Senior Communications Manager

About Network Rail

We get people where they need to be, whether they are commuting to work, visiting friends or family, or going for a night out. We make millions of lives better every day and have a vital job in driving the economy and prosperity of the nation! Over the coming years we will be building and improving crucial rail links between the country’s biggest cities, making our services faster, more comfortable and more reliable for the people who rely on us. We’re also changing our organisation to put the passenger at the heart of everything we do, to make our people even prouder to work for us and to be recognised as a true leader in our industry.

In joining Network Rail, you’re not only joining an organisation with a vital role to play for the country, but also a team of more than 40,000 people, and a business dedicated to being one of Britain’s best employers.

Brief Description

There is an exciting opportunity to join us in a role that is vital to our success. We are looking for a Senior Communications Manager to join our Communications team. The role of Senior Communications Manager is to develop and deliver consistent and effective communications strategies for key projects aligned with Network Rail’s national communications strategy so that a broad range of stakeholders including media, public affairs, community relations and employees are effectively engaged. The role can be based in York or King’s Cross. This is a 12-month secondment opportunity.

About The Role (External)

Role and Responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

• Develop, drive and implement communications plans for key projects, working collaboratively with stakeholders to create content, campaigns and events, to support the delivery of business objectives and drive performance.
• Establish and maintain strong and trusting relationships with key stakeholders, working collaboratively in order to support the identification, development and delivery of their internal communications goals.
• Lead communications activities which present reputational risk or opportunities for the business.
• Establish an effective network of internal and external contacts and provide direction/influence to senior managers and external industry parties where appropriate.
• Identify and supply content for internal communications channels and act as a conduit for material/information across communications teams.
• Provide advice/guidance on communications activity undertaken by key personnel including directors, project managers and sponsors, delivering consistency with the national communications strategy and in accordance with Network Rail’s corporate policies.
• Check all branding used complies with Network Rail’s policy on branding, visual identity and image.
• Evaluate communications activities on the project, from effectiveness to budget spend, so that improvements can be identified during and after the project.
• Create and lead a team of media relations and internal communications colleagues including carrying out regular 121s, appraisals, objective setting and performance monitoring and onboarding contractors as appropriate.
• Implement the crisis communications plan as and when appropriate.
• Be a part of an on-call rota to respond to operational and reputational challenges out of hours.

Are you?

• Educated to degree level or a professional communications qualification (eg IoIC, CIPR, PRCA) or demonstrable equivalent experience.
• Substantial experience in corporate communications.
• High standards of written and spoken communication.
• The experience and personal credibility to work effectively with senior managers.
• Strong influencing skills.
• Proven ability to grasp, understand and promote complex and sensitive issues in a persuasive and sensible way.
• Ability to develop and maintain a wide network of stakeholder contacts.
• Evidence of good planning and financial skills, with the ability to deliver projects and activities on time and within budget.

Do you have?

• Experience of directing and managing agency support.
• Relevant professional qualifications.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

How To Apply (External)

Salary and benefits:

• Salary of £46,701-£53,589 (Band 3B) depending on skills, qualifications and experience.
• 28 days annual leave entitlement plus bank holidays.
• 35 hours per week.
• My benefits – Our discounted online shopping site.
• A range of discounted offers including childcare vouchers, healthcare offers – cycle to work, healthcare club discounted membership and other benefits.
• Subsidies of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets.
• A choice of contributory pension schemes.
• 2 weeks paid reserve leave for our Armed Forces community.

Please note that the advert closes on the 14 May 2025 and late applications will not be considered.

We care deeply about welcoming people no matter where they’re from, how old they are or what disability they may have. We encourage applications from every age, race, ethnicity, disability, gender, gender identity, religion, culture, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, maternity or caring responsibility. We want our employees to bring their whole self to work and that starts with you!

We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential skills and experience detailed above. Network Rail positively embraces flexible working, recognising that employees may wish to balance work and family/home life. We will consider all flexible working applications.

Network Rail is required to comply with UK Government standards when carrying out pre-employment checks for all new starters; this includes a basic criminal record check. In addition to the basic criminal record check, in accordance with the UK Government we are also required to verify your identity, right to work in the UK and previous three years employment history.

If you like the sound of all that, we’d love it if you could submit your application online. If you need an alternative method of applying, please contact Rochelle Atkinson at rochelle.atkinson@networkrail.co.uk.