Director of External Communications

ENGINEERINGUK; London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000

Job description

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Sector: Marketing, Advertising and PR
Role: Director
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time

Package Description And How to Apply

Band: SL

Contract: Permanent

Location: London

Important - Application Process

The BBC has engaged an executive search firm, Taylor Birchwood, to manage the selection process for this role. Please be aware that your application will be managed by Taylor Birchwood, who will have access to your CV and personal details for the purpose of this vacancy only.

Should you want any further information about the role, please contact Ross Picton at the following email address: [e-mail]

Job Introduction

The BBC is looking for an exceptional leader to oversee external communications at a pivotal time for the organisation as it transforms for the future of public service broadcasting. Leading a multi-disciplinary team, this person will be responsible for developing and delivering the external communications strategy across corporate communications, content communications, News, the press office, and campaigns and events. The successful candidate will set clear goals for the function and foster a collaborative, innovative and creative culture where people feel motivated to do their best work and develop their careers.

Working as part of an integrated Corporate Affairs division, this individual will work closely with senior leaders across Policy and Public Affairs, Internal Communications, Partnerships, BBC Studios and the Nations to agree strategic priorities and ensure a joined-up approach to make the case for the BBC across all audiences. They will be a trusted advisor to the senior leadership of the BBC, working with the Group Director of Corporate Affairs to support the Chair, Director-General and wider Executive and senior management team. The successful candidate will have strong and trusted relationships across the media and will be comfortable acting as a critical interface between the corporate and external stakeholders at moments of high scrutiny for the organisation. This is an exciting opportunity at the heart of the BBC for someone at the top of their game.

Main Responsibilities

• Oversee all media communications, acting as a key spokesperson for the most significant media enquiries and working closely with senior leaders to navigate complex issues and safeguard the BBC's reputation.
• Develop and implement a strategic plan to Make the Case for the BBC, building a campaigning mindset across the team and driving a focused approach to engagement and activity against clear objectives that maximise the impact of our external communications to elevate and amplify the BBC's key roles.
• Evolve the channel strategy, enhancing the team's digital capacity and capabilities, identifying new and creative ways to tell the BBC story for key target audiences.
• Lead a media engagement strategy that fosters open and trusted relationships and builds the BBC's reputation for transparency and accountability.
• Work in partnership with the Director of Internal Communications, Director of Policy and Public Affairs and the Director of Group Partnerships to support a highly integrated approach to key projects and critical issues with the aim of minimising reputational and political risk while maximising the BBC's impact to deliver value to all audiences.
• Support the Director of Corporate Affairs as a trusted advisor to the DG, Board and Executive team on key issues of reputation risk and opportunity.
• Provide strong leadership to a team of communications professionals, fostering an open, collaborative and results-oriented culture. Ensure the team has the resources, training, and support necessary to deliver high quality work, and try new things, opening up new opportunities to support career development and movement.

Are You The Right Candidate

• Highly capable communications leader, with a proven track record of effectively managing public and political scrutiny in very high stakes situations.
• Proven experience in corporate communications and media handling for complex and high-profile organisations, ideally consumer facing.
• The ability and experience to handle complex crisis management while at the same time delivering against a longer-term strategic communications plan.
• A strong alignment with the mission and values of the BBC, ensuring that communication strategies reflect the highest standards of integrity and public service.
• A positive can-do attitude with a track record of leading and motivating others with energy and commitment to deliver in a team environment.
• A good understanding of the media sector and the BBC's external competitive landscape, including an understanding of economic/commercial/political issues affecting the BBC and the wider industry.
• Adept at building trusted relationships with a wide range of senior and executive level stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills with a strategic mindset.
• Proven experience of operating under tight timescales in high pressure situations and managing numerous competing priorities.
• Resilient - can thrive under legitimate and constant public and political scrutiny.
• Displays high level of integrity and role models BBC values.
• Problem solving skills and the ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions based on accurate and timely analyses.
• An innovative mindset with demonstrable ability to drive creative solutions.

Package Description

We're happy to discuss flexible working. Please indicate your choice under the flexible working question in the application. There is no obligation to raise this at the application stage but if you wish to do so, you are welcome to. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.

Excellent career progression - the BBC offers great opportunities for employees to seek new challenges and work in different areas of the organisation.

Unrivalled training and development opportunities - our in-house Academy hosts a wide range of internal and external courses and certification.

Benefits - we offer a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week for work-life balance and 26 days (1 of which is a corporation day) with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care, gym and much more.

We don't focus simply on what we do - we also care how we do it. Our values and the way we behave are important to us. Please make sure you've read about our values and behaviours in the below document:

BBC Values

Diversity matters at the BBC. We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of the BBC - whether that's to contribute to our programming or our wide range of non-production roles. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles, unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.

To find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at the BBC, please visit Diversity and Inclusion.

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