Who We Are
Transpennine Route Upgrade
The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) is an £11 billion programme improving the railway for passengers and freight between York and Manchester via Leeds and Huddersfield. We're delivering faster, more reliable journeys, boosting connections between communities and driving economic growth across the North of England. More than 5,000 people are working across a 70-mile route, covering 23 stations, 285 bridges and viaducts and six miles of tunnels.
For more information visit www.theTRUpgrade.co.uk
This role offers the opportunity to shape the reputation of a nationally significant programme and influence how passengers, communities and partners experience its benefits. You will work with senior leaders across the rail industry and government, lead a high-profile external communications portfolio and gain broad experience across the full communications function. It is an excellent platform for an ambitious senior communications professional ready to operate as a deputy and build towards a future Head of Communications role.
Here are a few of the benefits we offer
- 28-day annual leave with the option to buy and sell days
- Choice of pension schemes
- 75% discretionary discount of leisure travel for you and your family
- Private Healthcare
- 5 days paid volunteer or carers leave
- Up to 75% subsidised Rail and Underground travel
- Gym Pass -access to gyms across UK
- My Benefits platform- giving national and local retail discount
Our aim is to ensure your candidate experience is as positive as possible. If you require reasonable adjustments at any point, simply let us know and we'll do our best to assist you.
We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.
Network Rail adheres to a structured pay framework, any salary offered will be within the pay range advertised. If your current salary is above the maximum shown you will transfer into the new role on your current base pay. For more information refer to your pay.
This vacancy is Band 3 B, salary starting £46,701 to £56,963 per annum.
Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision.
Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please contact TRUResourcing@networkrail.co.uk.
About the role
Role: Senior Communications Manager
Salary: £46,701 to £56,963 per annum
Location: York or Manchester, with travel across the Transpennine route
Contract Type: Full time, Permanent
Office Requirement: Hybrid. Minimum 3 days per week working from the office
Interview Process: Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a formal, face-to-face, competency-based interview during the week commencing 19 October.
This is a senior leadership role at the heart of TRU communications, a function that covers internal communications, external communications, marketing, public affairs and customer communications Reporting to the Head of Communications, you will lead external communications and act as Deputy Head of Communications, helping to drive strong performance and consistent delivery across functions
You will lead media relations, community engagement and reputation management, while providing operational oversight across stakeholder engagement, customer communications, marketing and internal communications when required. By applying standards and leadership continuity the function needs, you will enable the Head of Communications to focus on strategy, senior counsel and the programme's most significant reputational opportunities and risks.
You will work closely with project communications managers and senior leaders across Network Rail, train operators, government and delivery partners, making sure communications is a strategic enabler of programme delivery, rather than simply a support service.
Some of the key accountabilities of this role are:
- Develop, lead and evaluate integrated communications strategies and plans that support TRU's objectives and improve performance.
- Lead proactive and reactive external communications, including media relations, community engagement, major announcements, high-profile visits and reputational issues.
- Act as Deputy Head of Communications, providing leadership continuity and operational oversight across stakeholder, customer, marketing, internal and external communications when required.
- Set clear priorities, standards and objectives for the team, using regular one-to-ones, appraisals, performance monitoring, coaching and development to build capability and accountability.
- Build strong, trusted relationships with senior leaders and partners, providing clear communications advice, challenge and direction.
- Identify and manage communications risks and opportunities, including implementation of the major incident communications plan when required.
- Create strong networks across Network Rail, the rail industry, government and delivery partners to align activity and maximise impact.
- Oversee high-quality content across digital, social and traditional channels, ensuring brand-compliance, complying visual identity and corporate policies.
- Use insight, evaluation and budget information to assess effectiveness, demonstrate value and make continuous improvements.
- Support communications governance, planning, resourcing and coordination across the programme.
Your experience and skills
The ideal candidate will:
We are looking for an accomplished and creative communications leader who combines strategic judgement with a strong record of turning plans into high-quality delivery. You will be confident setting expectations, holding people to account and developing colleagues, while creating a supportive and collaborative environment where teams can perform at their best.
You will be a trusted adviser with excellent media instincts, calm judgement under pressure and the credibility to influence senior decision-makers. Comfortable moving between strategy and delivery, you will bring structure to competing priorities, use insight and evaluation to improve performance and build strong relationships across a complex, multi-partner programme.
Key qualities
- Provides clear leadership, direction and constructive challenge.
- Drives individual and team performance through clear objectives, regular feedback and effective prioritisation.
- Exercises sound judgement on complex, sensitive and reputationally significant issues.
- Builds trusted relationships and influences confidently at senior level.
- Remains calm, decisive and collaborative in a fast-moving environment.
- Uses insight, evaluation and evidence to improve communications outcomes.
We need you to have:
- Educated to degree level or a professional communications qualification (eg IoIC, CIPR, PRCA) or demonstrable equivalent career experience
- Substantial experience in corporate communications or significant comparable media experience
- High standards of written and spoken communication
- The experience and personal credibility to work effectively with senior managers
- Strong influencing skills
- Proven ability to grasp, understand and promote complex and sensitive issues in a persuasive and sensible way
- Ability to develop and maintain a wide network of stakeholder contacts
- Evidence of good planning and financial skills, with the ability to deliver projects and activities on time and within budget
It would be advantageous:
- Experience of leading external communications in rail, transport, infrastructure, construction or another complex, high-profile environment.
- Experience of crisis and incident communications, public affairs or working with government and political stakeholders.
- Experience of directing and managing agency support.
- Relevant professional qualifications and evidence of continuing professional development.
- Experience of working in a matrix environment involving multiple organisations.