Director of Communications

UK Anti-Doping

Location Hybrid (WFH/SportPark, Loughborough)
Salary £74,800 pro rata (22 hours per week (3 days) £45,711)
Team Communications
  • Closing: 11:59pm, 7th Sep 2022 BST

Job Description

Job Purpose:

•    As a member of the senior leadership team, play an active role in the implementation of UKAD’s strategy, working with the Chief Executive and other Directors.

•    Build and deliver UKAD’s communication strategy

•    Responsible for leading the internal and external communications of UKAD

•    Lead the communications directorate, providing people management and leadership to the team of communications professionals.

•    Work across a range of communications disciplines including PR / Media Relations, Strategic Communications, Internal Communications, Stakeholder Engagement, Digital, Campaigns / Marketing, Events, and Evaluation

•    Define key messages and positioning of UKAD, enhancing our reputation through understanding and being understood by key stakeholders and audiences including sports, government, international partners, and the media.

•    Devise and implement targeted communications campaigns that build awareness of and confidence in UKAD with stakeholders and wider sporting community

•    Assess the impact of communications activity across a range of measures including input, output, out-take, outcome and return on investment.

Key result areas:

Leadership

•    Contribute to the effective leadership of the organisation as a member of the senior leadership team; working with colleagues throughout the organisation to identify and deliver ways of improving UKAD’s effectiveness and efficiency.

•    To lead all aspects of UKAD’s communication function including setting strategy, building capability and overseeing a range of activities including media relations, stakeholder management, digital, publications, events, and internal communication.

•    Lead the delivery of media relations and communication activity for the organisation, securing positive coverage and managing its reputation.

•    Agree plans, targets and standards for the Directorate that support the attainment of UKAD’s strategic objectives with the Chief Executive.

•    Lead the Communications team, setting the vision, direction, developing capability, and generating a sense of common purpose.

Service Delivery

•    Devise and lead the implementation of a cohesive communications strategy

•    Lead UKAD’s external communication of its core purpose, goals and delivery to key stakeholders including athletes, sports, the media.

•    Define key messages and positioning of UKAD, enhancing our reputation through understanding and being understood by key stakeholders and audiences including sports, government, international partners and the media

•     Take strategic oversight of UKAD’s brand identities to ensure they are maintained and strengthened, internally and externally.

•    Measure performance of communications activity, including digital content

•    Work with Chief Executive and Directors Team on the timely and appropriate response to Parliamentary Questions and other requests from central government.

•    Lead the internal communication activity, ensuring effective and inclusive communications to UKAD’s workforce.

•    Ensure effective online communications across the organisation are inclusive, accessible and cost-effective, working with colleagues in Business Services to ensure digital communications are delivered in accordance with data protection laws and cyber-security protocols.  

•    May be required to act as a spokesperson for the organisation.

•    Lead the crisis communications planning and delivery for the organisation.

Relationship Management

•    Develop and maintain positive and constructive relationships with media organisations.

•    Manage relationships with major event organisers

•    Manage the relationships with key stakeholders

Governance

•    Plan, manage and monitor the financial and human resources of the team. Provide robust advice to the Chief Executive on priorities and development needs.

•    Provide policy guidance, negotiating positions and briefings for public representation to the Chief Executive, Chair and Board.

•    Develop and apply appropriate activity reporting mechanisms consistent with KPIs in the Funding Agreement.

•    Ensure compliance with the governments advertising, marketing and communications spend controls

Projects

•    Lead (and sponsor) projects as appropriate.

Senior Management Competencies:

Values and Inclusivity

Demonstrate an authentic commitment to our values through leadership; and play an active role in ensuring the environment we create is diverse and inclusive.

Driving for Results

Setting high goals for personal and group accomplishment; using measurement methods to monitor progress toward goal attainment; tenaciously working to meet or exceed those goals while deriving satisfaction from the progress of goal achievement and continuous improvement.

Strategic Decision Making

Obtaining information and identifying key issues and relationships relevant to achieving a long-range goal or vision; committing to a course of action to accomplish a long-range goal or vision after developing alternatives based on logical assumptions, facts available resources, constraints and organisational values.

Selling the Vision

Passionately communicating an organisational strategy; creating a clear view of the future state by helping others understand and feel how things will be different when the future vision is achieved.

Developing Strategic Relationships

Using appropriate interpersonal styles and communication methods to influence and build effective relationships with business partners (e.g. peers, functional partners, external vendors, and alliance partners.)

Team Development

Using appropriate methods and interpersonal styles to develop, motivate, and guide a team toward successful outcomes and attainment of business objectives.

Business Acumen

Understanding and utilising economic, financial and industry data to accurately diagnose business strengths and weaknesses, identifying key issues, and developing strategies and plans.

Qualifications/experience/knowledge

•    An experienced professional with demonstrable experience working in a senior management role in a communication related role

•    Proven experience of risk and reputation communication management and working with the national media, both reactively and proactively.

•    Experience of communication activities, including digital, publications, branding and public affairs.

•    Proven experience in managing people, budgets and stakeholders.

•    Experienced in building strong relationships with a variety of different stakeholders.

An understanding/appreciation of the sporting landscape, and how best to engage with athletes and the wider sports community.

•    Exceptional oral and written communication skills both internally and externally.

Benefits

·      25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and accrue one days annual leave for every year of service, up to 30 days 

·       Two days paid Sports Leave and one day paid Volunteer Leave per annual leave year 

·       SMART working including hybrid working arrangement  

·       Flexible Start and Finish times (start between 08:00 – 10:00 finish between 16:15 – 18:15) 

·       Healthy Lifestyle Benefit 

·       Employee Assistance Programme

·       Eye care vouchers 

·       Government Pension Scheme (LPGS) with four per cent pension allowance on top of your basic salary

·       Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

·       Family friendly leave including emergency leave and parental leave

·       Cycle to Work Scheme

·       Interest free Season Ticket Loan 

·       Staff Consultation Forum

·       Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Working Party

Removing bias from the hiring process

Applications closed Wed 7th Sep 2022

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Removing bias from the hiring process

  • Your application will be anonymously reviewed by our hiring team to ensure fairness
  • You’ll need a CV/résumé, but it’ll only be considered if you score well on the anonymous review

Applications closed Wed 7th Sep 2022