Howden Foundation - Communications & Engagement Lead

Who are we?

Howden is a collective – a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 18,000 employees spanning over 100 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

Who are we?

Established in 2014, the Howden Foundation is the corporate foundation of Howden, one of the world’s leading global insurance groups and the second largest employee-owned business in the UK.

Since inception, the foundation has been deeply rooted in Howden\\\’s culture of giving back reflecting the longstanding commitment of both Howden, and its employees, to be a force for good.

The Howden Foundation benefits from generous support from Howden and its employees. A unique feature of the funding model is the allocation of shares from both Howden, and its employees, during Howden\\\’s annual share award schemes.

As a shareholder, this means that as Howden grows, so too does the foundation’s ability to support others. In just the last five years, the foundation’s assets have doubled in value to £30m and it expects to see this double again in the next couple of years.

The foundation is dedicated to addressing complex and challenging issues. Over the past year, it has strengthened its commitment to tackling climate change, partnering with high quality organisations that share its vision of a world where everyone is resilient to the impacts of climate change.

While the climate crisis affects everyone, its impacts are disproportionately felt by those who have contributed least towards it. In response, the foundation has focused its efforts on the Global South, with a mission to ensure those most exposed to the impacts of climate change, especially extreme heat and drought, are equipped with the tools to prepare, adapt and recover.

Its ambition to unlock scalable solutions has become increasingly critical. The foundation has doubled its financial commitments over the past year and has increased the non-financial support offered in partnership with its corporate donor, Howden.

Some examples of the foundation’s work include its collaboration with Climate Resilience for All and the Self-Employed Women’s Association on the Women’s Climate Shock Insurance and Livelihoods Initiative; a groundbreaking programme supporting women to prepare and recover from the devastating impacts of extreme heat in India. And its partnership with RedR UK, to deliver online training that will further equip climate responders in Somalia and Afghanistan with solutions to address severe drought.

Alongside its climate work, the foundation proudly champions and supports the charitable giving of Howden employees through its People First Fund.

The People First ethos has been central to Howden since its founding in 1994. The Fund offers matched funding for employee donations and fundraising efforts and also supports the annual Howden Foundation Charity Awards; a highly anticipated occasion where employees nominate the charitable causes that matter most to them to receive a significant donation from the foundation.

For more information on the foundation, click or contact us. For more information on Howden, click or contact us.

Why work at Howden Foundation?

With a new strategy in place and an ambitious plan for the future, this is an exciting time to join the foundation and make a critical contribution to its impact.

The Communications and Engagement Lead will drive the development and execution of our global communications strategy, positioning the foundation as a leading corporate foundation and a credible, values-led climate adaptation philanthropy. This role will also manage internal communications and stakeholder engagement in coordination with internal teams at Howden to actively engage our Howden colleagues, who comprise our core donors and one of our most important target audiences.

You will be joining at a pivotal time as the foundation builds its profile within the Howden Group and increasingly in the climate and philanthropy sector. This role will build on this new momentum – identifying and managing new opportunities to expand our reach, including raising the profile of the Foundation and its partners in strategically relevant spaces.

What will you be doing?

External communications

• Position the foundation as a leading corporate foundation and climate adaptation philanthropy developing a strong, credible brand
• Monitor emerging climate, societal and political trends to inform and shape the foundations’ communications strategy including contributing to the writing of thought leadership content
• Manage website and LinkedIn presence; monitor analytics and refine strategy
• Write and publish content across the foundation’s external channels including website and social media
• Lead the foundation’s response to high-risk or reputational issues, providing timely, strategic, and coordinated communications guidance
• Support grant partners and external stakeholders with communication materials and advice
• Be the first point of contact for the media working with the CEO to provide appropriate responses if required
• Brief and manage delivery of suppliers on design, photography and video / animation production

Internal communications & Engagement

• Create and preserve the foundation communications toolkit and other resources for different internal audiences
• Produce content that drives employee engagement through powerful storytelling
• In partnership with internal teams at Howden, design, plan, and help execute activities that support the engagement of Howden employees in the foundation’s work
• Work closely with the Partnerships team to package skills-based volunteering opportunities into compelling, inspiring communications that spark interest and drive engagement across the Howden employee community
• Proactively analyse trends to develop clear action plans that increase employee engagement

Cross-cutting activities

• Act as the foundation’s in-house communications advisor, safeguarding the narrative and enabling others to share it effectively
• Engage in strategic meetings with stakeholders and partners to advance the foundation’s communications objectives
• Work closely with the CEO, COO and Partnerships team to understand latest developments and milestones for the foundation and its partners
• Develop and maintain foundation communications calendar and communications guidelines
• Work collaboratively with internal teams at Howden to ensure all communication and engagement campaigns are aligned and informed
• Evaluate communications impact and regularly refine strategy based on data
• Assist with other communications work as required

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for a dynamic, strategic and creative thinker who has experience in developing and delivering communications strategies across a multi-stakeholder environment and is passionate about climate action. The ideal candidate will be a proactive, hands-on person who enjoys working resourcefully within a small values-driven team and is curious about the full range of activities that the Howden Foundation undertakes.

• At least 5 years mid-senior communications experience in corporate and/or internal communications, public relations or another relevant field
• Knowledge or interest in climate action and philanthropy
• Demonstrable experience of developing and implementing communication strategies for a diverse range of stakeholders, including planning, monitoring and evaluation
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills – including copywriting – and the ability to tailor your messages to different audiences and channels to engage, inform and influence
• Proven experience of working with a wide range of communications tools including digital, social and earned media – including media planning and management
• Highly organised with excellent project management skills and the ability to prioritise needs
• Creativity, initiative and problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Experience of working in an employee engagement / communications role is advantageous but not critical
• A proactive, hands-on approach to delivery is essential. Desirable experience includes basic design skills (Adobe, Canva, PPT) and production management (film, graphics etc.)

Details of appointment

This is a full-time, permanent role although four days a week would be considered for the right candidate. While your location is flexible, there is a requirement to be in the London office at least one day a week.

What we offer

We provide a competitive salary alongside a comprehensive benefits package.

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new
• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges
• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond

Reasonable adjustments

We\\\’re committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours or hybrid working.

If you\\\’re excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.

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