Head of External Communications and Government Relations

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board. Scroll down for a complete overview of what this job will require Are you the right candidate for this opportunity Company Description Work with Us. Change the World. At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world's most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations. We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us. Job Description Reporting to the Director of Marketing and Communications Europe and India, the Head of External Communications and Government Relations is a senior leadership role responsible for developing and executing the company's external communications strategy, with a particular focus on building and maintaining relationships with government entities, regulatory bodies, and key stakeholders across Europe and India. The role will support the company's regional business objectives by ensuring consistent, clear, and impactful messaging across all external channels and fostering positive relationships with government and industry partners. This individual will function as a key spokesperson and advisor to senior leadership on matters related to public policy, regulatory affairs, and external communications. This is a critical and fast-paced position that will require an individual with outstanding leadership, organisational, planning and time management skills and experience working under pressure and to tight deadlines. Strong contacts across trade and national media and central and local government are essential. The role requires exceptional communication and writing skills, a strategic mindset, and confidence to challenge and influence senior colleagues where required. Any candidate must be able to think creatively, guiding the team in developing new ways and channels of telling AECOM's stories. The role is expected to manage, mentor, and motivate a team of press officers in London, while overseeing AECOM's external communications across continental Europe and India in addition to external agencies providing media and government relations services. Key responsibilities: Strategic Communications and leadership:

• Direct, develop and implement a comprehensive external communications strategy aligned with our regional priorities and brand.
• Ensure consistent and effective messaging across all external channels, including media relations, digital platforms, and public statements.
• Manage crisis communications as needed.
• Maintain a broad and deep knowledge of AECOM's complex business and establish strong relationships internally.
• Give counsel and guidance to colleagues and senior executives in the company on media and public affairs-related communications matters in Europe and India.
• Be accountable for the performance and results of the external communications team.
Government Relations:
• Develop the AECOM Europe and India government relations strategy, in support of the business strategy and in collaboration with the Director of Marketing and Communication EUR+I and the Europe and India executive leadership team.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with central and local government stakeholders and devolved administrations, regulatory bodies, and industry associations to influence policy and regulatory developments.
• Engage with key political stakeholders to deliver intelligence back into the business and to influence and advocate AECOM priorities in alignment with government.
• Monitor and analyse legislative and regulatory changes that could impact the company, providing strategic advice to senior leadership.
• Support and coordinate planning around major industry conferences and political events, such as party conferences and roundtables, ensuring AECOM's voice is heard in government.
• Coordinate meetings between AECOM and relevant government ministers, departments, local government, and locally devolved administrations.
• Attend networking and other events in Westminster relevant to AECOM.
• Ensure AECOM contributes to relevant government whitepapers and other industry consultations, positioning AECOM as thought leaders across our core markets.
• Manage external government relations agency and/or advisers.
Media Relations:
• Develop the media relations strategy for the Europe and India business working in partnership with the Director of Marketing and Communications and to reflect and support the strategic business objectives.
• Manage media relations activities, including press releases, interviews, crisis communications and media inquiries ensuring that storytelling is strategically aligned with business objectives.
• Develop relationships with key media outlets and journalists across national, broadcast and trade to promote AECOM's brand across the region.
• Oversee the preparation of media materials and ensure alignment with the company's strategic messaging.
• Function as a media spokesperson for AECOM when necessary and handle media inquiries.
• Coordinate with internal communications and social media leads so that these activities are aligned with external communications.
• Crisis communications, including planning and preparedness, response, message development and dissemination, internal and external stakeholder management, post-crisis management and recovery.
Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration:
• Lead engagement with relevant external stakeholders, including industry partners, non-governmental organizations, and community leaders in consultation with the Director of Marketing and Communications and the EUR+I executive team.
• Ensure AECOM is represented at key industry events, conferences, and public forums to enhance visibility and influence.
• Develop and execute stakeholder management plans to ensure positive and productive relationships with key external partners.
• Work closely with the internal communications team to ensure alignment between internal and external messaging.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing, legal, HR and business development, to support business objectives through effective communications.
• Provide communications training and support to senior leaders and other company representatives.
Qualifications
• Minimum 10 years' experience in corporate media relations and government affairs through agency or in-house roles; ideally you will have worked in a newsroom.
• Deep market knowledge and contacts across the media, political and economic landscapes affecting the infrastructure, construction, and engineering markets.
• Experience managing a team.
• Possess a good understanding of storytelling and the mainstream media agenda.
• Experience of workings of government and parliamentary procedure.
• Experience of developing public affairs strategies that influence political stakeholders.
• Proven experience working in communications during major incidents or crisis situations.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills.
• A strategic mindset and the gravitas needed to present to senior executives, speak to national journalists and network with politicians.
• Strong networker and ability to advocate on behalf of AECOM to key political stakeholders.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Initiative-taker with the ability to work as a positive, energised, and adaptable team member.
• Experience preparing and briefing the senior leadership team for media interviews and client meetings.
• Ability to work collaboratively and make autonomous decisions in line with business strategy.
  
  This is a critical and fast-paced position that will require an individual with outstanding leadership, organisational, planning and time management skills and experience working under pressure and to tight deadlines. Strong contacts across trade and national media and central and local government are essential.
The role requires exceptional communication and writing skills, a strategic mindset, and confidence to challenge and influence senior colleagues where required. Any candidate must be able to think creatively, guiding the team in developing new ways and channels of telling AECOM's stories.,
• Minimum 10 years' experience in corporate media relations and government affairs through agency or in-house roles; ideally you will have worked in a newsroom.
• Deep market knowledge and contacts across the media, political and economic landscapes affecting the infrastructure, construction, and engineering markets.
• Experience managing a team.
• Possess a good understanding of storytelling and the mainstream media agenda.
• Experience of workings of government and parliamentary procedure.
• Experience of developing public affairs strategies that influence political stakeholders.
• Proven experience working in communications during major incidents or crisis situations.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills.
• A strategic mindset and the gravitas needed to present to senior executives, speak to national journalists and network with politicians.
• Strong networker and ability to advocate on behalf of AECOM to key political stakeholders.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Initiative-taker with the ability to work as a positive, energised, and adaptable team member.
• Experience preparing and briefing the senior leadership team for media interviews and client meetings.
• Ability to work collaboratively and make autonomous decisions in line with business strategy.
  
  Work with Us. Change the World.
At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world's most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations. We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.