Senior Project Communications Manager

Balfour Beatty plc; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Smart working up to 40% remote

25 days annual leave

Pension and share incentive plans

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Job summary

Balfour Beatty plc is seeking an experienced Communications leader to oversee stakeholder engagement and community relations across Scotland’s construction projects. You will embed robust communication practices within project delivery, protect reputation and support business objectives.

The role demands leading on-site engagement, developing regional communications communities, and partnering with Group Communications to manage high-profile matters and crises.

Qualifications

• Extensive communications leadership experience in infrastructure or construction.
• Strong stakeholder management and reputation management skills.
• Experience managing sensitive and complex issues.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills.
• Self-motivated with ability to manage competing deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead and line-manage project communications teams in Scotland.
• Support One Comms Collective strategy with leadership and standards.
• Develop the regional Project Communications community.
• Oversee stakeholder engagement, customer comms and employee engagement.
• Engage with project teams on site to align priorities and provide practical support.
• Deliver opportunities to raise project and company profile.
• Set and govern consistent communications standards and reporting.
• Ensure compliance with contractual, regulatory and brand requirements.
• Manage reputational risks and opportunities across projects.
• Build senior customer relationships and advise on communications matters.
• Use data to improve delivery and share learnings.
• Collaborate with Group Communications on high-profile matters.
• Lead crisis communications planning and response.
• Support bids and business development with practical comms input.

Skills

Communications leadership

Stakeholder management

Crisis management

Written and verbal comms

Project communications

Self-motivation & deadlines

Microsoft Office

Education

Degree in marketing, PR or communications

CIPR membership

CSCS card

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About the role

In this role, you will lead and oversee communications, stakeholder and community engagement across construction projects being delivered by our businesses across Scotland. Through regular on-site engagement, alongside our project communications teams you will embed communications within project delivery, support customer and stakeholder objectives, meet contractual requirements, protect reputation and build a consistent, high-performing project communications community.

What you'll be doing

The accountabilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead and provide line management for project communications teams in line with business priorities and customer requirements, improving customer satisfaction, stakeholder confidence and reputation throughout the Scottish region.
• Support the formalisation and delivery of the One Comms Collective strategy through visible leadership, collaboration, best practice and consistent standards across projects.
• Lead and develop the regional Project Communications community, ensuring projects have the capability, capacity and resources needed to deliver effectively.
• Oversee stakeholder engagement, customer communications, community relations and employee engagement in support of business objectives and contractual
• Engage regularly with project teams on site to understand priorities, build relationships and provide practical support aligned with operational needs.
• Deliver communications opportunities that raise the profile of our projects, business and people, supporting growth, recruitment, customer relationships and market positioning.
• Set and govern consistent communications standards, processes, performance measures and reporting across projects.
• Ensure compliance with contractual, regulatory, customer, governance and brand requirements.
• Manage and expand communications and reputational risks and opportunities across projects, programmes and the wider business.
• Build senior customer relationships and advise on communications, reputation and stakeholder matters.
• Use insight, data and feedback to improve delivery, promote innovation, share learning and embed proven approaches across projects, regions and functions.
• Work with Group Communications, Media Relations, Public Affairs and business leaders on high-profile or sensitive matters.
• Lead crisis communications planning and response, ensuring robust processes and leadership readiness.
• Support work-winning through practical communications input to bids, customer engagement and business development.

Who we're looking for

Essential

• Extensive communications leadership experience in infrastructure, engineering, construction or another complex operational environment
• Strong knowledge of stakeholder management, customer communications, community relations and reputation management
• Experience managing sensitive and complex issues
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills
• Self-motivated and able to manage competing deadlines
• Strong analysis and problem-solving skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office

Desirable

• Degree in marketing, public relations, communications or a related field
• CIPR membership or a relevant professional qualification
• Valid CSCS card
• Understanding of the construction, rail or utilities regulatory environment

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us?

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…

About us

Balfour Beatty Group Enabling Functions are Legal, Finance, IT and Procurement, Communications, Health Safety and Environment, HR and Sustainability. Together, they support delivery of our Build to Last strategy whilst improving efficiencies and standardising our approach, systems and processes.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty, we want everyone to be able to thrive and achieve their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. We’re making great progress through our Value Everyone DEI Action Plan, but we know we’ve got more to do. Find out more about our values and DEI initiatives.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this role will be offered an interview.

We are committed to our processes being barrier-free and will support adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. Please let the recruiter for this role know if you require any adjustments.

We’re looking to continually improve our recruitment process, so if you have any feedback, please share this with us via [e-mail]