External Communications Manager

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Company Description

Smiths Interconnect, is a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance interconnect solutions. Our products are used in mission-critical applications across industries such as aerospace, defense, telecommunications, and industrial markets. At Smiths Interconnect, we are committed to innovation, quality, and providing cutting-edge solutions that connect the world's most demanding systems.

Smiths Interconnect is part of Smiths Group. For over 170 years, Smiths has been pioneering progress by engineering for a better future. We serve millions of people every year, to help create a safer, more efficient and productive, and better-connected world across four global markets: energy, security & defense, space & aerospace and general industrial. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Smiths employs c.16,000 colleagues in over 50 countries.

Job Description

Our approach to communications focuses on understanding our customers and stakeholders to ensure we:

• engage and drive loyalty with consistent and deliberate messages
• design intentional and meaningful interactions through a variety of channels
• build the brand and profile with relevant and considered content
• drive different buying decisions and purchasing outcomes

The External Communications Manager is responsible for developing and executing communication initiatives that enhance our brand and further our engagement with key external stakeholders. More specifically this role will manage the externally facing website and social media channels, and ensure content is timely, accurate, and aligned with our voice and messaging strategy. The role will work closely with our internal specialist teams and advisers to coordinate campaigns, media relations, and content development, ensuring alignment with overall communication goals. In addition, they support internal communications by collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure consistent messaging, promoting employee engagement, and aligning internal narratives with external communications. The ideal candidate combines strong writing, digital communication, and storytelling skills with a strategic mindset to effectively represent our brand and voice across all platforms.

This role requires a deep understanding of both internal and external audiences and market segments, and an acute awareness of the channels and best practices, alongside understanding the current performance of the website and social media channels and making changes where needed to ensure they are impactful for the various target audiences.

The role must partner and work collaboratively with both internal and external stakeholders and manage third party agencies and advisers to drive true value and collaboration.

Responsibilities

General

• Prepare targeted and specific internal or external communication plans and content where needed
• Own our brand and messaging with consistency across all channels
• Understand the wider marketing landscape including events, trade shows and new product launches
• Build strong relationships with these technical and expert teams to find opportunities to collaborate
• Work closely with other Smiths communication teams to align messaging where appropriate

Corporate Communications

• Prepare press releases for senior appointments and other company news
• Build media relations including trade press around the company's sector verticals
• Design and plan content around the annual calendar and key events

Digital & Social Media Management

• Oversee the content strategy, maintenance, and performance of the company website, ensuring information is accurate, engaging, and up to date, supporting the company's business objectives.
• Manage SEO/SEM efforts
• Use digital metrics (e.g. site traffic, visitor paths, conversion rates) to optimise online marketing spend
• Test the performance of landing pages, content, and product placement
• Coordinate with marketing and communications to align online activity with broader campaign initiatives
• Manage the organisation's social media presence, including content creation, scheduling, monitoring, and engagement across relevant platforms.
• Support executive communications and thought leadership for our social media channels.
• Track and report on key performance metrics for website and social media, using insights to inform future content and campaigns.

Agency Collaboration

• Serve as the primary point of contact for the organisation's appointed communications/PR agency.
• Brief the agency on campaigns, initiatives, and priorities; review and approve content and proposals.
• Coordinate joint planning, timelines, and deliverables to ensure alignment with internal goals and messaging.

Internal Communications (as a secondary responsibility)

• Support the creation and delivery of internal communications to keep employees informed, engaged, and aligned with company values and goals.
• Assist in drafting internal announcements, news stories, leadership messages, and content for internal platforms.
• Partner with HR and other departments to promote internal initiatives, events, and culture programmes.

Qualifications

Education Requirements

Required/Preferred

Education Level

Additional Qualifications

Degree in Communications or Marketing

Experience

7+ years in communications, with experience in corporate communications and marketing for global organisations.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Exemplary writing and editing skills, ability to get to the heart of a story and think 'receiver' not 'transmitter'
• Ability to take technical products / concepts and communicate them in easy-to-understand language
• B2B social media and SEO/SEM experience preferred
• Experience managing agency relationships strongly desirable
• Familiarity and experience with reporting tools and methodologies
• Confident and outgoing, able to quickly build strong relationships and work closely with senior level executives
• Digital tool savvy including AI tools, aware of what's out there and how to use it and a quick learner when presented with new communication tools
• Breakthrough thinker, attracted by finding new and better ways to do things, curious and willing to learn
• Collaborative by nature, committed to team achievement
• Performs work without appreciable direction
• Ability to manage stakeholders and time effectively
• Well organised and detail orientated
• Good computer skills, including MS Office and communication technology platforms
• Video editing and Photoshop skills desirable
• Ability and flexibility to travel when required

You should note that your title and job description are not exhaustive, and the Company may require you from time to time to undertake other reasonable tasks within your capacity.

Planning and Decision Making

• 'Complete to finish' mindset, organised, and logistically thoughtful, ability to spot problems in advance
• Delivery focused, able to roll their sleeves up and get stuff done
• Comfortable with autonomy, keen to make the most of freedom within a framework
• Ability to take ownership of decisions
• Committed to measurement of activities where possible to evidence return on investment
• Contributes to the development of new concepts, techniques, and standards in communications
• Participates and presents at meetings with internal and external stakeholders

Scope and Complexity

• This role can have a disproportionate impact on the brand and success of our business, helping to inspire and motivate our colleagues to be their best
• As part of a small team, this role has exposure to stakeholders at the highest level of the business, as well as colleagues and teams from across the world
• Delivering effective communications and marketing in a global, multicultural and multi-lingual environment
• Has the ability to thrive with different maturity levels in the business, time zones, and cultural expectations

Liaisons

• Individuals: Smiths Interconnect President, Senior Leadership Team, Business Unit Management Teams, Site Leads, Ambassador Network, Marketing Team, Global Communications Team (Smiths Group and other Divisions)
• Departments: HR, Finance, Legal, Business Information Services (BIS/IT), HSE
• External: Translation Services, Copywriters, Communication Tool Providers, External Communications Agency, Marketing Agency

Health, Safety and Environment Requirements

This position is required to assure compliance of Company operations to all applicable laws, regulations and standards, good business practices and company documented procedures (including knowledge of all standards, government occupational health and environmental regulations and statutes related to the site) and follow all environmental requirements consistent with supporting the company's environmental performance goals.

Complete and actively participate in all other EHS training requirements.

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

Additional Information

With colleagues stretching across the globe, we are proud of our diversity. To foster inclusivity, we run employee resource groups (ERGs) to provide a safe space for employees to connect and support each other. Our cross-business ERGs include Veterans, Pride Network, Black Employee Network, Women@Work Network, and Neurodiversity.

Across our company, we recognize excellence, culminating in the Smiths Excellence Awards, our annual celebration of the most extraordinary activities, people, and projects that best showcase our strengths and help drive our business forward. We announce these on our annual Smiths Day, a global celebration of Smiths around our network.

Join us for a great career with competitive compensation and benefits, while helping engineer a better future.

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation - including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career's website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)