Role description
Director of Communications, Insight and Policy
Salary: £115,000 - £127,000
Location: London with hybrid working (up to 60% remote working)
Reporting to: CEO
Purpose
The Director of Communications, Insight and Policy (DCIP) leads a team of around 20 in three main areas of work. First, the Directorate includes all aspects of EngineeringUK’s communications. This activity reaches a range of audiences, from teachers and careers leaders to engineering employers and policy makers. It raises reputation, brand profile, and awareness, and positions EngineeringUK as thought leaders, drives engagement with our activities, content and messaging, as well as supporting our fundraising efforts. The Director also has responsibility for the digital strategy, including how we use digital channels to reach and influence our audiences, anticipating emerging opportunities and deploying new digital technologies and products, including those based on AI, to enhance our impact and reach.
The DCIP oversees our research and evaluation activity that analyses the composition of the current engineering, technology & technician workforce, future workforce needs and how to address them. We also produce and publish comprehensive evaluations of our activities, including those for schools, as well as conducting evidence reviews to improve practice.
Finally, the DCIP oversees policy and public affairs work aims to address policy and delivery challenges related to education, skills and workforce planning and engages in proactive and reactive policy and public affairs activity. The team connects a breadth of work across EngineeringUK with government departments and arms lengths bodies that we are funded by or work alongside. The Director will also play an active external role, building influential relationships and representing EngineeringUK in relevant policy and sector forums.
Reporting to the Chief Executive of EngineeringUK as part of the Executive Team, the DCIP is expected to understand the governance requirements of charities and companies and work with the Board of EngineeringUK and any subsidiary companies to support decision making across the whole. The Director contributes to the collective development of staff across the organisation, constantly seeking to become more strategic, purposeful and effective. All members of the Executive Team are expected to act as ambassadors for the organisation and model the values of EngineeringUK, including our commitment to environmental sustainability, to equity, diversity and inclusion and our appetite to learn how we can do better across all our work.
The role is based at the EngineeringUK offices in London with a minimum of 2 days (or 40%) a week in the office but typically more for Directors, and a need for occasional travel, principally within the UK.
The organisation
Key responsibilities
As a member of the Executive Team, fully participate in the strategic leadership of EngineeringUK to ensure that ambitious, impactful and resilient plans are in place and monitored in the short and longer term.
Support the Chief Executive in their work with the EngineeringUK Board, including preparing for and contributing to effective Board engagement and decision-making.
Lead the organisation in strengthening its reputation, brand and positioning for impact and oversees the overarching communications strategy and its delivery:
comprehensive communications plans for EngineeringUK’s activities including clear objectives, targets and monitoring
developing and using audience insights and channel expertise
communications with key audiences including encouraging them to amplify our messages
clear and consistent internal communications.
Lead EngineeringUK's digital communications strategy, identifying opportunities to strengthen audience engagement, reach and impact through digital channels, products and emerging technologies, including AI.
Oversight of key organisational events such as the Big Bang Fair, the Big Bang in Parliament and Tomorrow’s Engineers Live, ensuring that they are strategic, responsive to audience, funder and EngineeringUK’s needs, and as impactful as possible.
Ensure that target audiences, including careers professionals, receive accurate and inclusive information about modern engineering, technology and technician careers, the routes into them, and the role of professional registration.
Oversight of the development and implementation of EngineeringUK’s Policy and Public Affairs strategy, working proactively as well as responsively, and ensuring that work is aligned with and complements that of our corporate members, the National Engineering Policy Centre and other stakeholder groups.
Oversight of EngineeringUK’s research activity to provide an authoritative, objective and accurate evidence base for our work as well as that of members and key partners, such as: understanding the state of engineering in the UK, the associated workforce, pathways into engineering and technology, and how to increase the number and diversity of young people choosing engineering.
Oversight of the development and implementation of a rigorous approach to the measurement and evaluation of all EngineeringUK’s activities to inform decisions and future plans as well as capturing the social value and social impact of our activities.
Lead a team of around 20 staff, overseeing the day-to-day management of direct reports, working with them to prioritise work, set objectives and supporting their ongoing development.
Act as a senior advocate for EngineeringUK, representing the organisation on various committees and working groups.
Contributing to supporting processes within EngineeringUK, including the Quality Management System (ISO9001), DBS checking, GDPR, performance management and training and development.
Model EngineeringUK’s values through decisions, leadership behaviours and relationships with colleagues and partners.
Person specification
Essential skills/ competencies
Demonstrable commitment to EngineeringUK’s purpose and values, with the credibility to act as an ambassador for the organisation and a role model for colleagues.
Proven experience of leading strategic communications, strengthening organisational reputation, shaping messaging and engaging a range of audiences.
Experience in leading the development of digital products and effectively deploying new technologies including AI to strengthen wider communications activity.
Experience leading, managing and motivating multidisciplinary teams beyond their own area of functional expertise, alongside demonstrable knowledge and experience in at least one of the following areas: research, evaluation, policy or public affairs.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills with evidence of building and maintaining effective relationships at all levels inside and outside an organisation; able to persuade and influence others using reason and co-operation, to listen well, establish credibility and inspires collaboration.
Experienced in strategic analysis and strategy setting in an executive or senior leadership role with a pro-active approach towards improvement.
Flexible and imaginative approach to problem solving with the ability to question assumptions and deliver challenging messages constructively.
Desirable attributes
Knowledge of the engineering and technology sector
Knowledge of STEM education and engagement
