Head of Corporate Communications

The role

COVID-19

Were actively looking for people to join our teams, and were committed in protecting your health and wellbeing during every step of our recruitment process. If youre successful in securing a role with us youll find well be doing things a little bit differently! This may mean youll initially join our team working from home. During this time well work with you to make sure you have the tools and equipment you need and that you feel part of our outstanding DLG team!

About Us

Direct Line Group is one of the top tier motor, home and small business insurers in the UK and home to some of the nations best-known brands: Direct Line, Churchill, Privilege, Green Flag and NIG. Our mission is to make insurance easier and better value for customers.

We currently have an exciting opportunity to join our Bromley based External Affairs team as a Head of Corporate Communications.

The Role:

As a seasoned communications professional, you will lead DLGs Corporate Communications programme and protect the reputation of the Group whilst also raising the Groups profile.

What you'll be doing:

Working with the Director to devise and deliver all aspects of corporate and financial communications, including media engagement, digital and social media, executive visibility, speeches and briefings.

Develop and deliver strategic communications plans, crafted to support DLGs key business priorities and driving DLGs reputation as a business that it redefining to be more competitive and purpose driven.

Deliver joined up communications programs that align with our vision and purpose, strategic objective and sustainability strategy.

Lead internal agile transformation communication and build a compelling external narrative.

Partner with investor relations, marketing, HR and careers, internal comms and other areas of the business to ensure that we tell a consistent narrative across audiences and improve opportunities to deliver corporate communications.

Working with the Crisis team provide communications support on all issues that arise in the business and lead the response with key stakeholders during a crisis.

Line manages the Corporate Communication Manager and Corporate Communication Executive. Support and empower a successful team, and enable them to promote key initiatives, customers wins, product innovations, social impact programs, business transformation and brand sponsorship platforms.

Develop and deliver an executive visibility program for the Exco, SLT and key individuals that incorporate speaking engagements, paid and owned media engagements, as well as visibility in digital channels.

Implement and maintain a media training programme as well as a robust measurement program, including media and social media measurement, and generate quarterly media and social media reports.

Proactively seek partnership opportunities which align close to the Groups strategy to deliver impactful campaigns.

Write speeches, briefings, key messages and distil complicated information into creative language and concepts in order to improve communication opportunities.

What we are looking for:

Bachelors degree and/or extensive corporate affairs, public relations and communications experience.

Expertise in developing corporate communications plans aligning internal, external and stakeholder communications against business priorities.

Track record of successfully managing communications during times of crisis in a global organisation with experience counselling executives in crisis situations. Attention to detail is critical.

Outstanding writing skills and possesses the ability to communicate information effectively and accurately, verbally or in writing across multiple subject areas. Can synthesise large amounts of data and distil key points clearly, succinctly and quickly.

Highly curious with experience across a range of organisations and a keen interest in policy and current affairs.

Experience managing teams, with a passion for developing talent and building career paths.

Comfortable operating in a matrixed environment.

Excellent judgement and able to gain the trust of senior partners.

Experience building coordinated communications programs, and driving outcomes across traditional media and social channels

Desirable experience:

Understanding of UK regulatory frameworks for financial services.

Skilled at using social media, digital content creation to advance business priorities and amplify the corporate narrative.

Able to think ahead, engage proactively and take initiative.

Self-starter. Able to work independently as needed.

A natural problem solver who injects creativity into everything they do.

Capable of achieving results in a fast-paced and multifaceted environment, often on short deadlines.