Head of Strategic Communications

The Network Rail team in Scotland is looking for a head of strategic communications, who will work closely with our strategy and infrastructure delivery teams to showcase the importance of rail to the Scottish economy, our passengers, customers and our thousands of colleagues working across the network.
In this newly created role, you will lead a team of three senior communications business partners and will work closely with colleagues in the wider communications directorate to support the delivery of our business objectives and ensure we can effectively communicate about how we will deliver a vibrant future for rail travel in Scotland.
This hugely varied role will be involved with issues ranging from multi-million pound rail infrastructure renewal projects, building a greener, more reliable railway and working with the teams responsible for maintaining some of Scotland’s most iconic landmarks, including the Forth Bridge.
You’ll be part of Network Rail Scotland’s Communications leadership team and will work with communications colleagues across Britain as well as our counterparts in train operating companies, members of our supply chain and Government.
This role will involve out-of-hours and on-call working, will be based in Scotland and will involve regular travel around the country. We operate hybrid and flexible working, with a minimum of two days required on one of our sites each week.
This role will report into the Communications Director.

About the role (External)

Here are some of the duties your role will include: -
• Develop, implement and maintain the Regions Calendar and Communications grid for Network Rail in Scotland, providing a strategic overview of the nature and timing of activities, both internally and externally, that could have an impact on the Company’s reputation with a view to mitigating or minimising the impact of these.
• Propose and advise in the development of appropriate external communication materials for our Senior Executives to support their Executive engagement, including speeches, presentations, briefings and brochures.
• Lead on the development and co-ordination of core communications content that can be cascaded throughout Network Rail in Scotland and other national areas. This can be tailored for use in different channels and platforms to manage and maintain a consistent brand message.
• Lead Scotland’s Market Research activity, gathering quality and quantifiable feedback to inform the ongoing communications strategy.
• Manage the implementation of the publications strategy in order to continually improve Network Rail’s key theme of transparency, better explaining to key stakeholders in the Rail Industry, in Government and elsewhere what the company is doing for them and how it is transforming.
• Lead the production and promotion of key publications including; annual report, control period delivery plan, climate / weather action plans, railway upgrade plans and transformation plan updates
• Provide input to the development and updating of Network Rail ’s core corporate narrative to inform content communicated through all channels, while supporting and promoting corporate strategy.
• Lead a team of engaged, strategic communications professionals who role model the company behaviours, and support the ongoing development of the department through professional advice and coaching.

Are you a strategic thinker? Are you passionate about building effective and impactful communication strategies that will ensure that the rail industry is visible and heard? Are you motivated by engaging people and telling captivating stories?, • Extensive successful experience working in Corporate Communications at management level
• Demonstrable successful experience of developing and delivering comprehensive, multi-disciplinary, integrated communications strategies
• Proven successful experience of management roles, developing and motivating teams in a complex communications environment
• Demonstrable experience in achieving targets/results, focused on organising and bringing people and resources together to achieve objectives
• Proven understanding of relevant political calendars and legislative assemblies
• Experience of directing and managing agency support
• Excellent written and spoken communications skills
It’s desirable if you have it to help give you context to the role: -
• Proven experience of delivering integrated communications for complex operational projects with wide ranging impacts
• Proven experience of communications for major incidents or crisis situations
• Proven experience of preparing and managing complex budgets
#LI-SY1, Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do. Safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should demonstrate your personal dedication to safety on your application.

At Network Rail, our passengers and freight users are at the heart of everything we do. We help connect people to their friends and families and get goods to their destination safely and efficiently. We’re an organisation where people matter. Watch our video to find out more!

Scotland's Railway is part of this large family, and it covers a large geographical area from the Borders to Thurso at the far tip of the North East of Scotland, accounting for almost 20 per cent of the UK rail network. We provide rapid access along busy commuter routes to our seven cities, servicing the varied needs of our business and leisure commuter services, including cross border services and rural services. We have up to 50 freight services operating every day and we are steadily building capacity for this to grow. Our ambition to be responsive to passengers and freight users, drives us every day and we're empowered to do the right thing for those who use the rail network. We actively challenge unsafe practices and take responsibility for addressing risks, resolving issues and protecting safety and wellbeing.

Our colleagues are encouraged to work flexibly as we know that busy lives don’t always fit around a traditional working pattern, if you need flexibility to complete your role just let us know and we will do our upmost to help you to invest in your career with us while balancing other aspects of your life.