Executive Director of Communications and Engagement

City of London; London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of London Corporation is seeking an Executive Director of Communications and Engagement to lead its global and local presence. This role involves engaging with diverse stakeholders, shaping communication strategies, and driving community engagement to enhance the organization's reputation and effectiveness. The ideal candidate will have significant leadership experience and a proven track record in strategic management within complex environments.

Qualifications

• Proven expertise in developing and leading proactive campaigns.
• Extensive experience in strategic management and navigating complex political environments.
• Successful track record in executive leadership within public/private sectors.

Responsibilities

• Shape corporate strategy as part of the Executive Leadership Board.
• Inspire and develop leaders and staff for excellent service delivery.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with stakeholders.

Skills

Strategic vision

Operational excellence

Political acumen

Collaboration

Campaign development

Job description

Executive Director of Communications and Engagement
City of London Corporation
Competitive Salary

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK.

It is an historic institution, and has been the custodian of the Square Mile, a leading global financial and cultural hub, for over 800 years. The City Corporation promotes the UK's competitiveness on the world stage and serves as a local authority, charitable funder, arts leader, and environmental steward.

In today's complex landscape, effective communication and engagement is crucial. The Executive Director of Communications and Engagement will shape the City Corporation’s global and local presence. This leadership role involves engaging with government, business leaders, investors, media, local communities and importantly the 4,000 staff who make up the City of London Corporation to ensure their voice is clear and compelling.

The City Corporation not only influences global trade, financial services, and the UK’s international role, but it also oversees an eclectic mix of services and offers such as leading cultural institutions, 11,000 acres of open spaces, schools and local government services for the City. The Executive Director will articulate the City Corporation’s value, bridging public, private and third sectors, and leading the communications and engagement strategy. They will be charged with driving a proactive and collaborative approach and ensuring successful external promotions of our events and facilities from Tower Bridge to the Barbican and everything in between. The Executive Director will be directly responsible for campaigns and community engagement, media and digital communications, internal communications and engagement, and communications related transformation and strategy.

This role requires strategic vision, operational excellence, and political acumen. The ideal candidate will be an experienced leader, adept at navigating complex stakeholder environments and building trusted relationships. If you have the experience, insight, and passion to lead the City Corporation into its next chapter, consider this exceptional opportunity.

Responsibilities:

• Shape corporate strategy as part of the Executive Leadership Board, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and compliance with statutory, legislative, and regulatory frameworks.
• Inspire and develop leaders and staff to foster an inclusive, diverse culture that drives excellent service delivery, talent retention, and continuous improvement.
• Optimise resource utilisation for efficiency and value, managing budgets, and promoting innovation through collaboration and co-design of effective, inclusive services.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with stakeholders at local, national, and international levels to leverage new opportunities and translate political objectives into actionable initiatives.
• Anticipate sector trends, promote innovative approaches to enhance customer experience, and ensure compliance with all policies, procedures, and governance standards.

Specification:

• Proven expertise in developing and leading proactive campaigns and communication strategies to enhance reputation and engagement.
• Strong collaboration skills with Chief Officers and stakeholders, delivering high-quality content across diverse channels.
• Extensive experience in strategic management, navigating complex political environments, and maintaining sector-specific regulatory knowledge.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire diverse senior teams through continuous change, focusing on high performance and financial management.
• Successful track record in executive leadership within public/private sectors, with an understanding of demographic, social, and political impacts on the organisation.

Please read the full candidate brief that is linked below for the complete job description and person specification.

The City Corporation relies on having a workforce that reflects society, so we encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds, and especially those from underrepresented groups. Our employees are expected to spend at least 60% of their time in their work setting or office and while this is a full-time role, we welcome applications for flexible working patterns and job shares.

If this looks like the perfect role for you, do not hesitate to apply! Please see timelines below. Applications will be anonymised once received.

Key dates:

Advert close: 23:59 15^th June 2025
Technical interviews: 24^th June – 4^th July 2025
Psychometrics issued: w/c 7^th July 2025
Assessment Centre: 14^th July 2025
Final Panel Interviews: 16^th July 2025