Community Engagement Executive (Difference Engine Pte. Ltd.)

As part of the Marketing and Business Development team, you will report to the Publisher and work closely with senior team members to develop and manage relationships with our stakeholders. You will be responsible for day-to-day communications with our creators, readers, and partners, and will manage and execute our book programmes and events. You will be part of a small but dynamic publishing team, and will be an integral part of our work process. We believe in helping each other out, being inclusive, having work-life balance, and we value creativity and a willingness to learn.

Main Role and Responsibilities:

Events Management
- Research, plan, and execute events such as book launches and meet-ups to promote our comics and expand our market presence. This includes defining target audiences, setting clear objectives, determining key performance indicators (KPIs), budget management and managing logistics such as coordinating vendors, catering, safety and security, live stream/video, registration and venue recce.
- Develop and coordinate comic-related programmes such as workshops, talks and other initiatives with education, corporate and festival partners.
- Represent the company in speaking engagements and panel discussions.
- Curate and organise the company’s team bonding activities such as story club sessions, event research trips, and team bonding meals.
- Assist the business development team for bookshop events and booth sales.

Community Engagement
- Plan and execute physical community activations / engagements such as book clubs, festival and comic convention events, and creators’ socials.
- Plan, execute, and moderate hybrid and online community activations such as membership programmes, open call briefings, or digital space events.
- Maintain timely, personable, and positive interactions in comic and art-adjacent platforms including communities in - Discord channels and Telegram groups.

Research and Conceptualisation
- Contribute to the ideation and development of experimental programmes and prototype testing including compiling community surveys, conducting reader interviews and documenting user trials.
- Support the business development and editorial teams for grant proposals, pitch decks, and award submissions.

Marketing Outreach
- Curate and maintain a list of community partners in line with the company’s branding, and connect with brands whose values align with the company’s.
- Assist the marketing team in reaching out to existing DE creators, potential creators, influencers, and partners to promote our comics, open calls, and programmes.

Requirement
- Excellent written and verbal communicator, with the ability to talk to and network with a variety of people from different backgrounds.
- Diplomatic and tactful in dealing with stakeholders, partners, followers, and influencers. Mindful of cultural differences that might exist regionally and internationally.
- Confident, approachable, and professional, with the ability to cultivate strong, genuine, and long-lasting relationships with stakeholders, partners, followers, and influencers.
- Good problem-solving skills, with the ability to be proactive, and handle uncertainty and ambiguity.
- Positive outlook, with the ability to adapt to dynamic, fast-paced environments and situations, both on and offline. Willingness to learn and adapt to changing environments and market landscapes.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Excellent organisation skills with the ability to multitask.
- Fluent in writing and speaking English; proficiency in a Mother Tongue language and other languages/dialects commonly used in Southeast Asia is a plus.
- Proficiency in Google Workplace and/or MS Office.
- Willing to attend industry conferences, events, and networking opportunities to represent Difference Engine and establish valuable connections within the comics, books, and publishing scene. Occasional travel may be required.