Head of External Communications – maternity cover

The role:

We are recruiting for a Head of External Communications to lead across PR, Corporate Communications and Press Office. The External Communications team is made up of a small number of specialists who play a key role in protecting and promoting TalkTalk’s reputation, in addition to a PR agency which you will manage as part of your role. The External Communications team is part of Corporate Affairs, which also covers TalkTalk’s public affairs and regulatory relationships. You will report into the Director of Corporate Affairs and deputise for them on ad hoc financial and Group communications as needed.

Estimated role split: 50% PR, 30% Press Office, 20% Corporate Communications

This is a fixed-term role to cover maternity leave starting at the end of November 2024.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the strategic direction of TalkTalk’s PR, Press Office and Corporate Communications.

• Manage and develop the External Communications team under the direction of the Director of Corporate Affairs.

• Develop and deliver strategic PR objectives and plans to ensure a constant high profile while also guarding the brand’s reputation.

• Collaborate with the marketing, commercial, product and customer services teams to deliver key business priorities.

• Ensure a regular drumbeat of national, trade and regional media coverage with the support of your team.

• Oversee the press office function, providing support with responses to reactive media inquiries and acting as a senior adviser on incidents.

• Provide counsel to senior leaders on reputational matters when needed, including the preparation of key messages.

• Deputise for the Director of Corporate Affairs on ad hoc financial and Group communications when needed, as well as sign offs.

• Develop our corporate social media strategy, helping us drive up quality awareness and impact.

• Provide oversight for the PR agency and press monitoring provider, having overall responsibility for their understanding of our priorities and quality of delivery.

• Develop meaningful measurement across all areas of your responsibilities and ensure appropriate awareness across the business.

• Build and maintain media relationships.

• Maintain close relationships with a range of internal stakeholders to ensure coordination of communications, not least with internal communications colleagues and others as appropriate.

Skills and requirements:

• Strong stakeholder management, including senior leaders, external partners and media

• Strong experience working in PR and Communications, preferably in an in-house setting

• Experience of managing and guiding a PR agency

• Experience of planning and managing multiple PR campaigns at the same time as overseeing a busy press office and managing reputational issues

• Experience of financial communications is desirable

• Strong copywriting and grammar skills

• Highly organised and comfortable managing several projects simultaneously

• Solid knowledge of social media platforms

• Experience creating and running social activity, including influencer campaigns

• Experience of communications measurement tools

• Telecoms experience is desirable

Location:

• This role could be based in Salford or London – some travel will be required between the two locations each month.

Other information:

• A small amount of weekend press office cover is required - approximately two hours each month.

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