External Affairs Director

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.

Accountable for all external and internal communications including; media relations strategic stakeholder and workforce engagement by providing professional advice, expertise and leadership to support the safe and efficient delivery of the railway.

About the Role

- To deliver horizon scanning and provide strategic advice; identify emerging trends; and shape messaging appropriately.

- Lead on HS2’s interaction with the media: this includes, issues management, crisis management, and providing accurate information to the media about the programme and its complexities (often countering inaccurate claims and information information) and monitor press coverage.

- Lead on the proactive engagement of the workforce (HS2 Ltd and supply chain) in support of delivering the railway safely and efficiently for the lowest feasible cost.

- To proactively build the reputation of HS2 as an expert delivery organisation: tell the ‘story’ of delivering the railway, leading on externally facing campaigns. Through building the reputation of the programme, articulate and build the story of the benefits that building the railway will deliver.

- Leading the strategy for the public affairs team, engaging with senior stakeholders both nationally and along the line of the route regarding key requirements, changes, and impacts, stakeholders include national and line of route MP’s, council leaders, business leaders and the chamber of commerce.

- Supporting with operating as a representative at the highest level across government, parliament and the regions, as well as liaising with the HS2 Commissioner.

- Offering advice on day to day, reactive media handling and, proactively on to communicate HS2’s longer term strategic objectives.

- 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.

About You

Skills:

- Proven ability to grasp, understand and promote complex and sensitive issues in a persuasive way to different audiences

- Strong analytical skills and a proven ability to interpret and respond to changing landscapes and stakeholders’ needs and views

- Proven ability to successfully influence and manage stakeholder relationships at senior executive level

- Proven leadership and team management skills

- Excellent written communications, verbal communications and interpersonal skills

Knowledge:

- Has operated within a highly commercial environment within an organisation undertaking extremely high value and high-profile programme of work

- Political awareness and understanding

- Knowledge of British media and press operations and news cycles

- Understanding of government communications processes

Type of Experience:

- Experience of working with local councils, government, and private sector organisations

- Experience in leading the development, delivery and measurement of media relations strategies and campaigns

- Experience of operating within a contentious or complex environment with evidence of effective media, parliamentary, business and stakeholder engagement

- Extensive experience of working in a high-profile, fast-paced matrix organisation

- Extensive experience of leading a Public Affairs team to a high standard and with flexibility, responding to changing business needs

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.