Head of Internal Communications in Cardiff

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver against an internal communications strategy that meets the company's objectives and vision.
• Own and implement internal communications handling strategies for the company's key communications campaigns.
• Build strong relationships with business areas to understand their internal communications support requirements and deliver two-way communications channels that meet business needs.
• Use insight and evaluation to identify target audiences and partners and inform communication objectives, messages and solutions.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders within the business, building relationships at Executive level to achieve communications and engagement objectives.
• Oversee delivery of effective, evaluated communication activities in line with agreed campaign activities including internal events.
• Own and maintain an internal communications grid and the timely and accurate feed from this into the central grid.
• Provide leadership, guidance, management, development and support to the internal communications team.
• As part of the Welsh Water communications senior management team, provide insight, support and advice to colleagues to ensure delivery of the team's objectives.
• Provide essential 24/7 press office service and support to gold, silver, and bronze operational incidents as part of the on‑call out of hours rota.
• Undertake line management activities in line with company requirements including PDR management, health and safety and financial management.
• Segment employee audiences and define appropriate internal channels to ensure targeted, effective two‑way communication across diverse colleague groups.
• Equip leaders and managers with communication toolkits, enabling them to deliver clear, consistent and timely messages to their teams.
• Identify emerging employee issues, risks or sentiment trends and elevate that insight to senior leaders to support informed decision making.
• Support development of the suite of colleagues/customer collateral needed for operational incidents.

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience of transformational change within a large organization and delivering engaging two‑way communications to build trust of colleagues and support the company in meeting customer promises.
• Strong background in internal communications, culture change and campaign management.
• Ability to build relationships at all levels of the organization, including as a trusted advisor to senior leaders.
• Experience of developing and delivering compelling internal communications campaigns focused on colleague engagement and delivery of business priorities.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience of working at a similar level in a specialist area and/or with a professional communication or equivalent qualification.
• Experience of working in a communications environment in a customer‑focused organization/industry.
• A proven track record in communication campaign management.
• Track record in engaging employees in change management programmes and building relationships and internal partnerships to form strategic plans.
• Credibility and experience to advise senior managers effectively about communications issues.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong change communication experience and ability to work with and influence senior leaders.
• Ability to work at senior level to achieve long‑term strategic goals through creating, developing and implementing the communications strategy.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to establish rapport, credibility and relationships across Welsh Water.
• Ability to motivate and influence others and manage resistance to change.
• Confidence in using new communication technologies.
• Ability to build relationships at all levels across the organization, empathise and get to the crux of what is on the mind of employees.
• Proven ability to project manage, including change management and benefits realisation (desirable).
• Clear understanding of budgets and financial management within a large organization.
• Proven ability to achieve results both autonomously and as part of a team.
• Ability to manage complex activities and events.
• Strong understanding of the role internal communications plays in employee engagement.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and 34 days annual leave (pro‑rata, including public holidays).
• Option to buy additional annual leave up to 5 days per year.
• Enhanced employer pension contributions – up to 11% employer contributions.
• Free Mortgage Brokering Services.
• Enhanced family‑friendly policies.
• Progression opportunities, including the ability to apply for funded training, coaching and mentoring programmes.
• Gym and fitness discounts as well as high‑street shopping.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Discount off all Welsh Water visitor attraction centres and gift shops.
• Car‑leasing scheme and free on‑site parking at all sites.
• Health CashBack scheme and access to an online GP service.
• An employee assistance programme for employees and their immediate family.