Stakeholder Engagement, Associate/Senior Associate

Role: Stakeholder Engagement, Associate/Senior Associate

Start Date: Immediate Employment Type:

Full time, 1-Year Contract (Renewable)

Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Reporting Line: Stakeholder Engagement Manager

Role Purpose

Own TFM's government relationships at state and district level, supporting the Stakeholder Engagement Manager in delivering TFM's public sector engagement strategy across Program Duta Guru and the Fellowship. This role drives the day-to-day cultivation of JPN and PPD partnerships, ensures relationships are managed with rigour, and represents TFM with credibility and purpose in every government interaction. The goal is not simply to maintain access but to build relationships where JPN and PPD leaders are genuinely motivated to drive education transformation, with TFM as their trusted partner.

Principal Accountabilities

1. Own TFM's programme-level relationships with key public sector partners at state and district levels, and Yayasan PETRONAS, managing day-to-day interactions, ensuring stakeholders remain informed and engaged, and flagging concerns before they become issues.
2. Drive the preparation, submission, and follow-up of all official programme communications and approvals, ensuring documentation is accurate, timely, and fit for a government-facing context.
3. Coordinate the planning and execution of stakeholder engagement activities, including Mesyuarat Penyelarasan Program Duta Guru, roundtable sessions, and Jerayawara, ensuring each touchpoint is purposeful, well-prepared, and accurately reported.
4. Maintain a structured and up-to-date stakeholder engagement database, capturing interactions, commitments, and outcomes to support institutional memory and inform relationship strategy over time.
5. Work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure stakeholder engagement efforts are coordinated, sequenced, and aligned with broader programme milestones and internal priorities.
6. Identify, surface, and help resolve emerging risks or concerns that could affect programme delivery, working with stakeholders and internal teams to navigate issues with care and without disrupting momentum.
7. Ensure all engagement materials and official correspondence reflect the branding and identity standards of TFM, Yayasan PETRONAS, and the Ministry of Education.
8. Support participant affairs and recruitment efforts by leveraging stakeholder relationships to facilitate retention conversations, manage withdrawals, and align on recruitment strategies at state and district levels.
9. Bring TFM's Core Values into every stakeholder interaction, demonstrating a Sense of Possibility in how partnerships are approached, Excellence in the quality of work produced, Collaboration in how internal and external relationships are maintained, and Integrity in all engagements with government partners and programme stakeholders.

Role Requirements

As people join TFM, we expect individuals to be aligned with our core values, have passion and drive to the TFM mission.

Technical and Functional Competencies

• Strong written and verbal communication in both English and Bahasa Malaysia, with the ability to represent TFM credibly in formal government and corporate settings.
• Proficient in MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel or Google Sheets, including formatting, formulas, and dashboards.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain professional relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials, corporate partners, and community leaders.
• Able to influence and move stakeholders without formal authority, building credibility through consistency, preparation, and genuine understanding of what partners care about.
• Adaptable and resourceful in navigating shifting political, policy, and stakeholder landscapes, able to leverage networks and existing resources to deliver outcomes.
• Collaborative by default, with experience working cross-functionally and across organisational boundaries to drive collective results.

Leadership competencies: (examples listed below)

• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex or ambiguous situations, identify root causes, and propose practical solutions without always waiting for direction.
• A proactive self-starter who takes ownership of their work, manages multiple priorities independently, and does not wait to be directed.
• Able to plan and think strategically across concurrent workstreams while delivering quality outcomes within set timelines.
• Exercises sound judgement in navigating sensitive stakeholder dynamics, knowing when to escalate, when to act, and how to hold relationships through difficulty.
• Demonstrates initiative in identifying gaps and improving how things are done, bringing a continuous improvement mindset to both relationship management and operational delivery.
• Committed to continuous growth, bringing intellectual curiosity and a genuine desire to develop professionally within a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Experiences & qualification

• Bachelor's Degree in any discipline.
• Minimum 2 years of working experience in stakeholder engagement, government relations, corporate partnerships, or a related field.
• Prior exposure to the Malaysian public sector or government-facing roles is an advantage.
• Strong written and verbal communication in both Bahasa Malaysia and English.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we apologise that we will not be able to respond to all applicants - only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.