External Affairs Director

HS2 Ltd; Greater London; Presencial; GBP 90.000 - 150.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Flexible working

Reasonable adjustments

Staff networks

Personal and professional development

Descripción de la vacante

HS2 Ltd is seeking an External Affairs Director to lead all external and internal communications, media relations, and stakeholder and workforce engagement for the railway programme.

The role covers crisis handling, countering inaccurate claims, and building HS2's reputation while guiding the public affairs team across government, Parliament, and the regions, including engagement with the supply chain.

Formación

• Extensive experience leading a high-profile public affairs team.
• Proven ability to manage media campaigns in a fast-paced matrix organisation.
• Experience in government, parliamentary, and stakeholder engagement.

Responsabilidades

• Oversee external and internal communications, media relations, and stakeholder engagement.
• Set strategy for public affairs and lead the team.
• Lead crisis management and counter inaccurate claims.
• Monitor press coverage and shape messaging.
• Engage workforce and supply chain for safe, cost-effective delivery.
• Tell the railway's story and build HS2's reputation.
• Represent HS2 across government, Parliament, and regions.
• Advise on day-to-day reactive media handling.
• Embed equality, diversity and inclusion in all work.
• Liaise with the HS2 Commissioner.

Conocimientos

Media relations

Strategic messaging

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Political awareness

Press operations knowledge

Descripción del empleo

HS2 Ltd's External Affairs Director leads all external and internal communications, media relations, and stakeholder and workforce engagement for the railway programme. The post covers crisis handling, countering inaccurate claims, building HS2's reputation and leading the public affairs team. It is senior and high-profile, representing the programme across government, parliament and the regions and engaging the supply chain. The first assessment is based solely on evidence in a tailored CV, which is anonymised at the first stage.

What the job involves

• Accountable for all external and internal communications, media relations, and stakeholder and workforce engagement
• Lead strategic horizon scanning, identify emerging trends and shape messaging
• Lead HS2's media relations, including issues and crisis management and countering inaccurate claims
• Monitor press coverage
• Lead proactive engagement of the workforce across HS2 Ltd and the supply chain for safe, efficient delivery at the lowest feasible cost
• Build HS2's reputation as an expert delivery organisation, leading externally facing campaigns and telling the railway's story
• Set the strategy for the public affairs team and engage senior stakeholders nationally and along the route
• Represent HS2 at the highest level across government, parliament and the regions, and liaise with the HS2 Commissioner
• Advise on day-to-day reactive media handling and communicate longer-term strategic objectives
• Promote and embed equality, diversity and inclusion in all work and comply with EDI policies

What’s required

Experience

• Working with local councils, government and private sector organisations
• Leading the development, delivery and measurement of media relations strategies and campaigns
• Operating in a contentious or complex environment with media, parliamentary, business and stakeholder engagement
• Extensive experience in a high-profile, fast-paced matrix organisation
• Extensive experience leading a public affairs team to a high standard
• Operating in a highly commercial environment on a high-value, high-profile programme

Skills & knowledge

• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication, explaining complex, sensitive issues persuasively to varied audiences
• Strong analytical skills, interpreting changing landscapes and stakeholder views
• Influencing and managing stakeholders at senior executive level
• Leadership and team management
• Political awareness and understanding
• Knowledge of British media and press operations, news cycles and government communications processes

What’s offered

• Flexible working
• Reasonable adjustments
• Staff networks
• Personal and professional development opportunities