PR and Public Affairs Manager

Salary: up to £55k plus excellent bonus & benefits package Job Type: 12 month Fixed Term Contract Job Contact: 0131 245 1000 Closing Date: 9 December 2021 

 At Phoenix Group, our talented people act with integrity, deliver on promises and care about our customers, charities, and our role in the wider economy. We’re really proud of our legacy of helping our customers plan responsibly for their future. We utilise our diversity of outlook and unrivalled expertise to serve our customers better than anyone else. Working together for the right reasons we can achieve great things; for you, for our customers, for the business, and for society as a whole. 

 As one of the UK’s Top Employers we’ve brought together businesses with long, successful histories and many strengths. More than ever, people need help and guidance from a company which is simple to deal and who they trust. And that’s where you come in. 

 We’re currently recruiting for a Public Relations & Public Affairs Manager to join our growing Corporate Communications team to cover for a period of maternity leave that starts in February 2022. In this role you will work with Phoenix's Head of Media Relations and the Head of Public Affairs in protecting and enhancing Phoenix Group's brand and reputation with our key external stakeholders. A proven collaborator and relationship builder, with a keen interest in news and public affairs, you will develop an external engagement strategy combining PA and PR disciplines, working to build understanding of Phoenix Group and the things we are passionate about as a leading employer. You will work with colleagues across our organisation, including our leadership team, and members of our HR and social affairs teams. You will also lead on our activity in Scotland where we have a large operational base in Edinburgh. 

Key Responsibilities

- Support the development and implementation of a media relations and public affairs strategy which protects and enhances our brand and reputation with the media and policymakers. 

- Develop and maintain positions on existing and public policy issues impacting the business, scanning the horizon for emerging policy and issues. 

- Produce and manage communication plans and oversee the meetings and events calendar. 

- Produce a range of written outputs including press releases, consultation responses and briefing notes for meetings and events. 

- Represent the business at external events to share the company’s views and gather insights. 

- Identify proactive opportunities to enhance the company’s brand and reputation with PR and policymaker audiences. 

- Build and maintain a wide range of relationships both within the company and externally – e.g. journalists, political contacts, industry bodies - effectively engaging on issues of importance to our customers and our business. 

- Maintain specialist knowledge of the media relations and the external political environment in the UK, including Scotland. 

- Manage relationships to Board and Executive level. 

- Manage all risks appropriately and escalate where required. 

What We’re Looking For 

Essential

- At least five year's experience in Public Affairs and Public Relations

- Track record of setting strategy and delivering

- Understanding of the public affairs landscape in Scotland

- Undergraduate Degree (or equivalent)

- English speaker 

Desirable

- Public affairs relationships in Scotland

- Good journalist relationships across a breadth of media 

What We Offer 

Bring your ‘whole self’, skills and dedication to the Phoenix Group and we’ll recognise your effort, support your development and help to drive your ambition. We’ll ensure you’re rewarded for your contribution with a competitive package that includes an attractive pension, annual bonus potential, private medical insurance, generous holiday entitlement, enhanced maternity and adoption leave and a range of other financial services and lifestyle flexible benefits. 

Join us and you join a unique organisation. It’s not just the 14 million policyholders we serve, or the £300 billion of assets we look after. Or that we’re a FTSE 100 company that has been listed as one of the UK's Top Employers for nine years running. It’s our talented, inclusive and diverse workforce that makes us a success. We offer flexible working opportunities ensuring we attract and retain the very best of talent. Find out about more about our people’s stories, our values and our commitment to diversity. 

Key Competencies

- Stakeholder Management 

 Interprets and influences both the external and internal environments by creating positive relationships with stakeholders through the appropriate management of their expectations and agreed objectives. 

- Communication skills 

Clearly and effectively communicates information, ideas, plans, requests and opinions to internal and external stakeholders through a range of channels including written and oral. Ensures alignment with communication guidelines and policies. 

- Market & Industry knowledge 

 Knowledge of the markets, competitors, products, services, trends, impacting forces and factors, etc. that make up the industries the Phoenix Group operates in. 

- Planning & Organising 

Organises, prioritises and, where applicable, delegates work activities to efficiently accomplish tasks and meet objectives. Includes the principles of time management and multi-tasking. 

- Understanding the Company 

Understanding relationships within the organisation (and with our partners) and how to get things done at Phoenix Group. 

- Impact & Influence 

Influencing others to achieve a positive impact. This includes communicating clearly, building support for ideas and having an impact on other people. 

We value diversity in our workforce and welcome enquiries from everyone.