Head of Communications (Maternity Leave) in Watford

The Head of Global External Communications is responsible for building, stewarding and protecting Arup's external reputation on the world stage. This pivotal role leads the development and execution of a cohesive global external communications strategy, ensuring that Arup's voice is authoritative, trusted, and aligned with the firm's business priorities. The postholder will proactively seek opportunities to raise Arup's profile, manage reputational risk, and provide strategic counsel to senior leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement Arup's global external communications strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate strategy, purpose and values.
• Lead all PR and media activity, including global media relations, press engagement, and leadership visibility.
• Build a cohesive network of external communications leads worldwide, working and co-creating with them a unified team approach and systems to drive a joined-up approach.
• Anticipate and manage reputational risks, working with the Corporate Communications Leader to advise and help the business respond to moments of risk.
• Lead the development and execution of crisis communication plans, ensuring timely and effective response to issues.
• Develop and maintain a crisis communications toolkit and ensure readiness of teams globally.
• Work closely with external communications teams across Arup's global network to ensure a unified approach.
• Partner with Corporate Affairs, Marketing, Brand, Internal Communications, and Business Development to amplify Arup's impact.
• Ensure robust measurement and reporting of media performance, share of voice, and impact.
• Provide insights and analysis to inform leadership and support continuous improvement.

You will have the opportunity to do socially useful work that has meaning – to Arup, to your career, to our members and to the clients and communities we serve.

Qualifications:

• Significant experience in a senior communications, media relations, or corporate affairs role, ideally within a complex, international organisation.
• Proven track record in communications strategy, crisis communications, leadership communications, and media relations.
• Strong understanding of current trends in communications, digital tools, and reputation management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and concisely.
• Commitment to exemplifying Arup's values, including quality of work, integrity, and a collaborative, humane approach.
• Undergraduate and/or further degree in communications, journalism, marketing, or business management or equivalent as appropriate.

Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you're pregnant or on family leave. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference.