AddressAbout the Role:
The UK energy system continues to change rapidly, and National Grid is on the front line when it comes to enabling net zero by 2050.
As the UK’s largest Distribution Network Operator (DNO) by geography, our electricity distribution business (NGED) is key to this, building and maintaining a safe and reliable network to electrify the homes and businesses of 20m people, and connecting more net zero technologies to the grid than ever before.
The NGED Corporate Affairs department is responsible for protecting, preserving, and enhancing the company’s reputation, delivering engaging and impactful communications, and making sure we meet on our social obligations and customer vulnerability commitments.
As part of this, the External Affairs team manages and leverages relationships with political, business and media stakeholders across the region, telling NGED's story and creating a favourable policy environment to support the net zero transition.
Key Accountabilities:
As Media Manager for Wales, you will:
- Manage all day-to-day media enquiries from regional and national journalists and other media contacts.
- Actively search out compelling stories from across NGED and develop them into external media moments that will help to position NGED as a leading business in all priority areas.
- Arrange an annual programme of events, interviews, and press conferences to maximise NGED’s share of voice and thought leadership position.
- Monitor, track, and report on media sentiment, reach and share of voice across all media channels.
- Closely monitor current affairs and advise the business on how to respond to topical issues, enhancing NGED’s position as thought leaders and minimise reputational risk.
- Develop close working relationships with key media outlets and journalists in Wales and in relevant trade publications to ensure NGED is the go-to electricity distribution company for comment on topical issues, and that the company’s strategic priorities are regularly and effectively reflected in media coverage.
- Manage NGED’s crisis communications, working with colleagues across the business to support in response to extreme weather and other significant issues (including out of hours press rota and crisis response teams, ensuring the company has a press office function that reflects the 24/7 nature of the business).
About You:
You have strong existing networks and relationships with regional and trade media in Wales, selling in stories and communicating business priorities through a range of print, broadcast and digital media channels. Your proven experience managing crisis communications and a reactive press office will enable you to keep cool under pressure and maintain professionalism.
We're ideally seeking someone who has experience in a regulated industry or infrastructure, and certainly someone who understands and appreciates the important relationship between industry and the media.
In person, you enjoy building strong and effective networks, influencing and negotiation, with a strong track record of successfully communicating complex policy solutions in a clear and concise manner to multiple audiences and across different channels. You're highly articulate and a determined proactive leader and influencer, who also enjoys being part of a driven and high performing team.
The role will require a significant amount of travel around the region, supporting the business to find, package, and tell the NGED story, as well as supporting local teams with local issue response and reputation management.
What we can Offer:
Salary: up to £63,000 - dependant on experience
Plus:
- Up to 15% Annual Performance Bonus
- 28 days annual leave, plus 8 statutory days (and option to buy 5 extra holiday days annually)
- Double-match pension scheme – for every £1 you put in, we put in £2 - maximum company contribution of 12%.
- Life Assurance at 10x your base salary
- Career progression & ongoing training and development
- Financial support to help cover the cost of professional membership subscriptions, course fees, books, exam fees and time off for study leave – relevant to your role.
- Access to benefits such as a share incentive plan, salary sacrifice car, technology & health schemes, support via employee assistance lines and matched charity giving to name a few.
- Family care benefits including a back-up care service for when your usual care arrangements fall through (six paid days each year as standard with the option to purchase further days).
About Us:
National Grid Electricity Distribution (formerly known as Western Power Distribution) is the UK’s largest electricity distribution network, serving nearly 8 million customers in the East and West Midlands, South West and Wales, delivering essential power to millions of homes and businesses across its regions. We’re committed to providing a safe, stable and reliable electricity supply and ensuring the highest quality of customer service.
National Grid plc, a FTSE 100 company, is an international utility business based in the United Kingdom and the north-eastern United States. With over 30,000 employees, we operate the heart of the energy system, leading the way in decarbonising to enable a net zero future, investing £7 billion last year alone in the innovative technology, infrastructure and skills to realise this ambitious imperative.
https://www.nationalgrid.com/electricity-distribution
https://www.nationalgrid.com/about-us
Further Information:
This role is based from Cwmbran (Ty Coch), South Wales. It will require regular travel across South and Mid-Wales to depots, offices and meeting key stakeholders and journalists across the region, therefore a driver is essential. We can offer hybrid working - your working week is likely to be 2-3 days in the office and the rest from home, as business and role requires.
- Advert Close: Sunday 21st January 2024
- Interviews: w/c 5th February 2024
- For more information please reach out to our Recruitment Partner directly: Philippa.templeton@nationalgrid.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ptempleton/
We encourage candidates to submit their applications as early as possible and not to wait until the published closing date. National Grid’s recruitment periods can and may vary. We reserve the right to remove this advert or close it to further applications at any point during the recruitment process.
#LI-PT1 #LI-hybrid
At National Grid, we work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office.
Our goal is to drive, develop and operate our business in a way that results in a more inclusive culture. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, the innovation from diverse teams & perspectives and business need. We are committed to building a workforce so we can represent the communities we serve and have a working environment in which each individual feels valued, respected, fairly treated, and able to reach their full potential.
