Director of Strategic Communications - Job Description - Ellwood Atfield
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Director of Strategic
Communications
Job Description
The communications and
advocacy headhunter
Director of Strategic Communications
Headlines
Job title Director of Strategic Communications
Reporting to Chief Executive
Remuneration £Six figure salary + Benefits
Location Finsbury Square, London with the
opportunity for flexible working arrangements.
Background to the role
In 2020 the Energy UK Board hired Ellwood Atfield to appoint a new
Chief Executive. Following the Chief Executive’s appointment, the
association has recently completed a successful organisational
restructure, as a result this newly created Director role is now available.
Purpose of the role
The Director of Strategic Communications will be the Executive
responsible for overseeing the Association’s advocacy, strategic
communications, and campaigns programmes, working with the CEO
and other Executive Team members (particularly the Director of Policy).
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Director of Strategic Communications
The organisation
Energy UK works with members, government, the regulator and
wider stakeholders to champion a sustainable UK energy industry.
Our vision for a sustainable energy sector is one in which our
customers receive excellent services at affordable prices, our
infrastructure powers the zero-carbon economy, and where our UK
industry is both successful today and able to invest for tomorrow.
Our members come from right across the energy sector, from energy
suppliers, and large power generators, to companies providing
technologies and services in heat, transport, or power. The energy
sector has been changing rapidly in the UK, with more change to
come, as we look to deliver on UK decarbonisation; this is a most
interesting time to work in energy.
The breadth of our membership means that we see the whole picture
in energy, and we bring this, and our passion for good
communications, to influence policy and the wider debate on energy.
We want to make sure customers have a fair deal and access to great
energy services, especially the fuel poor and vulnerable; that the
industry sets high standards for its performance and engagement
with customers; and that we build the Net Zero economy.
We really value our organisational culture at Energy UK. We have
high quality support and development opportunities for our
employees, and we are proud to have been awarded a silver
accreditation with Investors in People. We know that the wellbeing of
employees is key to our success, and this is reflected in our
progressive policies around wellbeing, flexible working and mental
health.
Energy UK plays a key role in promoting diversity and inclusion across
the energy industry. In addition to our Young Energy Professionals
Forum, we run a thriving LGBT+ network - “Pride in Energy” - and
have an “Equality and Diversity Forum” to share best practice and
foster collaboration across the industry on all issues relating to
equality and diversity, through our annual Diversity and Inclusion
conference.
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Director of Strategic Communications
The role
The Director of Strategic Communications will be the Executive
responsible for overseeing the Association’s advocacy, strategic
communications, and campaigns programmes, working with the CEO
and other Executive Team members (particularly the Director of
Policy).
The Director will work with members and the rest of the team to
identify key priorities and campaign issues for Energy UK from our
policy activity or from the broader external environment. They will be
responsible for the delivery of both annual and multi-year campaigns
or messaging strategies within budget; they will liaise with staff,
members, and stakeholders to ensure our messaging is timely, well-
coordinated, and impactful; and they will identify the right channels -
digital and print media, events, political advocacy, etc - to get our
messages out.
They will also assist the CEO and Executive team on setting the
strategy and the overall direction of the Association; and they will
build positive relationships on behalf of industry with our
stakeholders. We expect the Director to act as spokesperson where
appropriate, attending meetings, and attending the Board and senior
Committees. We would welcome candidates with diverse
backgrounds and are open to all candidates shaping the role to suit
their skills, personality and experience. We expect this role to be
visible to our external audiences, but also to build and to champion a
team.
The Director role is a new post, and the successful candidate will be
able to shape the role alongside a relatively new management team
and with a strategy to implement. We want the Director to improve
our impact and advocacy skills across the team, such that we can
enable and support the energy sector as it transforms to deliver the
green economy, whilst providing exciting, affordable, and secure
energy services to the public. Some experience of the energy industry
or a similar field is therefore desirable, but not essential.
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Director of Strategic Communications
Responsibilities
• Oversee the Energy UK communications teams.
• Communicate policy positions to stakeholders effectively, through
targeted and timely messages and campaigns. Develop
communications across all media and other channels. Manage
reactive or urgent communications for the industry as required.
• Work with colleagues to establish our annual priorities based on
external environment and EUK policy priorities.
• Building excellent relationships with key individuals in government,
the media, industry, and other key stakeholders such as NGOs or
consumer groups.
• Input into Energy UK events schedule and detail of programmes.
• Act as spokesperson.
• Supporting the CEO and the wider executive team, working
collaboratively/adopting a collegiate approach.
• Understand issues facing the sector, keep up to date with policy and
regulatory teams, and horizon scan for issues or themes either in the
energy sector or wider environment.
• Support with developing member communications on all our
channels and internal communications which reflect our happy and
engaged culture.
• Actively recruit new members for the association.
• Other such duties as defined from time to time by the Chief
Executive.
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Director of Strategic Communications
Person specification
Essential knowledge and skills
• A strong background in communications, advocacy, public affairs, or
campaigns.
• Experience of working with multiple senior stakeholders, and
particularly with the UK Government and the media.
• Excellent written/oral communication skills and established networking
expertise.
• Keen interest in current affairs, knowledge of policy making (desirable).
• Ability to act as a representative or spokesperson to senior stakeholder.
Desirable knowledge and skills
• Knowledge of the energy industry, or closely related sector.
• Knowledge or experience of using digital communications channels and
tools.
Essential Management and teamwork
• Ability to work successfully as part of a team but with the potential or
demonstrable ability of leadership.
• Experience of project and financial management.
• Self-motivation and ability to manage a complex workload.
• Good people management skills and experience of matrix working.
Desirable Management and teamwork
• Experience of working as part of an Executive Team or Board.
• Experience of running events.
Qualifications
• At least 5 years relevant work experience; a relevant degree or
equivalent.
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Director of Strategic Communications
Benefits
• A competitive renumeration package.
• 25 days annual holiday + statutory holidays, & Christmas office closure.
• Season ticket loan, bike scheme, etc.
• An employer’s pension contribution of 5%.
• Health and dental insurance.
• Leave for Charitable work.
• Access to an employee assistance programme.
• Training and Development opportunities.
• Competitive maternity and paternity benefits.
• A hybrid working environment with the opportunity to work 2/3 days a
week from home.
• Flexible working hours, with core hours of 10am to 4pm.
• Further flexible working arrangements available from day one of
employment.
• Regular reviews and improvements to benefits scheme.
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Energy UK in the media
June 2021
From left: Alok Sharma; Isabella Tree; Sir David Attenborough;
Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah; Chris Packham
Artwork by Hanna Pasanen
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Chief Executive, Emma Pinchbeck
The Sunday Times Green Power List
Top 20 Environmentalists
Last July Pinchbeck was headhunted to be the face of the British energy
industry. Coming from Renewable UK, the trade body for the wind and solar
industry, and as the former head of climate change and energy at WWF-UK,
she was a perfect fit for the sector’s commitment to decarbonisation. But
Pinchbeck, 34, admits she had initial concerns that she was being hired for PR
purposes. “We had a long conversation about it at my interview,” she says.
“From my side, it was about how much I could use my experience to help the
industry transform. I took the job because I was content it wasn’t
greenwashing. That has continued to be the case.”
It has not all been plain sailing. “The energy sector is fully on board with
decarbonisation,” she says. “But there are differences of opinion about how
we get there.” So far, however, the industry can be proud of its record. Cheap
wind and solar power has caused fossil fuel use to plummet in recent years.
“It’s been a fantastic success story in the UK,” says Pinchbeck, who has a 20-
month-old daughter. “She’ll be almost the age I am now in 2050, by which
time we will have to have decarbonised the global economy. I think about that
all the time. I am deadly serious about this.”
Ben Spencer, Sunday June 13 2021, The Sunday Times
9Director of Strategic Communications
Next steps
Ellwood Atfield recruits for organisations that are seeking to
influence their external environments, and specialises in trade
association leadership.
We are specialist headhunters recruiting within communications,
public affairs, corporate affairs, sustainability, policy, regulatory, and
media relations.
Following interviews with Ellwood Atfield, successful candidates will be
invited for interviews with Energy UK.
We are committed to diversity and proud that, in acting for our clients,
we select candidates regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, disability,
religion or belief, being or becoming a transsexual, being pregnant,
married or in a civil partnership and age.
Please contact Gavin Ellwood or Dani Brown for an initial discussion and
to apply.
Gavin Ellwood is the founder of Ellwood Atfield and has
over twenty years’ headhunting experience. He advises
the boards of a diverse range of organisations and
global brands on the appointment of CEOs, Chairs,
NEDs and Directors.
07768 927 209 gavin@ellwoodatfield.com
Dani Brown specialises in senior executive, board and
advisory appointments across the corporate affairs,
sustainability, and communications functions. Prior to
joining Ellwood Atfield Dani worked with Korn Ferry
International and ran her own business.
07435 970 530 dani@ellwoodatfield.com
10The communications and advocacy headhunter Brussels • London • Geneva • Washington • Sydney
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