Communications Manager

About Network Rail

At Network Rail, our passengers and freight users are at the heart of everything we do. We help connect people to their friends and families and get goods to their destination safely and efficiently. We're an organisation where people matter. Watch our video to find out more!

Scotland's Railway is part of this large family and it covers a large geographical area from the Borders to Thurso at the far tip of the North East of Scotland, accounting for almost 20 per cent of the UK rail network. We provide rapid access along busy commuter routes to our seven cities, servicing the varied needs of our business and leisure commuter services, including cross border services and rural services. We have up to 50 freight services operating every day and we are steadily building capacity for this to grow. Our ambition to be responsive to passengers and freight users, drives us every day and we're empowered to do the right thing for those who use the rail network. We actively challenge unsafe practices and take responsibility for addressing risks, resolving issues and protecting safety and wellbeing.

Our colleagues are encouraged to work flexibly as we know that busy lives don't always fit around a traditional working pattern, if you need flexibility to complete your role just let us know and we will do our upmost to help you to invest in your career with us while balancing other aspects of your life.

We're also a Disability Confident Leader employer and we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles.

We want to help deliver a railway which is safe, reliable, affordable and that provides great customer service to everyone. For more information about Network Rail click here
Brief Description

To manage and deliver consistent and effective communications strategies for key projects. To manage stakeholder issues effectively to protect and enhance corporate reputation and co-ordinate a broad range of stakeholder communication activities (across media, public affairs, community relations and internal audiences) in line with Government & Corporate Affairs objectives.
About the role (External)

Here are some of the duties your role will include: -

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.

What you will bring to the role:

Essential

• 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

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