Senior Corporate Communications Manager

Twinkl Educational Publishing; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Twinkl Educational Publishing in Sheffield seeks a Senior Corporate Communications Manager responsible for external corporate communications, media relations, crisis management, and Public Affairs/B2G, while integrating internal comms to keep messaging aligned.

Reporting to the Director of Communications, you will lead a small team, shape short- to medium-term campaigns, monitor impact with data, and advise stakeholders on strategic messaging across channels.

Qualifications

• Experience leading external corporate communications and media relations.
• Ability to translate organisational priorities into campaigns.
• Experience managing a small team and agency relationships.
• Strong crisis communications and reputation management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead external corporate communications campaigns and media activity.
• Coordinate with Internal Communications to align messaging.
• Provide strategic counsel to senior stakeholders on communications.
• Oversee crisis communications and reputational risk management.
• Measure campaign performance and apply insights.

Skills

Media relations

Crisis communications

Public affairs

Internal communications

People management

Stakeholder engagement

Reputation management

Data insights

Editorial judgement

Job description

The Senior Corporate Communications Manager is a managerial role leading external corporate communications, with a strong focus on media relations, crisis communications, PR, and Public Affairs/B2G, while bringing internal communications experience to ensure joined-up corporate messaging.

The role translates organisational priorities into coordinated short to medium term communications campaigns and activity that build external reputation and advocacy. The role holder will work closely with the internal communications team to keep messaging aligned, credible and on-brand across internal and external audiences.

What am I expected to do at this level?

This role leads and coordinates across external corporate communications campaigns and activity, including media relations, public affairs / B2G activity, crisis communication and reputation management. Reporting to the Director of Communications, the role holder manages a small team, setting priorities, allocating work, reviewing quality, supporting development, and ensuring communications are delivered effectively across a complex area of activity. In addition to working closely with the Thought Leadership and Partnerships teams, the role holder also works in close partnership with Internal Communications colleagues to align internal and external narratives, particularly around major announcements, change activity, campaigns and sensitive issues.

At this level, the expectation is to manage team members, resolve complex communications challenges / blockers using established approaches, provide confident advice and guidance to stakeholders, and enable others to deliver effective, well-judged communications work.

Communication strategy and planning:

• Develops short to medium term external communications plans that support organisational priorities, media opportunities and reputation objectives.
• Leads delivery of external campaigns, announcements and media activity, coordinating team input and adapting plans as priorities shift.
• Works in close partnership with Internal Communications colleagues to align external plans and messaging with internal communications activity and the wider corporate narrative.
• Reviews campaign and communication performance and uses data insight, feedback, and team learning to improve future planning and delivery.
• Advises colleagues and stakeholders on communications planning, message approach, channel choice and campaign priorities within agreed frameworks.

Brand, reputation, and messaging:

• Oversees the development of external content and messaging that reflects organisational values, supports reputation goals and strengthens brand consistency.
• Reviews messaging and materials to ensure they are accurate, coherent, audience-appropriate and consistent across external outputs.
• Identifies, manages and escalates reputational risks, sensitive messaging issues and inconsistencies using agreed governance and escalation routes.
• Applies and reinforces Tone of Voice and messaging standards across external communications, while ensuring alignment with internal communications where relevant.
• Leads reputation-supporting communications activity, including planned PR, reactive statements and campaign messaging, within agreed strategy and risk parameters.

Channel and content management:

• Manages delivery of external content across relevant channels, including press, digital and partner-facing platforms, ensuring quality and timeliness.
• Tailors content and channel use to audience needs and performance insight, improving effectiveness across formats and touchpoints.
• Coordinates schedules for campaigns, media activity and content delivery, balancing deadlines, priorities and dependencies across the team.
• Monitors channel and content performance, tracking engagement, reach and response to identify what is working and what requires attention.
• Recommends and implements improvements to channel use, workflows, templates and content processes, while supporting alignment with internal communications channels where needed.

Insight, measurement, and continuous improvement:

• Ensures the team gathers relevant communications data, media coverage, feedback and campaign insight to support evaluation and decision-making.
• Interprets performance data and stakeholder feedback to identify trends, risks, opportunities and implications for communications activity.
• Produces clear summaries and recommendations for managers and stakeholders, showing impact, learning points and areas for action.
• Uses evidence from analytics, coverage, feedback and retrospectives to refine plans, messages, channels and team processes.
• Shares learning, good practice and practical guidance across the team and with internal communications colleagues to strengthen consistency and capability.

Strategic stakeholder and influence management (internal & external):

• Builds and maintains effective relationships with media contacts, partners and internal stakeholders, including close working relationships with the Internal Communications team.
• Advises managers and senior stakeholders on communication approach, external positioning, stakeholder considerations and advocacy opportunities.
• Leads external stakeholder engagement activity and works with Internal Communications colleagues to ensure joined-up communication around key initiatives, announcements and advocacy priorities.
• Manages routine and complex communications issues in their area, identifying risks early and escalating higher-risk matters or more sensitive reputational concerns appropriately.
• Supports communication that reflects organisational values and priorities, strengthens advocacy, and helps leaders communicate clearly and credibly with external and internal audiences.

Skills:

Corporate communications, media relations, PR planning, Public Affairs / B2G (preferable), people management, editorial judgement, stakeholder engagement, reputation management, issue handling, data reporting and insight driven communications