Group Director, Communications

As a key member of the Network Rail Executive Team, you will lead the strategic direction of Communications for Network Rail. You will be responsible for developing, adjusting, and articulating Network Rail’s narrative, considering our vision and purpose and the challenging context in which it operates.

You will deepen and enhance relationships with all our key stakeholders, such as our employees, our Board, government bodies across the UK, passengers, regulators and communities through our customer service programme. Your strategic leadership will be crucial in promoting advocacy, ensuring the message of the positive impact Network Rail has in building a better railway for a better Britain is understood and embedded both internally and externally.,

• Lead and direct the long-term, strategic direction of Corporate Communications in Network Rail


• Work with industry partners to contribute to the future strategic direction for communications across the rail industry


• Actively contribute to the Network Rail Executive Committee to support the broader Network Rail strategic objectives and act as Head of profession for the Communications community


• Develop and manage strategic relationships with external stakeholders, to create collaborative partnerships and ensure key messages are delivered in a timely and effective way


• Provide strategic communications advice to the Network Rail Board and Executive Committee


• Provide leadership to support the Network Rail people strategy as aligned to the Strategic Business Plan, including talent management and diversity & inclusion initiatives


• Develop and deliver a communications and engagement strategy that supports our devolved business model, improving the advocacy of our key stakeholders


• Lead and maintain a mutually beneficial relationship with key individuals and organisations across the media


• Sponsor the development of strategies to facilitate the delivery of Network Rail's corporate communications objectives, managing a leadership team covering the full range of communications disciplines
  
  We're seeking an exceptional individual who will lead our communications and customer service teams and steer our strategy during a transformative period in the rail industry. If you thrive in a complex environment with diverse stakeholders, and have a passion for driving change, we want to hear from you., Extensive communications leadership experience at a senior level in a high profile, complex organisation, or organisations


• Significant expertise in media management


• Highly developed skills and experience in stakeholder strategy and management


• Experience of leading internal communications in a complex organisation


• Able to demonstrate significant experience within management roles, directing, developing and motivating teams in a complex communications environment


• Proven influencing and negotiating skills


• Strong results orientation, focused on organising and bringing people and resources together to achieve objectives


• Proven experience of preparing and managing complex budgets


• Outstanding communication and presentation skills


Desirable Criteria:


• Experience of working with government and regulators and the media


• Experience of working in a regulated business.


• Experience of delivering communications in support of community consultations or major planning submissions
  
  Are you a strategic leader ready to take on your next challenge as a Group Communications Director, leading communications for Network Rail - a business of over 40,000 people?, The national communications function’s purpose is to build trust and confidence in rail by influencing views and changing behaviours in a way that helps the business achieve its goals. Network Rail has an exciting story to tell, and it is the communication team’s responsibility to bring that to life for a range of audiences and stakeholders, internally and externally. In Network Rail, leadership of customer service sits within Group Communications. The team is also working in partnership with other rail organisations as we develop plans for the future of our industry under Great British Railways. Our vision is to provide a best-in-class national communications service to help drive forward Network Rail's reputation.