Director of External Communications & Engagement
Location
Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire | United Kingdom
Job description
Director of External Communications & Engagement
Application Deadline: 15 March 2024
Department: Strategy & Sponsorship
Employment Type: Contract / Temp
Location: Milton Keynes
Description
A little bit about us:
East West Rail is a new railway linking communities between Oxford and Cambridge. The area is currently let down by a lack of transport choices, and we have a once in a generation opportunity to fix that – improving prosperity for people and places along the way.
East West Railway Company (that’s us) was created by the Department for Transport (DfT) to oversee the delivery of East West Rail from construction through to wheels in motion, making sure the railway comes together in the right way.
Role Summary:
To direct and own the development and execution of East West Rail Co's overall external Communications & Engagement Strategy, to make East West Rail Co an exemplar amongst major programme for meaningful local engagement and constructive community relations. Ensure the subsequent strategies (External Communications Strategy, Media and Public Affairs Strategy and Community Engagement and Community Consultation strategies) are aligned to deliver integrated communication and engagement activities, in pursuit of that goal
Team dimensions:
East West Rail operates a matrix structure. This role sits within the Strategy, Engagement, and Analysis Community.
Line Manager – Chief Strategy Officer.
Functions reporting into this role:
- Head of Lands and Consents
- Head of Community Engagement
- Head of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the strategic direction and performance for external communications and engagement disciplines, building a fully aligned and integrated external communications and engagement function that delivers East West Rail Co's external communications strategies, strengthens the East West Rail Co reputation, and creates an industry leading approach to engaging local communities and stakeholders.
- Direct the execution of East West Rail Co's overall external Communications Strategy.
- Lead and direct the development of East West Rail Co's relationship with Local and National Government, with an effective engagement plan to create an optimised working association for East West Rail Co.
- Ensure that all East West Rail Co. communication and engagement strategies are aligned to accelerate the development of the programme, particularly the engagement and consultation processes associated with securing a Development Consent Order.
- Own East West Rail Co's integrated stakeholder management framework to ensure rigour in planning, consistency of messaging, and clarity of engagement across the complete stakeholder landscape the business operates within.
- Provide strategic advice and lead the interface with internal and external senior stakeholders, providing credible challenge and building strong relationships, to support the business in defining their requirements and delivering best practice external engagement.
- Ensure East West Rail Co's approach to community relations builds trust and confidence and integrates sufficiently across the business internally to inform and influence the design of the scheme as it develops.
- Lead and direct the creation of content for use across multiple channels which furthers East West Rail Co's corporate aims.
- Provide strategic communications advice to East West Rail Co’s Executive and Board as required.
- Prepare and present reports on key risks to East West Rail Co reputation and community engagement and how they are planned to be mitigated.
- Co-develop the implementation of the major incident plan as required, leading communications in times of crisis to keep key stakeholders informed and reassured, building trust and confidence in East West Rail Co.
- Lead the professional discipline of communications and engagement experts, deployed across the business in a matrix, to ensure consistency in communications approach for East West Rail Co. Build the team with a focus on improving skills and accelerating professional development.
- Takes responsibility of your own and others’ health and safety by adopting and working to the EWR Co Health and Safety principles.
- Co-operates with EWR Co in all matters relating to health and safety, including following safe working procedures at all times.
- Acts as a role model for EWR Co’s vision and values, behaving in ways that are aligned with EWR Co’s Ways of Working, as well as encouraging and supporting others to do so too.
- Promotes diversity in the workplace and adopt appropriate behaviour when interacting with colleagues.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- Extensive successful experience working at senior level within in Public/Corporate Affairs.
- Proven extensive and successful experience of developing and delivering comprehensive, multi-disciplinary, integrated communications strategies.
- Experience of developing and delivering successful communication and engagement strategies in large construction / infrastructure programme environments.
- Extensive successful experience within management and leadership roles, directing, developing, and motivating teams in a complex communication environment.
- Demonstrable experience in achieving targets/results, focused on organising and bringing people and resources together to achieve objectives.
- Proven understanding of complex political environments.
- Demonstrable experience of directing and managing agency support.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills, possessing the ability to interact and maintain credibility with people at all levels across the business and industry stakeholders.
- Excellent written and spoken communications skills.
- Proven experience of delivering integrated communications for complex operational projects with wide ranging impacts.
- Experience of delivering communications in support of community consultations or major planning submissions.
- Proven experience of communications for major incidents or crisis situations.
- Proven experience of preparing and managing complex budgets.
Education and qualifications
- Extensive successful experience working at senior level within in Public/Corporate Affairs.
- Proven extensive and successful experience of developing and delivering comprehensive, multi-disciplinary, integrated communications strategies.
- Experience of developing and delivering successful communication and engagement strategies in large construction / infrastructure programme environments.
Benefits
What we offer:
• Competitive base salary
• Up to 12% employer’s pension contribution
• 36 days holiday a year (including bank holidays) + up to 2 days to buy
• Life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Perks platform with hundreds of discounts and freebies
• On-the-spot and annual awards
• Advanced learning and development programmes
• Great work-life balance and flexible working opportunities
• Enhanced family-friendly policies
• Exceptional IT tools
EWR Co strives to embrace a flexible working environment, where a degree of flexibility is maintained to accommodate both the needs and preferences of employees and what is required to achieve business objectives. EWR Co will always work with any individual to assess and accommodate an individual’s work life balance and style.
Diversity and inclusion:
To discover the best solutions, it’s important we embrace diversity of thought. That’s why we aim to ensure our colleagues feel included, engaged and valued. Inclusiveness is not a buzzword, but a way of being. Our approach to diversity is simple – a workplace where everyone is welcome, and everyone is encouraged to be themselves. It helps fuel our innovation and connects us with the customers and communities we serve.
If you want to connect lives and unlock the future, then we’d love to hear from you. #J-18808-Ljbffr
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