Senior Strategic Communications Partner

Financial Conduct Authority; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 43,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A financial regulatory body is seeking a Senior Strategic Communications Partner in Leeds. The role focuses on collaborating with stakeholders to enhance communication strategies and engaging with media to drive public relations. Candidates should possess strong communication skills, with a background in managing communication projects. The position offers competitive salary ranging from £43,300 to £54,100 with benefits including hybrid working and a non-contributory pension plan.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Hybrid model with up to 60% remote work

Non-contributory pension (8–12%)

Private healthcare with Bupa

Income protection and 24/7 Employee Assistance

35 hours of paid volunteering annually

Flexible benefits scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in managing communication projects and dealing with media.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to develop clear key messages and engaging content.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic communication guidance to stakeholders.
• Develop communication plans for key announcements.
• Engage with external stakeholders and media.
• Monitor media coverage and produce updates.
• Deliver high quality outcomes on projects.
• Respond to media inquiries as part of the out-of-hours rota.

Skills

Previous experience of managing communication projects

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Knowledge of traditional and social media

Experience of working with Microsoft Office applications

Ability to collaborate effectively within a team

Ability to take initiative

Interest in the FCA's work

Job description

Senior Strategic Communications Partner

Division: Communications

Department: Strategic Communications & News

• Salary: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £43,300 to £54,100 and London from £46,400 to £60,000 (salary offered will be based on skills and experience)

• This role is graded as: Senior Associate – Corporate

• Your recruitment contact is Riley Fox via [e-mail]. Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via social media or email will not be accepted.

About the FCA and team

We regulate financial services firms in the UK, to keep financial markets fair, thriving and effective. By joining us, you’ll play a key part in protecting consumers, driving economic growth, and shaping the future of UK finance services.

In the Communications division at the FCA, we change opinions and behaviours to enable a fair and thriving financial services market for the good of consumers and the economy. We’ve recently changed how we do things to deliver more engaging, insight-led, audience focused communications. If you want to be part of a supportive and fun team, work across a wide range of issues and are ready to be challenged, curious and creative then come and join us.

The Strategic Communications and News team is at the heart of what and how the organisation communicates – working with the strategy team to help set and deliver the FCA’s external communication objectives and ensuring that our communication is clear, concise and compelling. The team is split into three: strategic communication partners, editorial and speechwriting, and social media.

Role responsibilities

• Being a trusted communication adviser, building relationships with business stakeholders and providing strategic guidance, while gaining valuable experience in shaping and delivering key communication.

• Developing the strategic approach for priority areas to deliver FCA communication plan outcomes, whilst building subject matter expertise in specific areas of financial regulation.

• Preparing communication plans to support key announcements and ensuring national queries are fed through to relevant senior communications colleagues where appropriate.

• Identifying key external stakeholders and engaging relevant media, trade bodies and consumer groups to create advocacy and reach target audiences.

• Monitoring media, social media and other commentary to produce coverage updates.

• Taking ownership for projects, delivering high quality outcomes while strengthening your skills within a dynamic communications environment.

• Responding effectively to media inquiries, whilst being part of the out-of-hours rota.

Skills required

Minimum skills

• Previous experience of managing communication projects and/or dealing with media.

• Proven experience in a role which has required strong written and verbal communication skills and balancing proactive and reactive work.

• Prior experience of developing communication plans and products into communication goals, clear key messages and engaging content for diverse audiences.

Essential skills

• Strong knowledge and understanding of traditional and social media.

• Experience of working with Microsoft Office applications.

• Demonstrable ability to collaborate effectively within a team while maintaining the flexibility to work independently and take initiative.

• Familiar with relevant communication tools used for media and social media monitoring.

• Ability to adapt and react to changing circumstances, adjusting priorities as needed and a willingness to take on new tasks and responsibilities.

• Demonstrate an interest and understanding in the FCA’s work, its operations, and the wider financial services sector.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.

• Hybrid model with up to 60% remote work.

• Non-contributory pension (8–12% depending on age) and life assurance at eight times your salary.

• Private healthcare with Bupa, income protection, and 24/7 Employee Assistance.

• 35 hours of paid volunteering annually.

• A flexible benefits scheme designed around your lifestyle.

For a full list of our benefits and our recruitment process as a whole visit our benefits page.

Our values and culture

Our colleagues are the key to our success as a regulator. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture: one that’s free from discrimination and bias, celebrates difference, and supports colleagues to deliver at their best. We believe that our differences and similarities enable us to be a better organisation – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers better regulation.

If you require any adjustments due to a disability or condition, your recruiter is here to help - reach out for tailored support.

We welcome diverse working styles and aim to find flexible solutions that suit both the role and individual needs, including options like part-time and job sharing where applicable.

Disability confident: our hiring approach

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, and therefore, people or individuals with disabilities and long-term conditions who best meet the minimum criteria for a role will go through to the next stage of the recruitment process. In cases of high application volumes we may progress applicants whose experience most closely matches the role’s key requirements.

Useful information and timelines

Timeline:

• Job advert close: 20th January 2026

• CV Review/Shortlist: 22nd January 2026

• First Interview: from 28th January 2026 onwards

• Your Recruiter will discuss the process in detail with you during screening for the role, therefore, please make them aware if you are going to be unavailable for any date during this time.