Director, External Communications, Academia & Government

Lead on external communications for our Academia & Government segment, including media relations, thought leadership, organic social media, stakeholder engagement and issues management. Ensure alignment with business objectives to enhance our reputation with research, library and student communities. Manage relationships with key stakeholders across the business, including senior leadership. Manage a small team of communications professionals based in Europe. This role reports to the Senior Head for External Communications, sits on the leadership team for Academia & Government revenue marketing, and is part of the global Communications and Brand function.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver the external communications strategy for the Academia & Government segment, ensuring alignment with business priorities and Clarivate’s corporate narrative, to strengthen reputation with research, library and education communities.
• Oversee media relations for the segment, including proactive storytelling, newsjacking, reactive issue handling, and relationship management with relevant national, trade and international media.
• Develop and manage thought leadership programs that position Clarivate as a trusted partner and authority across academia, libraries and government, working closely with subject matter experts and senior leaders.
• Lead organic social media strategy for the segment, ensuring content is engaging, consistent, aligned with brand guidelines, and supports engagement with priority stakeholder audiences.
• Act as a trusted communications adviser to senior leaders within the Academia & Government business, providing strategic counsel, message development and media preparation as required.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders across the business, ensuring joined‑up communications and effective collaboration with global Communications and Brand teams.
• Ensure all external communications activity is high quality, evidence‑based, and compliant with governance, brand and approval processes.
• Monitor, evaluate and report on the effectiveness of external communications activity, using insight and data to inform continuous improvement and strategic decision-making.
• Work closely with the Senior Director to manage issues and risk communications, in partnership with legal and senior leadership to anticipate, mitigate and respond to reputational challenges.

About You

You are a strategic external communications leader with significant experience shaping reputation and narrative in complex, knowledge‑led environments. You bring sound judgement, intellectual curiosity and a calm, thoughtful approach to issues and risk. You are comfortable operating at a senior level and a fast pace, advising leaders and influencing across the organisation, while also remaining hands‑on where needed. You value clarity, credibility and evidence, and understand the importance of tailoring communications to highly informed, specialist audiences. You are collaborative, pragmatic and able to balance strategic thinking with delivery.

10+ years experience

• Experienced people manager
• Background in research, education or scholarly publishing preferred

It would be great if you also have…

• Experience working within academia, libraries, research, education, government or scholarly publishing, with a strong understanding of the sector landscape and stakeholder expectations.
• A strong track record of building trusted relationships with senior leaders and subject‑matter experts.
• Confidence working with data, insight and evidence to inform communications strategy and demonstrate impact.
• Experience working across regions and time zones in a matrixed, international environment.
• Experience handling sensitive issues and reputational risk in complex, global organizations.

About The Team

The role sits within Clarivate’s External Communications function and is part of the wider Communications and Brand team. You will work closely with colleagues across External Communications, Brand, Internal Communications, Digital and Web, as well as with senior leaders across the Academia & Government segment. The Director will manage a small, Europe‑based external communications team and work in close partnership with colleagues across regions to ensure consistent, joined‑up communications.

Hours of work

Full time – 37.5 hours per week. Based out of our London or Cambridge office on a hybrid basis, 2 days per week in the office.

At Clarivate, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons with respect to hiring, compensation, promotion, training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. We comply with applicable laws and regulations governing non‑discrimination in all locations.