Director Of Communications & Engagement

Better Bankside is seeking an exceptional individual to become our new Director of Communications and Engagement.

Bankside is one of London’s most interesting places, layered in history and home to a diverse community. This is an opportunity for a creative and strategic senior leader to amplify our reputation as an organisation, and lead on telling the story of our neighbourhood, ensuring Bankside stands apart and continues to attract investment, talent and visitors.

Our vision states the ambition to be ‘powered by the people of Bankside’. The Director of Communications and Engagement will create opportunities for participation from local businesses and other community stakeholders, ensuring our programme is innovative, relevant and valued. The Director of Communications and Engagement will create new ways of exchange that engage a broad and diverse range of audiences, building our network of contributors and collaborators and strengthening relationships with stakeholders.

2024 is our ballot year, the point in our five year cycle in which we ask our membership to vote for another five years of Better Bankside. The postholder will play a lead role in the campaign, including the development of our 2025-30 proposal, and motivating the whole team to engage with every business and organisation in our community.

The Director of Communications and Engagement will oversee the strategic direction within BB’s portfolio of people focused programmes; Area Promotion, Bankside Business Network, and Responsible Business and Inclusion. As head of the Communications and Engagement team, the postholder will lead a strong and capable team of four direct reports (Marketing Manager, Membership Manager, Responsible Business and Inclusion Manager, Communications and Events Officer).

The postholder will report to the CEO, working alongside the Director of Place to ensure that the Better Bankside team works cohesively and proactively.

Responsibilities

• Strategic oversight and leadership of people focused areas of the programme; Area Promotion, Bankside Business Network and Responsible Business and Inclusion, supporting the evolution, design and delivery of an innovative programme that responds to strategic objectives of economic resilience, climate action and social capital, and is in keeping with the vision and mission of the company.

• Play a lead role in the 2024 ballot campaign including member engagement strategy and development of 2025-30 proposal.

• Lead strategic and compelling communication of the BB narrative, raising awareness of our work, enhancing the profile of the organisation and telling our impact story.

• Oversee strategic member engagement, monitor awareness, approval, adoption and advocacy and ensure high levels of participation with Better Bankside’s programme.

• Seek new ways to involve the Bankside community in the co-creation and ideation of our programme, deepening engagement with our members and broadening representation within our governance.

• Amplify the ‘London’s other side’ identity, celebrating Bankside’s authentic character to ensure the neighbourhood stands apart.

• Build the profile and deliver comms strategy for The Low Line as a pioneering urban regeneration initiative.

• Development of Bankside’s cultural programme amplifying Bankside’s cultural capital.

• Play a proactive and strategic role in influencing investment into the neighbourhood, building relationships with developers and landowners.

• Ideas generation for innovative new projects, services and campaigns that add value for business members and deliver positive impact in Bankside, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity.

• Identify and monitor trends within cities, culture and communities ensuring the BB programme responds with agility, staying close to the evolving needs of businesses.

• Collaborate with relevant agencies to expand the economic development function for BB, including analysing data and insights and commissioning research on the use and prosperity of the Bankside area.

• Work with managers in exploring funding/partnership opportunities and to take all necessary steps to pursue them.

• Coordinate business planning process and end of year reports to the board.

• Develop and manage the framework for staff development (e.g., team meetings, away days, regular development meetings) which help to rally a passionate team around common goals.

• Involvement in corporate governance, including participation at board and theme group level and the organisation of the annual Strategy Day.

• Champion BB members, advocating on business policy issues e.g. business rates, employment and skills agenda, tourism.

• Support the CEO in liaising with external bodies, including government and the local authority, to protect and enhance Better Bankside’s profile and influence.

• Effectively lead a management team enhancing performance and promoting a culture that motivates staff and encourages collaboration.

• Work with the CEO and others to ensure effective and successful delivery of the 2024 ballot campaign.

Person specification

We are looking for an ambitious senior leader to evolve a programme that is valued by our members, makes an impact in our neighbourhood and cements Better Bankside’s reputation and a progressive and innovative organisation. The Director of Communications and Engagement will be a confident communicator, a problem solver and creative thinker, bringing forward new ideas that benefit business and Banksiders and improve the experience of the area. There is no preference for any particular background, but you need be able to demonstrate an impressive range of relevant experience in the following areas.

Skills and experience

- Proven track record of strategic communications and engagement – with specialist expertise in at least one of the portfolio areas (place marketing, business stakeholder engagement, community engagement).

- A motivating leader – experience in managing and motivating a team at a senior level.

- Experience of developing projects or campaigns that demonstrate creative thinking.

- Exceptional communication and advocacy skills, persuasive and influential with others, someone that thrives on developing and strengthening relationships.

- Experience of successful partnership working.

- Experience in influencing at local and regional government and understanding of policy relating to business, the economy, communities.

- Ability to work in a pressurised environment and manage competing priorities.

- Experience in securing external funding.

- Experience in the efficient management of significant budgets.

- Highly developed appreciation of the challenges and opportunities facing city districts.

- An understanding of Business Improvement Districts.

About Better Bankside

Better Bankside was one of the first Business Improvement Districts (BID) in the UK, established in 2004. We are a partnership of local businesses, working closely with other community stakeholders to co-create a programme of projects and services that benefits the whole Bankside neighbourhood. Our core purpose is to support local businesses and make a positive impact in our community.

As a BID, we are funded by a mandatory levy on businesses within a defined boundary. BIDs are established through a ballot process, and every five years must return to their members to secure a majority vote in favour of their continuation. Our last ballot took place in November 2019, achieving overwhelming support from the business community, with 92% voting for another five years of Better Bankside. This autumn we will be aiming to secure a fifth five year term. Better Bankside is an organisation where you can make a real impact; and where you can expect to get involved in a wide-ranging programme of work. We are a small team of fifteen in the Bankside office, plus our wardens and street cleaning teams. The way that we work with our members through our governance structure provides an extended network of regular collaborators and contributors.

Our vision

Powered by the people of Bankside, Better Bankside will be an agent of change, leading innovative economic, environmental and social action to advance one of the world’s great neighbourhoods, bringing benefits to business and Banksiders.

Our mission

We will improve everyone’s experience of the neighbourhood by co-creating our programme with Banksiders, responding inventively to urban challenges, and celebrating the differences that define Bankside as London’s Other Side.

Working arrangements Better Bankside operates on a flexitime basis with mandatory core hours of 10am-4pm, Monday to Friday, with additional hours, evening and weekend work expected in accordance with the requirements of the post. Due to the nature of our work, a minimum of three days per week will be based in the office with up to two days working from home.

How to apply

At Better Bankside, we celebrate diversity and promote equality and inclusion amongst our staff. We welcome applications from all, regardless of personal characteristics or background. As part of our commitment to being a more inclusive and diverse organisation, we use the Applied platform to reduce bias in the recruitment process.

Closing date: Midday on 26 February 2024

Interview: 4 / 5 March 2024

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants must be able to demonstrate the right to work in the UK.