Communications Business Partner

We are currently recruiting a Communications Business Partner, to work specifically with our HR and IT directorate. This is a unique opportunity within the Communications Directorate, and an exciting time here at Highways England; as we are currently growing and seeking new ways to communicate to the public.

As the Communications Business partner you will work closely with the directorate to understand their communications requirements and activity. You will be involved in planning agreed communications activity, such as press and media campaigns and events. Your specialist knowledge will enable you to support all aspects of HR and IT, to ensure that communications activity is aligned to the Communications Management Strategy.

Your duties/responsibilities will be to:

– Provide a source of authoritative advice on communications policy and practice to managers across the HR & IT Directorates
– Develop and deliver proactive plans for communications and stakeholder engagement, while being prepared for reactive communications and issues management

– Engage with the wider stakeholder and communications agenda, and ensure relevant initiative and campaign strategies both influence and align with the wider approach
– Work collaboratively across organisational boundaries to identify business needs, priorities and potential challenges that impact on or are impacted by company communications and take action to mitigate risks and pursue opportunities
– Utilise the Communications Directorate approved processes, systems, tools and products, ensuring a practical and consistent approach
– Identify, segment, and prioritise key and national stakeholders and be accountable for their successful management
– Ensure relevant communications and campaign strategies are effectively designed, implemented, monitored and evaluated, with a view to establishing and sharing best practice with other relevant parts of the organisation
– Ensure that directorate communications and engagement is sufficiently resourced, drawing on internal resources and external contractor or supply chain support as appropriate.

Essential Requirements:

– Specialist communications knowledge and experience, underpinned by relevant professional qualifications or training
– Proven track record of working in a complex environment and leading others
– Significant experience in leading, planning and delivering integrated change communications, stakeholder engagement and consultation, in an infrastructure programme delivery environment
– Evidence of effective stakeholder relationship management, influencing and negotiating skills, and be able to demonstrate effective people management to deliver results
– Evidence of working successfully with senior leaders from within internal and external stakeholder organisations
– Able to understand the context and implications of technical plans and road scheme delivery activities to enable effective decisions to be taken