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- Tasks: Lead strategic communications and enhance employee experience at a top publishing group.
- Company: Join Hachette UK, a creative powerhouse in the book publishing industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy 28 days of annual leave, summer hours, and discounts on books.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment with diverse authors and stories.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in strategic communications and exceptional stakeholder management skills.
- Other info: Flexible working with a blend of office and home-based days.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Hachette UK is a creative powerhouse and the UK's second largest book publishing group. Our mission is to make it easy for everyone to discover new worlds of ideas, learning, entertainment and opportunity. We're made up of 10 autonomous publishing divisions and over 60 imprints with a rich and diverse history and an incredible range of authors. We're also the market leader in e-books and publish a range of bestsellers in audio format, the fastest growing part of our business.
Our award-winning adult publishing divisions are Orion, which won Publisher of the Year at the 2021 British Book Awards; Little, Brown; John Murray Press; Hodder & Stoughton; Headline; Octopus, and Bookouture, which won British Book Awards' Imprint of the Year in 2025. They publish fiction and non-fiction in digital, audio and print format, from the world's best and most diverse authors, including Brit Bennett, Candice Carty-Williams, Martina Cole, Michael Connelly, John Grisham, Stephen King, Stieg Larsson, Nelson Mandela, Stephenie Meyer, Maggie O'Farrell, Delia Owens, Ian Rankin, J.K. Rowling, Colson Whitehead, and Malala Yousafzai. Hachette Children's Group publishes a wide and vibrant range of books for children across all age ranges, while Hachette Learning is a market leader in resources for both primary and secondary schools.
Hachette UK is part of Hachette Livre, the world's third largest trade and educational publisher. As well as our headquarters in Carmelite House, London, and our state-of-the-art book distribution centre in Didcot, Oxfordshire, we have recently opened five new offices in Manchester, Bristol, Sheffield, Newcastle, and Edinburgh. The UK region also includes offices in Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, the Caribbean, and Ireland.
It's an exciting time to join our business as the publishing market continues to grow and thrive. The UK remains the largest exporter of physical books in the world and book adaptations for film and TV are the foundation of the UK's creative industries.
What you'll be doing
- Strategic Communications: advising on and executing a robust internal communications strategy that aligns with Hachette UK’s mission and pillars.
- Strategic Advisory: acting as a trusted advisor to the business on communication issues that influence company reputation and the overall employee experience.
- Integrated Communications: collaborating with our HR team, Divisional Communications Directors, and Hachette UK Board members to ensure a unified voice for both internal and external stakeholders.
- Employee experience focused: front-footed in finding efficient ways to make it easy for staff to get information and news, including working on internal events, both in office and off-site.
- Content & Engagement: driving communications and leveraging analytics and listening tools to fine-tune our activity and deliver high-impact storytelling.
- External Representation: supporting the Group Communications Director by contributing to the creation and drafting of communication and building on the company’s presence on external channels, including our website, LinkedIn and Instagram.
- Adaptive Expertise: working flexibly and intuitively to lend expertise in line with changing business needs, ensuring the communications function remains agile in an evolving landscape.
Who we are looking for
- An experienced and strategic communicator with exceptional communication skills and proven success in developing and executing impactful internal and external communications strategies and plans.
- Outstanding owner mentality, who is solution-focused and brilliant at taking the initiative.
- Strategic agility and ability to balance long-term strategic planning with a "hands-on" approach to delivery in a fast-paced environment.
- Expert stakeholder management skills – someone who is confident in building relationships and gaining buy-in from senior leaders, acting as a trusted advisor on sensitive issues.
- Digital expertise in using platforms and tools to enhance communication reach and monitor impact.
- External understanding and experience in external communications or PR, ideally in the arts sector, and experience with media relations and responding to press office queries.
What we offer
- 28 annual leave days per year, increases to 29 days after 2 years' service and goes up to 30 days after 5 years' (+ bank holidays)
- 2 community days per year
- Summer hours (finishing at 1pm on Fridays during the summer months)
- Retail discounts through Hachette rewards
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Wide-ranging training library
- Development programmes (including mentoring)
- Up to 70% off book purchases
- A charity bookshelf
- 12 Staff-led employee networks that are voluntary, including AgeWise, Gender Balance, Thrive, Pride, All Together, Wellbeing and religious networks
- Season ticket loans
- And much more!
The role will be based at our London, Edinburgh or Sheffield office, with a blend of in-office (3 days) and homeworking (2 days) per week.
Our commitment
Hachette employs people on the basis of their abilities. We aim to attract and develop talent from a base as broad as the world of readers we want to reach, with a wide and representative range of age, faith, disability, race, gender, sexuality and socio-economic, regional and cultural backgrounds.
If you are shortlisted and need us to make any adjustments to help you attend your interview, please let us know.
The Book Trade Charity offers financial support to people looking to enter the book trade but who may struggle to afford the costs of attending interviews and undertaking junior roles. For more information visit www.booktradeentrysupport.org
Senior Communications Consultant (12 month FTC) employer: Hachette UK
Contact Detail:
Hachette UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Communications Consultant (12 month FTC)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Hachette UK on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching Hachette's recent projects and initiatives. Show us that you’re not just interested in the role but also passionate about their mission and values.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills! Be ready to share examples of how you've successfully executed communications strategies in the past. We want to hear about your impact!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Communications Consultant (12 month FTC)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Communications Consultant role. Highlight your experience in strategic communications and how it aligns with Hachette UK's mission. We want to see how you can bring your unique flair to our creative powerhouse!
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t just list your skills; demonstrate them! Use specific examples from your past roles where you've successfully executed internal and external communication strategies. We love seeing real-life applications of your expertise!
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We’re looking for someone who can engage a broad audience, so don’t be afraid to show us your voice and style. Authenticity goes a long way in making a memorable impression!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hachette UK
✨Know Your Audience
Before the interview, do your homework on Hachette UK. Familiarise yourself with their publishing divisions, key authors, and recent projects. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in the company and its mission.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As a Senior Communications Consultant, your ability to communicate effectively is crucial. Prepare examples of past experiences where you've successfully developed and executed communication strategies. Be ready to discuss how you can distil complex ideas into engaging content for diverse audiences.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Agility
Highlight your experience in balancing long-term planning with hands-on execution. Share specific instances where you've adapted your communication strategies in response to changing business needs, showcasing your flexibility and problem-solving skills.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Prepare to discuss your approach to stakeholder management. Think of examples where you've built relationships with senior leaders or acted as a trusted advisor. This will demonstrate your ability to navigate sensitive issues and gain buy-in from key players in the organisation.
