Managing Director, Communications

Global Roles; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) seeks a Managing Director, Communications to lead the bank's external and internal communications strategy, strengthening visibility, profile and reputation among stakeholders.

You will act as strategic adviser to the President and senior leadership, manage a large department, and guide messaging across media, events and digital channels, including responding to crises.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in corporate/governmental communications with proven reputation-building.
• Ability to think strategically and lead messaging across complex environments.

Responsibilities

• Serve as strategic adviser to the President on internal and external communications.
• Lead development and delivery of the bank's communications strategy across media and stakeholders.
• Provide leadership across the Communications Department.
• Advise on protecting the bank's reputation, including crisis response.
• Build relationships with Board members, ministers and other stakeholders.
• Act as the bank’s senior spokesperson aligning messaging with strategy.
• Contribute to strategy as an observer member of the Executive Committee.
• Lead the department's evolution with governance and AI-enabled capabilities.
• Set strategic objectives, manage resources/budget, ensure high-quality communications.
• Lead, develop and inspire a diverse team.
• Champion Workplace Behaviours with integrity.

Skills

Corporate Communications

Media Relations

Strategic Communications

Reputation management

Stakeholder Engagement

Geopolitical Analysis

Economic Analysis

Political Acumen

Crisis Communication

Public Relations

Oral Communication

Written Communication

Leadership

Digital Communications

Innovation in Communications

Media Networking

Department Management

Job description

The Managing Director, Communications leads and oversees the development of the Bank’s external and internal communications strategy, strengthening the Bank’s visibility, profile and reputation among key stakeholders and the wider public. The role acts as a strategic adviser to the President and senior leadership, managing a large communications department and contributing to the Bank’s wider strategy and decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic adviser to the President on the Bank’s internal and external communications, positioning and reputation.
• Lead the development and delivery of the Bank’s communications strategy across media, external stakeholders and internal audiences, ensuring consistent, engaging and impactful communications aligned with the Bank’s strategic priorities, transformation agenda and workplace behaviours.
• Provide leadership across the Communications Department, ensuring cohesion of approach, alignment of messaging and effective delivery of communications services, products and events that support the Bank’s mission.
• Advise senior leadership on building, enhancing and protecting the EBRD’s reputation and image, including leading the Bank’s response to communications-related crises and reputational risks.
• Build and maintain relationships with Board members, ministers and other key stakeholders to strengthen understanding and support for the Bank’s activities and investments.
• Act as the Bank’s senior spokesperson, ensuring communications reflect the Bank’s strategic direction and business objectives.
• Contribute to the Bank’s strategy and decision-making as an observer member of the Executive Committee.
• Lead the evolution of the Communications Department, including organisational design, transformation initiatives and the adoption of emerging communications practices, technologies and AI-enabled capabilities, supported by appropriate governance frameworks.
• Set the Department’s strategic objectives, manage its resources and budget, and ensure the effective delivery of high-quality communications activities and outcomes.
• Lead, develop and inspire a diverse team, fostering a high-performance culture and creating opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Champion and role model the Bank’s Workplace Behaviours, ensuring the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct across the department.

Requirements

• Extensive experience and expertise in corporate and/or governmental communications and media, with a proven ability to strengthen organisational reputation, build stakeholder confidence and advance strategic objectives through effective communications.
• A well-developed understanding of geo-political and economic issues affecting economies, particularly those within the EBRD’s regions.
• Proven ability to think strategically and shape innovative, forward-looking communications strategies that advance the Bank’s objectives and reputation.
• Demonstrable judgement in dealing with sensitive communications and PR issues.
• Strong track record of providing strategic communications counsel in a complex and politically sensitive environment, underpinned by exceptional political acumen and judgement in determining the most effective messaging, timing, channels and stakeholder engagement approaches to advance the Bank’s objectives and profile.
• Excellent ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Very strong interpersonal skills and able to build and manage relationships with people at all levels within the Bank’s constituencies.
• Ability to interact and operate at a high level, within the Bank and with ministers from shareholder countries.
• Strong networks across media and communications, in areas relevant to the Bank’s strategy and operations.
• Able to inspire, lead and manage a large department and provide wider leadership within the Bank.
• Experience of leading and embedding innovation in communications, leveraging digital channels, emerging technologies and new engagement approaches to enhance the Bank’s reach, impact and effectiveness.

Skills

• Corporate Communications
• Governmental Communications
• Media Relations
• Strategic Communications
• Reputation management
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Geopolitical Analysis
• Economic Analysis
• Political Acumen
• Crisis Communication
• Public Relations
• Oral Communication
• Written Communication
• Interpersonal Skills
• Leadership
• Digital Communications
• Innovation in Communications
• Media Networking
• Department Management

Languages

English