Communications Manager

Overview of the Company

dnata is one of the world’s largest air and travel services providers, offering ground handling, cargo, travel and catering & retail services at over 130 airports in more than 30 countries across six continents. At dnata, we are by your side for the entire travel experience. dnata Catering and Retail is one of the world’s leading in-flight hospitality providers, delivering world-class culinary services and innovative products that enhance our passengers’ experience.

Purpose of the role

The Internal Communications Specialist will shape and deliver dnata Catering UK’s (dCUK) internal Communication strategy. The role will involve strategic planning and execution of Communications initiatives for audiences at dCUK’s sites across the UK and based our unit at Heathrow Airport in Hounslow.

Role and Responsibilities

Working in an integral way with the Leadership team, the HR team and other key internal stakeholders, the role will plan and execute the dCUK Communications strategy to deliver engaging messaging using a multi-channel approach to help us deliver some high profile projects we’re in the process of implementing

General Organisation Comms

• Create the annual dCUK internal Communications plan and budget
• Collaboration is key but we need to ensure that we’re consistent in our approach and key messages and changes are understood by all
• Leading on daily marketing and communication activities – with a focus on change management and how this best flows between front line and leadership
• Creating materials and content for a range of internal Communications channels, for example: e-newsletters, local briefing sessions, Viva Engage (Yammer), email, intranet and video content
• Building on what we want to share externally via LinkedIn and using this as an attraction tool as well as communication channel
• Help create regular management information to demonstrate the effectiveness of internal communication channels and engagement activities.
• Relaunch and refresh the dCUK Intranet site ensuring content is updated, relevant and actively maintained
• Develop and maintain a Communications SharePoint Site
• Create materials and portals for better implementation of Communications
• Contribute to the performance management of indirect reports as required
• Undertake / facilitate technical and professional training as required
• Develop and implement integrated marketing communication plans that align with dCUK’s strategic goals.
• Oversee the creation of marketing collateral, including brochures, flyers, presentations, and advertisements.
• Manage digital marketing efforts, including website content management, SEO, and social media strategy.
• Coordinate public relations activities, including press releases, media outreach, and handling media inquiries.
• Monitor and analyse market trends and competitor activities to inform marketing strategies.
• Plan and execute events, including trade shows, exhibitions, and corporate events, ensuring alignment with overall communication strategies.

Business updates

• Work with CEO’s office to develop and deliver a regular cadence of business updates to ensure the broader business is fully aware of the unit and wider company performance and strategy.
• Utilise a range of tools and techniques to create engaging materials with appropriate messaging – the emphasis throughout is how we communicate in order to engage understanding

Change and IT Programme Comms

• Provide Communication and Engagement expertise across the Change programme
• Work with Business Change and IT project managers to create and maintain a forward plan of programme and project Communication and Engagement activities
• Build and maintain relationships with workstream leads across the programme to identify requirements and work collaboratively to create and deliver key messages to stakeholders
• Ensure that impact on each audience group is fully understood to create a coherent and joined-up picture of change for the recipients.
• Some of the projects are quite complex so there is a requirement to simplify as best we can so everyone fully understand impact as well as contributory requirements

The above list is not exhaustive, and the post-holder will undertake any other duties as required commensurate with the role and responsibilities of the post.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Extensive (5+ years) experience in-house communications functions, trained in a corporate environment
• Strong knowledge of communication and engagement best practice and tools.
• Proven ability to work in a small team taking ownership for a wide variety of responsibilities

Desirable

• Experience of working in the airline, logistics or transport sector.
• Experience of working in an operational and unionised environment

The ideal person will have the following:

• Extensive Communication and Engagement experience with a proven track record in engaging a range of audiences.
• Proven ability of successfully building and maintaining strong and positive stakeholder relationships at various levels of seniority.
• Experience at managing communication channels including social, digital and traditional channels
• Experience of coordinating communication activity across a range of project activities.
• Ability to assimilate new concepts quickly
• Self-starter, comfortable in working in an evolving environment and confident to take accountability to set up a communication function from scratch
• Proven ability to multitask and operate with flexibility in a fast-paced environment, meeting deadlines with resilience