive in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

What You’ll Do 

• Drive client growth by identifying new opportunities, leading winning strategies, and expanding APCO’s client base. 
• Explore new business opportunities across sectors, with corporate, governmental and NGO prospects.
• Develop and execute a strategy together with the senior management team to build APCO’s offer, position APCO among C-suite leaders and boards as a go-to advisor. 
• Support global businesses navigating issues in Greater China and assist China-headquartered companies as they internationalize their interests.
• Contribute to marketing and visibility efforts by developing thought leadership content, participating in public speaking engagements, and supporting APCO’s brand positioning in the China advisory space. 
• Collaborate with APCO’s global network, to provide seamless, joined-up counsel. 
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with key stakeholders in government, business, and civil society. 

What You Bring 

• 15+ years of experience in government affairs, strategic communications, corporate strategy, or geopolitical advisory. 
• Proven track record in business development, client acquisition, and strategic counseling. 
• Strong and trusted executive networks in China and a demonstrated track record of counseling C-Suite executives. 

• Ability to present ideas to clients both strategically and persuasively in face-to-face meetings and in written deliverables, and produce excellent work under tight deadlines

• Experience advising senior executives and navigating high-stake geopolitical and commercial environments, particularly for multinational organizations operating in China. 

• Mandarin and English language fluency and professional experience working in China are required. 

Preferred Background 

• A keen understanding of the commercial, policy and reputational challenges facing global business leaders 
• Experience in a multinational corporation or top-tier consultancy. 
• Familiarity with sectors such as technology, finance, retail, healthcare, or advanced manufacturing. 
• Track record of success in market entry advisory, policy advocacy, crisis and reputation management. 

What We Bring You

APCO is a global advisory and advocacy firm recognized for helping clients navigate complex challenges through integrated public affairs and communication strategies. Our team is diverse, collaborative, and united by a shared commitment to curiosity, empathy, boldness, and inclusivity. We work on some of the most pressing issues of our time across industries, borders, and sectors, and we’re proud to be a majority women-owned business with a global footprint.

Careers at APCO

Through our recruitment, hiring and retention efforts, APCO is committed to building teams to bring the best possible expertise and robust perspectives to our clients. We embrace differences in experience, viewpoint and ideas, starting with our values and extending to our behaviors, policies and practices. We aim to create a positive work experience and welcoming environment where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.

APCO in Greater China

Having entered the China market as one of the first consultancies in 1989, APCO has helped a wide range of organizations succeed in this complex but rewarding environment. We are keenly sensitive to changes in the political, regulatory and business landscape across China and advise business, government and non-profit organizations on issues critical to their success through our offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

We provide our clients with business advisory and public affairs offerings ranging from market entry strategy and government relations to risk assessment. Our strategic communications expertise in crisis management, media engagement and digital communications help our clients protect and enhance their reputation in this fast-moving market.

Our multilingual, cross-cultural team of more than 50 is made up of professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds, including business, government, journalism, academia and non-profit. This breadth of experience and perspective allows us to provide integrated solutions tailored to the specific goals of our clients.