Senior External Communications Manager - UKIFS Ltd.

The UKIFS Communications team is at the heart of our organisation actively shaping and influencing at all levels. We operate in an energising complex and missiondriven environment. We are currently seeking a highly experienced and visionary Senior External Communications Manager to join our team at a crucial time in the development of the UKIFS organisation.

 As the Senior External Communications Manager you will have the opportunity to develop and deliver an external communications strategy working closely with the newly appointed Head of Communications and Community Engagement. Your role will be pivotal in building the profile of the organisation and the STEP programme ensuring all external stakeholders are informed engaged and excited by the opportunities offered by this groundbreaking nationally significant programme.

Key Responsibilities:

Develop and Deliver Communications Strategy:

• Lead the development and delivery of the external communications and stakeholder engagement strategy for UKIFS and STEP.
• Act as deputy to the Head of Communications on all matters of external communications and stakeholder engagement.
• Lead the external communications team ensuring highquality delivery and managing performance.
• Conduct horizon scanning to evolve the strategy to meet changing requirements.

Engage with Partners and Stakeholders:

• Develop and deliver an appropriate programme of external engagements to maintain and enhance the programmes reputation.
• Lead the interface with UKAEA group communications colleagues ensuring alignment on key communication activities.
• Identify and capitalise on new engagement opportunities and communication channels.
• Act as a spokesperson leading industry community and panel events as required.

Media Strategy and Digital Presence:

• Exploit digital channels and social media to increase brand and message penetration.
• Oversee the ongoing development of the website and ensure effective public consultation.
• Manage the strategic oversight of STEP and UKIFS social media presence.
• Lead media relations for the STEP programme working with journalists at all levels.

Public Relations and Media Strategy:

• Develop and deliver a strategy to increase media coverage and grow brand awareness.
• Position key spokespeople as thought leaders across the fusion sector and beyond.
• Shape and maintain the positive public perception of the organisation through ongoing media engagement.
• Manage the organisations response to issues management.

Brand and Identity Development:

• Lead the evolution of the STEP and UKIFS brands.
• Ensure consistency in brand messaging across all communication touchpoints.

Collaborate with Internal Communications:

• Work closely with the Senior Internal Communications Manager to ensure alignment and consistency in messaging across both internal and external communications.
• Support joint initiatives that enhance the overall communication strategy and stakeholder engagement.

Team Development:

• Manage and mentor a small team of communication professionals fostering a culture of creativity collaboration and high performance.
• Utilise centrally held systems services and capabilities to deliver organisational objectives.

Leadership Mindset:

• Embody a leadership mindset and behaviours embracing the organisations culture values and mission.
• Foster a positive and inclusive team environment.
• Act as a cultural ambassador representing the organisations values and professionalism.
• Lead by example demonstrating integrity professionalism and ethical behaviour.

Qualifications :

Essential:

• Extensive experience in communications stakeholder engagement and community relations.
• A bachelors degree in communications or a related field.
• Experience leading mentoring and coaching teams to achieve highquality delivery.
• Experience working in complex matrixed programmatic environments.
• Understanding of government structures and the role of national regional and local government in projects like STEP.
• Proven relationship builder with stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience as a trusted advisor at CEO Director and executive team level.
• Proficiency in producing boardlevel papers and proposals.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Ability to act as an ambassador for the programme.
• Strategic creative and innovative thinker.

Beneficial:

• CIPR qualification.
• Experience working on significant infrastructure projects.
• Experience with print and/or broadcast media.

Additional Information :

For more information on UKIFS  visit : welcome talented people from all backgrounds who want to help us achieve our mission. We encourage applications from underrepresented groups particularly from women in STEM ethnic minority backgrounds people with disabilities and neurotypical individuals. Our Executive team and our EDI Networks actively promote Inclusion and takes steps to increase diversity within our organisation. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) including The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions and possibly a search of opensource data.

For applicants applying from outside the United Kingdom or those who have spent time outside the UK in the last five years please visit the following link for information on criminal records checks:  If your country of residence or previous residence is not listed on the website or if the UK Government does not have information on obtaining a criminal records check from that state we regret to inform you that we cannot process your application.

Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications