Interim Senior Communications Director

Purpose of Role:

Big Society Capital, the UK's leading social investment organisation, is seeking an exceptional senior communications professional to lead the development and implementation of a powerful new vision, positioning and communications strategy.

The individual taking on this role will lead on building an understanding of BSC’s unique work and tell that story to best engage key partners.

This will provide a platform for BSC to create energy around the problems they are seeking to tackle, inform and inspire potential investors and partners (from financial, public and social sectors) to work with them, and to amplify the learnings from their work to influence wider systems for lasting change. This role will last 6 months initially, with potential to extend.

1. Development and implementation of a new vision, brand and narrative to support the delivery of the Big Society Capital strategy and business plan;
2. Oversee the comms team and management of all media-related activities for the organisation.

Key Accountabilities:

• Oversee the development and implementation of a new vision, narrative and brand for BSC, as recently endorsed by the Board, an approach which is powerfully effective and will ensure that BSC’s purpose, impact and ways to engage with the organisation/ social investment are understood and inspire action by key audiences
• Identify and deliver effective PR and public affairs angles to support this new approach
• Develop communications approaches which support their priority audiences: partners who can help develop investment ideas with expertise and influence in their areas of focus and potential/actual co-investors. Secondarily, support approaches with other stakeholders, particularly government and front line charities and social enterprises that can use social investment. (BSC primarily engages front line charities and social enterprises through GoodFinance.org.uk).
• Embed a user-led approach to their communications (needs as identified through the stakeholder survey and other user research)
• Engage with their brand agency Snook and copywriters to achieve the best results in this change
• Engage with staff and key members in their intermediary investors: priority stakeholders are mainly 1:1 or 1:few relationships, so it is key to this project that staff are confident, fluent and fully engaged with the new approaches
• Plan key milestones for the project in line with the project governance group (CEO and 3 Exec Committee Members) the Exec Committee and Board decision points
• Lead the comms team in terms of line management and delivery of continuing comms and media activity, and directing their work on the brand and website project
• Take overall responsibility for the Big Society Capital website, overseeing the work of the Digital Officer on the new website, social media and other digital communications, provide ad hoc expert support to the team managing the Good Finance website
• Take overall responsibility for all engagement with the media – written, broadcast and online: overseeing the work of the Press Officer on media releases, developing media contacts and relationships. Provide support for the CEO as main spokesperson for Big Society Capital and act as the main point of contact at BSC for communications matters
• With Engagement/Investment team leads where relevant, oversee integrated marketing communications campaigns to raise awareness and support engagement in Big Society Capital’s activities
• Support the CEO, Head of Strategy, Policy Manager and other relevant team members on positive communications with government regarding funds, regulation, tax, social sector and financial sector issues and relevant politics, to ensure that BSC remains responsive to political and media interest primarily in the UK, and relevant international bodies which might support their work   
• Convene the sector, pulling together other relevant industry comms teams and taking personal responsibility for briefing the CEO and Chair on external events and PR activities

• Develop and maintain effective business relationships with marketing and communications suppliers and advisors to ensure best value for money
• Manage internal communication and ensure that the interface between directors and employees runs smoothly and everyone is kept up to date with key activities and events

Line management responsibilities:

• Digital and Media Officer
• Press and PR officer
• Communications Director (currently responsible for the two posts above and reporting to the Head of Engagement) on aspects of the vision & brand project delivery.
• Marketing & Communications Officer will have a dotted line to this role (reports to Social Sector Engagement Director)

Essential Skills & Experience

• PR and public affairs programmes
• Understanding press relevant for key audiences (particularly financial) and how to influence within it
• Dealing with the media
• Internal and external communications
• Managing website maintenance and development
• Communicating at senior level with policy makers
• Demonstrable interest in impact investment and/or social sector 

Desirable experience:

• Impact investment and/or Social Sector knowledge and contacts
• Strong private sector consultancy experience  
• Good experience of working in organisations with multiple    stakeholder communities.  
• Experiences of user-led design processes

Attainments

• Successful delivery of implementing new brand and wider organisational change programmes
• Track record of successfully leading communications and public affairs teams
• Delivery of communications strategy that has successfully engaged audiences with different needs
• Excellent command of the English Language
• Articulate, strong presentation skills
• Negotiating skills
• Eye for detail, Proof reading, Copy writing
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and spoken)
• Related degree, MBA or marketing qualification (eg Chartered Institute of Marketing)

Special aptitudes

•  Translating a concept into simple terms
•  Understanding the political context
•  Flexibility, able to adapt and respond to change
•  IT competent in the MS Office suite
•  Understanding of financial, government & social sectors: marketing communications, policies, practices, relevant legislation & regulation desirable.

Disposition & thinking style

• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and communication skills
• Strong team player
• Proven ability to see the wider strategic picture in a practical context
• Creative thinker, but grounded in the delivery of business outcomes
• Able to balance strategy with the ability to focus on detailed tactical challenges  Able to attend evening and early morning events on occasion

About Big Society Capital

Big Society Capital’s aim is to improve the lives of people in the UK by connecting investment to charities and social enterprises that are creating social change.

They engage with investors, fund managers, charities and social enterprises to make it easier to use social investment. With their co-investors, they have made over £1bn of new capital available to organisations with a social mission, through investments into fund managers and social banks. They have a special focus on: providing homes for people in need; supporting communities to improve lives; and early action to prevent problems.