Head of Communications - London, United Kingdom - Universities Superannuation Scheme (Ltd)

Description

Job Description

Head Of Strategic Communications - USS (London)

An effective corporate affairs strategy, delivered effectively, is key to the success of the corporate affairs team and achieving the wider reputational objectives of USS on behalf of our members. USS seeks to deliver a corporate affairs strategy that support corporate strategic priorities and business needs, and seeks to influence, inform and educate our media, policy maker and wider audiences. This role has overall responsibility for strategy development, communications planning and supplier management across the team. The role will ensure consistent and effective risk management, contingency planning and reporting for the team. The role will also deputise for, and support the head of the team as needed, becoming involved with internal and external communication and public affairs issues as required.

Key Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the Corporate Affairs handling of proactive and reactive internal and external communication, public affairs and other relevant issues, leading on these issues as required.
• Lead and develop the overarching corporate affairs strategy and related communication strategies around particular issues or themes.
• Ensure that USS has a robust communication planning process in place with a rolling plan for active external and prepared reactive engagement across communication stakeholders and sub-plans for relevant issues or themes.
• Ensure that corporate communication is effectively aligned with member, employer and wider internal communications with suitable campaign opportunities identified, led and coordinated.
• Manage external agency support ensuring strong relationships, value for money and best use of external resource and expertise to properly support USS objectives.
• Ensure that corporate affairs papers and reporting to Board(s) and other relevant committees are produced in a timely, compelling and consistent way, being informative and supportive of decision making.
• Contribute to management of the team's budget and budget planning
• Ensure the team has appropriate and effective, performance and risk reporting, and contingency planning frameworks in place
• Ensure that the Corporate Affairs team has a strong learning and development culture, with colleagues accessing appropriate training and CPD opportunities and that suitable and relevant external knowledge, training and best practice is shared and embedded within the team.

Technical Competencies:

• Experience of managing, leading and coordinating integrated communications activities
• Experience of producing communication strategies and plans
• Excellent analytical, writing and messaging skills
• Experience of engaging with and advising senior leadership
• Experience of working across a range of issues in a fast paced environment
• Ideally a background in pensions/financial services or providing communication support to those sectors