Senior Communications Manager [ Media Relations ]
About Network Rail
At Network Rail, we're part of a large family serving millions of passengers and freight users throughout the UK every day. Our service impacts millions of people and we strive to become more efficient as we enhance, maintain, and operate our network.
Our passengers and freight users are at the heart of everything we do. We help connect people to their friends and families and get goods to their destination safely and efficiently. We're an organisation where people matter. When you're part of our team, you matter to us, and you matter to millions.
The Wales & Western region includes more than 2,700 miles of railway and we serve communities and businesses of Wales, the Thames Valley, West of England, and the Southwest Peninsula.
Our ambition to be responsive to passengers and freight users drives us every day and we're empowered to do the right thing for those who use the rail network.
Brief Description
This newly created role plays a critical role within the Western Route communications team. The successful candidate will be at the forefront of media strategy for one of the UK’s busiest rail networks, working closely with our train operators to tell the story of our investment pipeline and safely running trains on time every day.
A top-level operator with contacts in national, regional, and local media, this person will be responsible for managing our public reputation, creating engaging content, and crafting messages that resonate with passengers, stakeholders, and the public.
Managing crisis communications, promoting our enhancements, and sharing the positive future for our industry will be part of the day job, whilst managing our media relations manager.
Key Accountabilities
1. Develop, drive and implement communications plans for key projects, working collaboratively with stakeholders to create content, campaigns and events, to support the delivery of business objectives and drive performance.
2. Establish and maintain strong and trusting relationships with key stakeholders, working collaboratively in order to support the identification, development and delivery of their internal communications goals.
3. Lead communications activities which present reputational risk or opportunities for the business.
4. Establish an effective network of internal and external contacts and provide direction/influence to senior managers and external industry parties where appropriate.
5. Identify and supply content for internal communications channels and act as a conduit for material/information across communications teams.
6. Provide advice/guidance on communications activity undertaken by key personnel including directors, project managers and sponsors, delivering consistency with the national communications strategy and in accordance with Network Rail's corporate policies.
7. Check all branding used complies with Network Rail's policy on branding, visual identity and image.
8. Evaluate communications activities on the project, from effectiveness to budget spend, so that improvements can be identified during and after the project.
9. Create and lead a team including carrying out regular 121s, appraisals, objective setting and performance monitoring and onboarding contractors as appropriate.
10. Implement the major incident communications plan as required.
Job Skills, Experience and Qualifications
Essential
Educated to degree level or a professional communications qualification (eg IoIC, CIPR, PRCA) or demonstrable equivalent experience.
Substantial experience in corporate communications.
High standards of written and spoken communication.
The experience and personal credibility to work effectively with senior managers.
Strong influencing skills.
Proven ability to grasp, understand and promote complex and sensitive issues in a persuasive and sensible way.
Ability to develop and maintain a wide network of stakeholder contacts.
Evidence of good planning and financial skills, with the ability to deliver projects and activities on time and within budget.
Desirable
Experience of directing and managing agency support.
Relevant professional qualifications.
Evidence of continuing professional development.
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