Communications Director (12 month Fixed term contract)

Main responsibilities

The role will manage the communications strategy for my client, both internally and externally. The role will manage two team members who specialize in internal communications, and social media. They will interact closely with all members of the Communications and Marketing team and share in the responsibilities of creating optimal outcomes at a team level. Specific responsibilities:

Media Relations

• Drive the strategy and manage media relations across all target markets, with a focus on quality and aligning coverage to our strategy
• Align the PR strategy with wider team strategy, changing corporate narrative, regional sales strategy and business priorities, e.g. fund priorities, launches and campaigns
• Proactively manage PR agencies in UK, Italy, Germany and the Nordics
• Proactively pitch to Asian and Iberian press
• Nurture journalist relationships directly in key target media
• Develop relationships with, nurture and manage spokespeople to build proactive engagement in targeted media, including briefing, guiding, facilitating and following up on media interactions
• Monitor and analyse coverage to seek improvements and to drive focus for the PR agencies
• Work with social media team to promote company media coverage and award wins on social channels
• Repurpose or create content and manage the sign off process for use in the media including award submissions, press releases, reactive statements, bylined articles
• Report and promote media coverage internally to relevant audiences, including quarterly analytics, and feeding into wider team reports
• Leverage stakeholder travel roadshows for media relations activity
• Stay abreast of industry and competitor issues and activity, to proactively find ways for the business to interact on relevant subjects
• Brief CEO for external speaking opportunities
• Manage award submission process

Proactive content

• Work with the Investment Communications team or independently to create and/or support the process around proactive content initiatives including insights, digital content, social posts, bylined articles, advertorials and other ad hoc pieces, both for proactive pitching to press and to support wider content strategy
• Work closely with investment teams and sales teams to leverage, repurpose and produce external content
• Feed in new content ideas to support team projects and strategy
• Work with legal and compliance to ensure all regulatory requirements are met and the correct sign-off procedures are adhered to

Internal communications

• Support direct report managing internal comms and guide strategy surrounding this
• Provide senior stakeholder support and guidance around issues management, taking the lead and nurturing talent
• Continue to develop internal communications talent to support external communications

Social media

• Support direct report managing social media and guide strategy surrounding this
• Nurture and develop talent through proactive people management
• Review and approve all social media posting
• Work with social media team member, legal and compliance to ensure all regulatory requirements are met and the correct sign-off procedures are adhered to
• Guide and support social media talent through regulatory and business considerations around social media activity

Other

• Act as lead for team DEI workstream to push team goals
• Work with Senior Marketing Director to support 'Solution' focussed strategy
• Support RFP team in ensuring consistent corporate narrative for RFP/DDQ requests

Experience & Attributes

• Proven experience at working in senior roles within Communications
• Inhouse experience in asset management preferred
• Experience in managing multiple PR agency relationships
• Existing good journalist relationships in relevant publications
• Experience in internal communications
• Experience in issues management
• Knowledge and understanding of fixed income markets
• Experience in leading diverse, cross-functional projects in a fast-paced environment