Brief Description
The Oxford Station Enhancements Project is our work to update and upgrade the railway infrastructure and surrounding area in central Oxford. This exciting project will deliver a bigger, better station for everyone; more services with East West Rail; additional rail capacity for the future; and an improved and safer road layout.
We’re looking for a first-grade communicator who can hit the ground running, to be based in Oxford at a crucial time for the project.
This fixed term contract will be to see through the project until Botley Road reopens in August 2026. Your role will be to manage stakeholder issues effectively, be a first point of contact for the local community and businesses, and create engaging content. You’ll need to quickly absorb a lot of information about the project, its history and where we’re heading.
You’ll be working with teams from Network Rail and our contractors, and for the new Senior Communications Manager [Oxford], to protect and enhance our reputation, helping the project deliver the programme and where possible reduce the impact of our work on the community. Potential for role to be extended or made permanent to work on other projects subject to business need.
About the role (External)
Your Main Responsibilities will be to:
1.Develop and implement communications strategy on projects which present reputational risks or opportunities for the business.
2.Produce and manage detailed communications plans, detailing activities and resources necessary for implementation and providing recommendations for continuous improvement / best practice.
3.Interface with key external audiences (across community relations, media and public affairs) so that these relationships are appropriately managed, in consultation with relevant external communications teams in Government and Corporate Affairs.
4.Where required, provide direct management and development of a team including carrying out regular 121’s, appraisals, objective setting and performance monitoring.
5.Build relationships and provide direction / influence to senior project managers and external industry parties / funding organisations where appropriate.
6.Provide guidance on all external communications activity undertaken by project personnel including Project/ Programme Director / Project Managers/ Scheme Sponsors, delivering consistency with the approved G&CA communications strategy and in accordance with Network Rail’s corporate policies.
7.Assist with delivery of Network Rail’s corporate internal communications programme and act as a conduit for material/information for corporate comms channels.
8.Check that all branding used on the project complies with Network Rail’s corporate policy on branding, visual identity and image.
9.Produce regular reports on all communications activities on the project, including budget.
You will ideally have
·Significant experience within corporate communications
·Proven track record in public relations activity in a high profile organisation
·Excellent writing skills and ability to think strategically
·Excellent influencing skills and ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders
·Thorough knowledge of the media and how it operates
Desirable
·Educated to degree level
·Experience of working within an agency environment
Not sure if you meet all the requirements? Let us decide.