Major Projects Communications Lead (12 Months FTC)

Arup; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading infrastructure consultancy is seeking a Senior Communications Expert to join their stakeholder engagement team in Manchester. This role involves leading communications strategies for major infrastructure projects and providing strategic advice on various communications issues. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in communications and stakeholder engagement within relevant sectors such as energy and transport. Competitive compensation and an attractive benefits package are offered.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Flexible benefits

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in communications for major infrastructure projects.
• Ability to build and manage relationships and develop consultation strategies.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead communications and community engagement on major infrastructure projects.
• Develop and execute communication strategies for complex projects.
• Provide strategic advice on PR, media relations, and crisis communication.

Skills

Communications strategies development

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Strong written and verbal communication

Commercial acumen

Education

Degree level education or equivalent experience

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

MS PowerPoint

MS Project

Job description

Joining Arup

It’s a fantastic time to join Arup as we take a critical role in the UK’s infrastructure sector, leading on a number of nationally significant infrastructure schemes in energy, water, aviation and more. Having recently been successful in securing a place on some of the country’s largest frameworks, we are looking for someone to join us in strengthening our communications capability, working alongside a rapidly growing team of engagement and consultation specialists.

The post-holder will be a passionate, creative and dedicated communications expert ready to help lead a team working on some of the UK’s largest DCOs and complex projects.

We were founded by Ove Arup in 1946 and have grown to provide multi-disciplinary engineering design, planning and consulting services relating to the built environment to a broad range of local and global clients. We have over 13,000 people in over 90 offices in 42 countries. Through our work, we make a positive difference to the world. As a wholly independent organisation, we are owned in trust for the benefit of our employees and their dependants: with no shareholders or external investors determining our own business priorities and direction.

Watch this short clip to discover how Arup are shaping a better world and how you could be a part of it!

The Opportunity

This is a 12 months fixed‑terms contract.

Flexible location with travels to Birmingham,

You will play a pivotal role as a senior leader within the stakeholder engagement, consultation, and communications team, with a primary focus on communications. Your responsibilities will include:

Acting as the lead for communications and community engagement on major infrastructure projects. Developing and executing communication strategies for complex projects. Creating high‑quality communication outputs such as reports, briefings for senior officials (both political and non‑political), consultation materials, website updates, press releases, and statements.

Providing strategic advice and counsel to clients on PR, media relations, brand management, reputation, crisis communication, political communication, and internal communications. Facilitating and shaping multi‑stakeholder workshops on complex issues. Ensuring quality assurance on the work produced by the broader team and external partners. Leading and supporting the development of project bids. Establishing and nurturing internal relationships with other teams within Arup. You will collaborate closely with internal senior leadership, interdisciplinary teams, project sponsors, delivery teams, and external collaborators.

Is this role right for you?

We are seeking the below skills and knowledge :

• Demonstratable experience in developing and implementing successful communications strategies for major infrastructure and complex projects, including for Development Consent Orders.
• Experience of building and managing relationships, stakeholder mapping and strategies, working as part of an integrated team, developing consultation strategies and political advocacy.
• Relevant sector experience (energy, transport, water) in communications, consultation and stakeholder engagement.
• Education to degree level or proven experience related to this field.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing successful communications strategies for major infrastructure and complex projects.
• Strong written skill and verbal communication
• Strong project management and organisational skills
• The ability to think creatively and contribute to the development of a range of consultation and communications tools
• Ability / experience to work as part of a team and manage people
• Strong commercial acumen and experience in bid writing and responding to scopes, managing budgets and resource
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint. (Desirable: good knowledge of MS Project)

Desirable experience would include :

• Relevant sector experience (energy, transport, water) in communications, consultation and engagement;
• Understanding of and experience working with local authorities / combined authorities / national government; Full driving licence.

What we offer you

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.

Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

We also provide Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accident insurance and Income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefits to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.