Communications Manager

Communications Manager

Net Zero Research Village (NeRV)

Starting salary from £41,000

Up to a 10% bonus

12 month fixed term contract

Based at Low Thornley near Gateshead

NeRV (Net Zero Research Village) is looking for a dynamic, inspirational Communications Manager to join our fast-paced team on a 12-month fixed term contract. Based at our cutting-edge facility near Gateshead, you’ll play a key role in helping to shape the future of energy innovation in the UK, leading campaigns and communications activity that boost NeRV’s profile and strengthen its brand in the energy and innovation sectors. We need a proactive person who can hit the ground running, creating impactful and engaging content that inspires audiences and sparks fresh thinking.

NeRV is an independently run programme owned and hosted by Northern Gas Networks (NGN), the gas distribution network for the North of England. NeRV is the UK’s first combined whole systems research, development and demonstration facility, with an aim of benefitting the entire energy sector and customers nationwide.

The successful candidate will work closely with the NGN Energy Futures Communication Lead, while operating as part of the specialist NeRV team. If you’re ready to energise your career and make a real impact, we’d love to hear from you!

Key accountabilities and responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

• Ensure all planning and delivery align with NeRV’s brand, communications strategy and goals
• Lead the creation and execution of media strategies and external communications to raise brand awareness
• Manage media relations and build strong ties with media colleagues in all channels to enhance NeRV’s profile
• Work with in-house and external designers on the production of new assets and literature
• Support the planning and delivery of events and meetings
• Copywriting including press releases, website content, case studies and social media content
• Respond promptly to media enquiries, identify opportunities and manage risks effectively
• Track and report the impact and value of communications activity

What We Are Looking For In Our Communications Manager:

• You’ll be an experienced communications professional with a proven track record of campaign planning, media relations, reputation and crisis management, plus event management experience
• Excellent writing, proof-reading and editing skills
• Have an awareness of national, regional and local government, national energy policy, the regulator and the relationship between them
• Stakeholder relations skills and experience of working with partners
• A highly motivated self-starter, who is adaptable, enthusiastic and creative with a strong desire to succeed
• The ability to simplify complex information and think strategically
• Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate with teams, leaders and stakeholders
• A proactive team player with initiative as well as the ability to follow instructions
• Highly organised, able to manage and prioritise a demanding workload
• Detail oriented, with a methodical and accurate approach
• Full UK driving licence

What’s On Offer:

• Starting salary of £41,000 per annum
• Up to 10% bonus
• 12 month fixed term contract
• 40 hours per week
• 25 days annual leave (plus recognised bank holidays and two half days over the Christmas period)
• Statutory sick pay for first two calendar days then occupational sick pay
• A generous stakeholder 5/10 pension scheme
• Flexible benefits and salary sacrifice options, from discounts on a variety of UK attractions, gym membership, restaurant discounts, experience days and much more
• An array of fantastic family-friendly policies (where eligible) such as six weeks’ paternity leave, six months’ full pay for employees on maternity leave, shared parental leave and more

We are ... Northern Gas Networks. We deliver gas to 2.9 million homes and businesses in the North East, Northern Cumbria and much of Yorkshire. That’s around 6.7 million individual customers. We don’t generate or sell the gas, but we transport it to homes and businesses in our region through a vast network of underground pipes. In fact, we own and maintain more than 37,000km of gas pipes - enough to stretch from Leeds to Sydney and back again. We cover large cities like Newcastle, Sunderland, Leeds, York, Hull, and Bradford, and our work extends to rural areas like North Yorkshire and Cumbria.

Our Values are at the heart of what we do. In addition to your key responsibilities, you will incorporate these into the daily life of your role. We are … Trailblazing, Empowered, Heartfelt, Community Focused, Intellectually Curious and most of all we are Happy!

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion culture at NGN is embedded in everything that we do. We will be delighted to hear from a diverse range of applicants, so we can continue to grow our great team of people. We are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant, helping ex-services personnel back into employment, as well as being members of WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) and we are committed to delivering our ‘Opportunity Action Plan’ having signed the Social Mobility Pledge campaign, whereby we will establish our business as a ‘force for good’ in the communities that we serve.

Next Steps: Apply by uploading your CV and cover letter, explaining why you have applied for our Communications Manager role and how your experience and skills are transferable. Please ensure that this is one document. Once the advert has closed, we will be contact within one week to let you know if you have progressed to the next stage. We are looking to hold interviews for this role throughout April and May. We look forward to receiving your application for the role.

If you require adjustments to support you throughout the recruitment process, we want to hear about how we can help. Any applicant that requires reasonable adjustments from initial application through to interview are asked to contact the Recruitment Team at NGNCareers@northerngas.co.uk.