External Communications Manager (Europe)

InterContinental Hotels Group; Windsor; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

IHG Hotels & Resorts in Windsor is seeking a Communications Manager specializing in External Communications to join the Europe Corporate Affairs team at our Global Headquarters. You will shape external messaging, manage media relations, and lead multi-market communications programs across Europe.

You will partner with regional leadership, manage agencies, and contribute to crisis communications, events, and thought leadership.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in external communications, ideally with agency background.
• Proven success in a complex, matrixed corporate environment, ideally in B2B or hospitality.
• Strong media relations and crisis-handling skills.
• Excellent written communication and storytelling in English; additional languages a plus.
• Ability to advise senior stakeholders with confidence and sound judgment.
• Experience leading agencies, managing budgets, and running end-to-end external campaigns in fast-paced environments.
• Collaborative mindset, aligning messages and engaging stakeholders with authentic communication.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Business Unit and Market Leadership to bring European growth priorities to life through an external narrative that elevates IHG’s position.
• Advise senior leadership on external messaging, media strategies, risk and reputation in Europe.
• Identify and oversee external speaking opportunities for spokespeople across key markets (UK & Ireland, Germany, France, Spain, etc.).
• Facilitate external comms activity at events, coordinating with Hotel Development and Development Communications & Events teams.
• Manage external communications plans and materials, including press releases, Q&A decks, and briefing notes.
• Oversee up to four PR agencies across Europe to ensure strategy and delivery meet brand goals.
• Develop thought leadership platforms for Europe’s senior leaders via storytelling and LinkedIn programs.
• Collaborate with Global Corporate Affairs to feed into 360 campaigns and regional initiatives.
• Play an active role in crisis communications as part of a regional team, including on-call rota.

Skills

External communications

Agency experience

Media relations

Crisis management

Executive advising

Campaign leadership

Collaborative communication

Job description

Inspire Growth. Protect and Enhance Reputation. Tell the Story of IHG’s Next Chapter.

At IHG Hotels & Resorts, we're shaping the future of hospitality, and we're looking for an Communications Manager specializing in External Communications, to join our Europe Corporate Affairs team at our Global Headquarters in Windsor.

This is an exciting opportunity to build your communications career at one of the world's leading hotel companies. You'll gain exposure to a global business with more than one million hotel rooms worldwide, while playing a key role in Europe, one of IHG's largest regions, spanning more than 40 countries and nearly 1,000 open hotels.

Working alongside a supportive team of experienced communications professionals, you'll help tell the stories that shape how IHG is seen by our hotel owners, partners, media and external stakeholders. From corporate communications and media relations to issues management and events, you'll have the chance to make a real impact while learning from senior leaders and experienced colleagues across the business.

If you're curious, proactive and ready for your next challenge, we'd love to hear from you.

Your day-to-day

• Partner with Business Unit and Market Leadership to bring key European growth priorities to life through an external narrative that elevates IHG’s position in priority markets across Europe.
• Act as the go-to for external communications in Europe - advising senior leadership (including regional MDs) on external messaging, media strategies, risk and reputation.
• Identify and oversee external speaking opportunities for key spokespeople that build awareness of IHG’s initiatives across key media markets and manage senior spokespeople briefings - from the UK & Ireland and Germany to France, Spain and beyond.
• Facilitate external comms activity, including media and panel briefs, at leading industry events, and work closely with Hotel Development and Development Communications & Events teams.
• Manage external communications plans and materials, including press materials (press releases, Q&A decks, spokesperson briefing notes), and help manage the busy Europe press office.
• Manage up to four PR agencies across Europe to ensure best-in-class strategy, delivery, and performance against IHG’s brand and reputation goals.
• Develop thought leadership platforms for Europe’s senior leaders through strategic storytelling and LinkedIn programmes.
• Collaborate with your wider Global Corporate Affairs colleagues to feed into 360 market- and business-wide communications campaigns and initiatives.
• Play an active role in crisis communications management as part of a trusted regional team, including being part of an Out-of-Hours on call rota.
• Collaborate with EMEAA and Global Corporate Affairs colleagues to deliver aligned and impactful communications that ladder up to our regional strategy.

What we need from you

• Significant communications experience, focusing on external disciplines, ideally with agency experience.
• Proven success in a complex, matrixed corporate environment, ideally with B2B or hospitality experience.
• Strong media relations and crisis-handling skills.
• Exceptional written communication and storytelling ability in English (additional European languages a plus).
• Confidence and judgment to advise senior stakeholders and influence at every level.
• Experience leading agencies, managing budgets, and running end-to-end external communication campaigns in high-pace environments.
• A collaborative mindset — someone who brings people together, aligns messages, and builds engagement through clear, authentic communication.

You’ll join a passionate Corporate Affairs team at the heart of IHG’s European growth journey, supporting strategic priorities, driving engagement, and helping shape how our story is told in outside our business.

Closing date for applications 15th September2026

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