Head of Colleague Communications (15 month FTC) in Doncaster

At Close Brothers we look to recruit individuals from all different backgrounds and encourage you to apply even if you don’t tick every box. We celebrate diversity, promote inclusivity and are open to discuss flexible work options to help you balance your work and home life.

Join the Close Brothers Motor Finance (CBMF) team, where you’ll be responsible for leading the development and execution of the colleague communications strategy that ensures all colleagues (UK, Ireland and Channel Islands) are informed, engaged, and aligned to Motor’s vision, mission, strategy, values, and goals. The role will shape and deliver compelling narratives that support business transformation, foster a OneTeam culture, and drive colleague engagement across all teams within Motor, including the wider Retail business and central functions. The role can be based in either our Doncaster or Manchester offices on a hybrid basis, but will also require travel between the two offices occasionally.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a colleague communications strategy that strengthens understanding of Motor’s vision, strategy, priorities and change programmes across Motor, Retail, Central Functions and the wider Group.
• Lead the creation of clear, engaging and consistent colleague messaging in partnership with your direct report.
• Partner with the Motor ExCo and Leadership Team to ensure all communications align with business objectives and values.
• Advise leaders as a trusted communications partner, providing guidance on tone, messaging and channel selection.
• Oversee all internal communication channels (e.g., intranet, print materials, newsletters, Townhalls, digital platforms, video).
• Drive colleague engagement initiatives that support a OneTeam culture and strengthen belonging.
• Lead communication activity for organisational change, ensuring clarity, empathy and transparency throughout.
• Develop campaigns that celebrate achievements, reinforce behaviours and embed organisational values.
• Measure communication effectiveness through audits, feedback, analytics and engagement data, and implement continuous improvements.
• Ensure all communications are inclusive, accessible and reflective of diverse colleague needs across office‑based, hybrid and on‑the‑road teams in the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands.

People

• Lead and engage your direct report to achieve high performance, and sponsor people initiatives within the team.
• Set the tone within the function/business by encouraging an inclusive culture and role modelling the company values and expected behaviours.
• As required, manage recruitment, development, reward and talent & succession planning.
• Role model the value of diversity within high performing teams.
• Establish an effective communication and feedback framework to ensure messages are effectively disseminated.
• Support sustainable growth through sponsoring career development and robust talent & succession planning.

What we’d love to hear from you if you have:

• Substantial experience in internal communications and colleague engagement, ideally in a leadership role.
• Experience in organisational storytelling to create compelling narratives that explain why change is needed.
• A proven track record of designing and delivering communication strategies in complex, fast‑paced organisations that are going through change.
• Strong influencing skills, with the ability to partner with senior leaders and act as a trusted advisor.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex information into compelling messages.
• Experience managing communications during periods of change, transformation and crisis.

IT IS NOT ESSENTIAL BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU HAVE:

• Email marketing experience.
• SharePoint intranet experience.
• Experience working alongside Ex-Cos and/or leadership teams.

We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We recognise that candidates may have specific needs that require adjustments to ensure they have a fair and equal opportunity to demonstrate their skills and abilities. Candidates who require the job description or application form in an alternative format, or any other adjustments, are encouraged to email us at recruit.ssc@closebrothers.com or request a call back.

About Us: Close Brothers is a leading UK merchant banking group providing lending, deposit taking and securities trading. We employ approximately 3,000 people, principally in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Close Brothers Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250.