Head Of Communications

About the FMB

The FMB is the largest trade association in the UK construction sector, representing  nearly  7,000 small and medium-sized building companies. For 80 years, the FMB has championed continuous improvement in the building industry in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and for Master Builder companies to be recognised as a badge of quality.

We are an independent, not-for-profit organisation, lobbying for our members’ interests. We provide services, advice and a community, all of which allow us to support our members to grow, improve and protect their businesses.

Our organisation’s culture is shaped by four core values:

1. Integrity - a commitment to ensuring the highest standards and to do the right thing.
2. Commercial - to act in a way that provides good financial value for all business and work activities.
3. Positive - to be proactively engaged and solutions focused.
4. Collaborative - the commitment to work together as one team.

About the team

You will be one of our heads of department who lead the delivery within the communications team. The team historically had a dedicated PR function and during this time, achieved excellent results. The team has been without a dedicated resource in this area for some years and is looking to reignite this function internally.

About the job

We are looking for a dynamic and tenacious Head of Communications who can take ownership of external and internal communications and support public affairs efforts. We are looking for a talented PR strategist and storyteller who doesn’t mind rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck in. This role is critical in protecting and enhancing the brand voice and ultimately driving membership growth.

Responsibilities and duties

Strategic and management

• Develop and deliver a PR strategy that drives up FMB share of voice and brand awareness.
• Re-establish the FMB’s PR function.
• Establish and develop relationships with key. journalists and media contacts.
• Ensure the effective management of the Press Office.
• Take on the internal communications function and drive it forward with fresh energy and ideas.
• Act as a media spokesperson for the FMB and carry out national and local broadcast interviews as and when required.
• Develop a regional PR strategy to complement our national output.
• Work closely with the marketing team to integrate external communications with marketing activity.
• Deputise for the Communications Director where required including in critical areas such as crisis response and reactive communications.

Operational

• Work closely with the Director of Communications and Head of Policy to support the team’s public affairs efforts.
• Work closely with Head of Policy and Events Manager to ensure maximum exposure for campaigns and events.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and members to find compelling stories to craft and promote.
• Write, distribute and sell-in media releases to drive an aggressive media presence in national media and tier 1 coverage.
• Work with regional Hub Directors to secure regular regional media coverage.
• Maintain our media training programme, ensuring our spokespeople are appropriately trained and briefed aHead of interactions with the media.
• Ensure an effective media monitoring function and escalate any poignant stories appropriately.
• Oversee and contribute to producing entries for strategically important awards and surveys. Compilation and presentation of monthly reports for internal reporting.
• Be prepared to travel as needed, supporting events and media opportunities.

Magazine

• Take ownership of the FMB’s magazine, proposing enhancements and providing strategic direction.
• Work with an external agency to ensure its smooth editing and production.
• Work closely across the business to ensure all appropriate stories are captured.

Other

• Safeguard members’ and others’ personal data in accordance with all relevant data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) in force from May 2018.
• Undertake any other duties which reasonably fall within the remit of the role, in discussion with the Director of Communications.

Person Specification

You ideally have:

• Experience of working in a busy B2C press office (either in-house or agency) and journalism/newsroom experience.
• You will be results orientated, highly organised, and have strong attention to detail. Proven ability to plan, execute, measure, review and report on PR activity.
• Excellent judgement and instincts.
• Proactive, motivated and enthusiastic: contributes energy and a positive attitude.
• Ability to manage ambiguity and set clear expectations around deliverables and timescales. Ability to think creatively, tactically and strategically.
• Outstanding verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organisation skills and ability to manage multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to build relationships and trust with the press.
• Able to communicate complex policy solutions in a clear, concise manner to multiple audiences.
• You enjoy working at pace, with minimal guidance.

It’s a bonus if you have:

• Experience working on B2B. Strong black book of construction industry and mainstream media contacts. Experience with internal communications

Our offer to you

We are proud to have achieved ‘Gold’ status in the Investors in People accreditation, which recognises companies that make a clear commitment and investment in supporting their employees and creating a better, more productive workplace.

FMB employee benefits include:

• Flexible working arrangements, including options around hybrid working and flexible start and finish times.
• Annual leave of 25 days (plus office closure between Christmas and New Year)
• Generous contributory pension scheme
• Season ticket loans Occupational sick pay Holiday banking scheme (after one year’s service)
• Allowance of £75 towards glasses required specifically for DSE work.
• Generous death in service benefit which amounts to four times annual salary.