AD- Communications(Marketing)

Job Title: Associate Director – Communications

Location: Bangalore India

Notice Period: Immediate to 30 days

About the role

Cognizant is seeking an accomplished professional to join the India communications team and shape its external narrative in India. Based in India and working closely with both the India and global communications teams the Associate Director will help drive media relations executive thought leadership financial and earnings communications and crisis response for one of the world's leading professional services and technology companies. This is a hands-on role for someone who combines strong editorial craft with sharp media judgement.

Key responsibilities

• Media relations: Build and sustain strong relationships with mainstream business and technology journalists across India.
• Content and editorial: Draft and edit a wide range of external materials to a high standard including media pitches op-eds executive statements holding statements press releases and backgrounders. Ensure a consistent voice and message across all outbound communications.
• Executive thought leadership: Develop and manage thought-leadership programmes for C-suite and senior executives from ideation through to placement shaping their profiles and points of view in priority media and forums.
• Financial and earnings communications: Manage PR around financial results and earnings in close coordination with the India and global communications investor relations and finance teams ensuring accuracy consistency and alignment with disclosure requirements.
• Crisis and issues management: Anticipate prepare for and respond to reputational and crisis situations. Develop holding statements Q&A and response plans calmly and credibly under pressure.
• Cross-team collaboration: Partner with global communications marketing HR business and regional teams to align India communications with enterprise priorities.
• Agency management: Work closely with the in-house teams to get the best out of PR agency partners

Required experience and skills

• 12–15 years of experience in corporate communications public relations or journalism with a strong record in external and media communications.
• Ideally at least five years in a listed technology company with an understanding of the disclosure sensitivities and rhythms of a public company.
• Established credible relationships with mainstream and technology journalists in India.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to draft and edit op-eds statements pitches and backgrounders that are clear sharp and on message.
• Demonstrated ability to develop thought leadership for senior executives.
• Proven crisis and issues-management capability with sound judgement under pressure.
• Comfortable working across time zones and in tandem with global teams.