Location
London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Competitive salary package

About the Role
In this role, you will support the implementation of strategic leadership, governance and professional oversight for all project communications activity across the South region. The role ensures communications is embedded within project delivery, supports customer and stakeholder objectives and contractual requirements, protects and enhances reputation, drives consistency and best practice, and supports the development of a high-performing project communications community.

The accountabilities include but are not limited to:
- Drive the delivery of the One Comms Collective Strategy by shaping regional implementation plans and ensuring successful project delivery of contractual requirements, customer satisfaction, stakeholder confidence and reputation management
- Lead, develop and inspire the regional Project Communications community, creating a high-performing culture through coaching, succession planning, capability development and talent management
- Own regional communications resource planning and workforce strategy, ensuring the function has the capability, capacity and specialist expertise required to meet current and future business needs
- Provide strategic oversight of stakeholder engagement, customer communications, community relations and employee engagement activities, ensuring alignment to business objectives and customer contractual deliverables
- Lead the identification and delivery of strategic communications opportunities that enhance the profile and reputation of projects, business and people, supporting growth ambitions, talent attraction, customer relationships and market positioning
- Establish and govern communications standards, policies, governance processes and performance measures
- Act as the senior communications authority for the region, ensuring compliance with contractual, regulatory, customer, governance and brand requirements
- Lead the strategic management and escalation of reputational opportunities and risks arising from projects, programmes and wider business activities
- Build and maintain senior customer relationships, acting as a trusted advisor on communications, reputation and stakeholder matters
- Champion innovation, continuous improvement and best practice, driving the adoption of new approaches, tools and insights to enhance communications effectiveness
- Promote best practice and innovation in communications delivery across all projects and programmes
- Work closely with Group Communications, Media Relations, Public Affairs and Business Leadership teams on high-profile or sensitive matters
- Lead regional crisis communications preparedness and response capability, ensuring robust processes, governance and leadership readiness are in place
- Shape and influence work-winning activity, providing strategic communications leadership to bids, customer engagement and business development initiatives
- Use insight, feedback and data to drive continuous improvement
- Promote knowledge sharing and continuous learning across the business, ensuring best practice, innovation and lessons learned are embedded and replicated across projects, regions and functions

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us? As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:
- Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow
- 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
- Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
- Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more

Experience
- Extensive communications leadership experience within infrastructure, engineering, construction or other complex operational environments
- Strong understanding of stakeholder management, customer communications, community relations and reputation management
- Experience managing sensitive and complex issues
- Excellent communication, written and interpersonal skills
- Self-starter with the ability to manage conflicting deadlines
- Strong analysis and problem-solving skills
- Computer literate and proficient in Microsoft Office

About you
Proactive and strategic thinker with strong leadership capabilities and the ability to inspire and develop teams. Comfortable working in complex environments and managing multiple priorities while maintaining a focus on delivering high-quality communications outcomes.

Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in marketing, public relations, communications or a related field (desirable)
- Member of CIPR and relevant qualification (desirable)
- Valid CSCS card (desirable)
- Good understanding of the regulatory environment in construction, rail or utility industries (desirable)