Head Of Communications

This is a senior management role leading on PR, marketing, communication, digital media, and brand development including graphical content. The Head of Communications will work closely with the senior leadership team to set business strategy, guide the evolution of the practice, and further develop its profile in collaboration with external communications agencies.  Key tasks will include improving the PR & marketing process, developing the brand and identity, overseeing managing internal and external communications to improve the group’s reputation in multiple sectors, overseeing press relations, publications, overseeing events, overseeing image and text archiving, and supporting business development.
The role will be based in Winchester, but with a view of working from the London office once per week.

Key Duties

• Work with the Board to further develop a strategic approach to winning work and growing the business.
• Collaborate with external agencies to develop an annual comms strategy which will support the company’s profile and individual sector targets.
• Oversee output from the bid activity and co-ordinate the output to achieve a consistent style.
• Network with key press, professional bodies, and their representatives to maximise promotional and business opportunities.
• Manage and develop a comprehensive events programme in alliance with the PR & marketing team.
• Support the maintenance of good relationships with new and existing clients.
• Work with external agencies to develop an appropriate and effective brand identity and review as required.
• Implement, promote and co-ordinate brand image externally, including across social media.
• Align all communications with the business strategy, image, and values
• Develop, mentor, and motivate the PR & marketing, communications, and graphics teams
• Oversee production of in-house communications, case studies, speeches, articles, and reports.
• Contribute to the development of an efficient database as the basis for ongoing external communications.
• Develop collateral which communicates the strengths and expertise of the practice to its various target audiences, in line with the current marketing strategy and objectives.
• Collaborate with agencies to respond to requests for information from press, publishers, event organisers etc.
• Commission writers and photographers as necessary in collaboration with the PR & marketing team.
• Lead on the evolution of an effective website which communicates the practice core values and strengths to its stakeholders and audiences.
• Oversee a rolling programme of award submissions.
• Report metrics across all channels, reflecting the success of online and offline content.
• Set and maintain the annual communications department budget in line with overall marketing objectives and priorities, liaising with the Finance team to ensure tight controls over spending are upheld.
• Oversee the usage and management of the image/asset database.

Skills and Knowledge

• A strategic thinker with excellent project management skills and an appetite for close involvement with day-to-day tasks.
• A confident communicator and writer with a broad range of experience in top-level media relations and marketing strategies across a wide number of disciplines (political issues, social affairs, architecture, and arts) and a range of contacts to reflect this.
• Able to demonstrate an understanding of how to deliver successful press coverage in the UK and abroad, co-ordinating well-structured campaigns in collaboration with the external agency to ensure perceptible “build” towards key events, launches and project competitions.
• A clear understanding of relevant IT applications and technologies which form the basic tools of the trade.
• A writer of well-crafted texts for wide ranging audiences including articles for international press, documentation for press conferences, internal company reports, international competition brochures, keynote speeches and essays in publications.
• Able to demonstrate experience in crisis management strategies.
• A keen eye for detail and presentation.
• Must be able to demonstrate strong leaderships and confident team building skills, able to support and mentor teams as well as manage any necessary change in redirecting team effort.

Salary and Benefits

• Up to £75K
• 21 days holiday (they close over Christmas and usually add discretionary holiday)
• Pension
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Private Medical
• Life Assurance
• Annual bonus (discretionary)
• Free (or paid for) parking
• Plus, other benefits