Communications Manager

Ringway; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Ringway is seeking an experienced Communications Manager to lead internal and external communications across the Kent contract. The role involves engaging employees, stakeholders and local communities, including Kent County Council, with regular travel to depots and locations across the county.

You will develop strategies that support operational performance, share positive stories, and manage communications for highway maintenance projects and community initiatives.

Qualifications

• Experience in communications, PR, marketing or stakeholder engagement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong content creation experience across multiple channels.
• Ability to engage with operational teams, senior management and external stakeholders.
• Experience planning and delivering communications campaigns.
• Strong organisational and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver communications strategies to support performance and community relations.
• Produce engaging content for newsletters, intranet, social media and updates.
• Build relationships with Kent County Council and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate communications around highway maintenance activities and projects.
• Identify positive stories and contract successes to promote impact.
• Support media enquiries and external communications where required.
• Organise events, engagement sessions and community activities.
• Lead communications around social value, sustainability and community investment.
• Provide advice to senior leaders on messaging and approaches.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Communications

Public relations

Content creation

Campaign planning

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Driving licence

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Communications Manager to join a major highways and infrastructure contract operating across Kent.

This newly created role will lead internal and external communications activity, ensuring clear, engaging and proactive engagement with employees, stakeholders, local communities and key client representatives, including Kent County Council.

This is an excellent opportunity for a communications professional who enjoys building relationships, telling positive stories and making a visible impact within a large operational environment.

Duties

As Communications Manager, you will be responsible for developing and delivering communications strategies that support operational performance, stakeholder engagement and community relations across the Kent contract.

The role will involve regular travel across multiple depots and operational locations throughout the county, working closely with operational teams, senior leaders and external stakeholders.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing internal and external communications across the contract.
• Producing engaging content for newsletters, intranet articles, social media and stakeholder updates.
• Building and maintaining positive relationships with Kent County Council representatives and other key stakeholders.
• Coordinating communications relating to highway maintenance activities, projects and community initiatives.
• Identifying and promoting positive stories, achievements and contract successes.
• Supporting media enquiries and communications activity where required.
• Organising and supporting events, engagement sessions and community activities.
• Leading communications around social value, sustainability and community investment initiatives.
• Providing advice and support to senior leaders on communication approaches and messaging.

Person Specification

We're looking for a confident and proactive communications professional who can build credibility across a diverse range of stakeholders.

You will ideally have:

• Experience in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing or Stakeholder Engagement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong content creation experience across multiple channels.
• The ability to engage with operational teams, senior management and external stakeholders.
• Experience planning and delivering communication campaigns.
• Strong organisational and project management skills.
• A collaborative and hands-on approach.
• A full UK driving licence.

Experience within highways, infrastructure, construction, local authority, public sector or regulated environments would be advantageous but is not essential.

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: Full Time - 40 - Monday to Friday

Fairness Inclusion & Respect

Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) at Ringway is about recognising and celebrating each other's differences and what they bring to the team.

Harnessing this diversity and applying the experiences, abilities and unique qualities of individuals will enhance our business; therefore, we commit to equity of opportunity and fair treatment of all current and potential employees and encourage job applications from all.

Should you require any reasonable adjustments to be made as part of the application process please contact us directly.

Ringway recognises the importance of helping our employees balance their work and home life by offering flexible working arrangements across many of our roles which include working from home to enable employees to balance their working life with other priorities.