Manager - Narrative & Editorial

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Job Description

Grade 16 Internal promotions will be aligned to the pay policy.

HS2 Ltd endeavours to ensure everyone working for us and with us feels included, thrives and achieves their full potential. In practice, this means we are positive and inclusive about making adjustments, providing flexible working, encouraging our staff networks to flourish and providing personal and professional development opportunities.

The Narrative & Editorial Manager is responsible for the creation and maintenance of a consistent narrative for the HS2 project and HS2 Ltd in a range of formats and for a variety of audiences and channels. They will be responsible for ensuring that the flow of content for all editorial projects is delivered end-to-end to the required brand standards, on time and on budget. This will include, but is not limited to: researching and writing briefs, speeches and presentations; creating and maintaining a bank of narrative and communications materials, the creation of digital and video narrative for internal, external use; content gathering and assurance; content writing, report writing, copywriting and scriptwriting; editing and proof-checking; managing projects via external creative suppliers as well as working with other members of the External Affairs directorate and relevant internal experts to ensure accuracy and impact in their key communications

.About the role:

Working as a team with the Senior Manager Narrative & Editorial, the post holder's duties will include:

• Providing the HS2 Executive and Senior Management team with high quality speechwriting and presentation support.

• Developing and maintaining the core HS2 story, advising colleagues across the organisation who will use the narrative in their own presentations, corporate documents and other internal and external facing materials as well as on the HS2 website and social media channels.

• Developing narrative strategy across channels, working closely with the Digital Lead, Corporate and Creative Communications, and the wider Communications and Stakeholder Engagement directorate to identify gaps in communications material, while thinking strategically about the needs of the organisation and its various audiences in the long-term.

• Maintaining a suite of communications products including briefing notes, core presentations, lines-to-take documents and factsheets, ensuring they are up[1]to-date, compelling and comprehensive in covering all required topics.

• Working with others in the Directorate to implement speaker and presentation training for all senior HS2 staff who are required to communicate regularly with external stakeholders;

• Responsibility for the flow of content, writing and editing of a wide range of materials for flagship campaigns and events, corporate reporting and other corporate communications.

• Overseeing the project management of a wide range of editorial and written work produced via our external creative suppliers, including Plain English communications.

• Reviewing creative work at a variety of stages to ensure editorial consistency and appropriate style, tone of voice and accuracy in adherence to HS2 templates and branding guidelines.

• Carrying out thorough and accurate proofing and sense checks as part of preparing creative work for sending to print and publication online.

• Deputise for the Senior Manager Narrative & Editorial as and when required.

• You will be expected to actively promote and embed Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work, and support and comply with all organisational initiatives, policies and procedures on EDI

• Carry out any other duties as required.

About You:

Skills:

• Content writing, copywriting, report writing, scriptwriting, including Plain English and tone of voice abilities. Editing and proofreading skills specifically the ability to produce engaging narrative in a variety of formats and for a variety of channels.

• Research skills, including the ability to find new sources of pertinent information and assure their accuracy

• Influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence internal and external contacts at all levels

• Ability to grasp complex information quickly and translate into everyday language

• Ability to extract insights from opinion research and apply to narrative work.

• Skilled in developing presentation materials and providing clear briefings to creative teams

• The ability to guide and train others in brand verbal identity skills, to raise standards.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of how print, digital and social media channels should tell a coherent integrated story, appropriately tailored to audience

• Knowledge of how diverse audiences can be successfully engaged using a blend of channels

• Knowledge and understanding of Plain English and accessible communications.

• Knowledge of the print production process, creative schedules and timelines.

• Understanding of how messages and strategic communications are informed by survey, polling and focus group data

• Understanding of political communications, the interface of politics and policy, and how public sector funded projects are advanced

Type of experience:

• Drafting narrative for consumer and business audiences on sensitive topics

• Experience of working as part of an in-house corporate communications team

• Experience of working on infrastructure projects or with public sector bodies or clients

• Experience of content research and assurance.

• Experience of writing different materials: conceptual copy, informational content, reports, video scripts etc.

Behavioural competencies:

The post-holder is expected to behave at all times in a manner consistent with the HS2 values of Safety, Leadership, Integrity and Respect. It is expected that you will actively promote and embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work and support and comply with all organisational initiatives, policies and procedures on EDI.

We ask for a variety of detail in your online application, however we perform the first assessment of suitability for a role based solely on the information in your CV. In a further development of our efforts to create a more diverse workforce, your CV will be anonymised and personal information will be removed during the first stage of the application review. This removes bias from the process and makes it even more important that you attach an updated word version of your CV for each new application ensuring you include evidence directly related to the criteria in the job advert. Watch this video on how we remove bias in the recruitment process: Removing bias in the recruitment process - YouTube

Any applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

About Us

High Speed 2 (HS2 Ltd) will be the UK's new high speed rail network. As well as improving capacity, the new scheme will shorten journey times between a number of Britain's major population centres, boost the economy and create thousands of jobs.

HS2 Ltd will create a skills legacy and develop a diverse range of talent. We aim to be a leader in EDI practice by creating a safe & inclusive working environment for all our staff - living our values of Safety, Respect, Integrity and Leadership.

In practice, this means we are positive and inclusive about making adjustments, providing flexible working, encouraging our staff networks to flourish and providing personal and professional development opportunities.

HS2 Ltd is also a safety-critical organisation. Employees are required to ensure reasonable care of their own and others' health and safety by taking personal responsibility for working to our 'Safe at Heart' programme principles and following safe working procedures at all times.

HS2 Ltd endeavours to ensure everyone working for us and with us feels included, thrives and achieves their full potential.