Senior Communications and Marketing Manager

The role, within the External Affairs and Member Services team, works closely with the Chief Executive, Director of Regulation and Policy, Chief Operating Officer, Senior Leadership Team, and others across the organisation.

About the IPA: Each year in the UK, around 120,000 individuals and 25,000 companies become insolvent. Their debts and assets must be carefully managed so that company creditors can be reimbursed, and individuals can become debt free. Supporting those in financial distress can be a demanding job. It is the role of qualified Insolvency Practitioners (IPs) to manage companies as they are closed or sold, and to support insolvent individuals, whose debts may have grown due to poor health, relationship breakdown, gambling, fraud or financial mismanagement. IPs work to realise the value of assets, investigate company failure, pay creditors, and act as liquidators, administrators or trustees in voluntary arrangements to resolve the financial distress.

The Insolvency Practitioners Association (IPA) is the UK’s leading insolvency regulator and membership organisation, recognised by the UK Government for the purposes of licensing and regulating members to act as insolvency practitioners. As the only body specialising solely in the regulation and improvement of insolvency UK-wide, the IPA is at the forefront of maintaining and raising professional standards in insolvency practice. This includes taking regulatory action where necessary, as well as promoting good practice by creating insolvency qualifications, widening access to insolvency knowledge, and understanding and leading debate on current regulatory issues. A team of 40 staff, headquartered in the City of London, is responsible for regulating and supporting the IPA’s licence holders, members, associates and students. The IPA is an evidence-based, authoritative regulatory body, basing decisions on the law and our published procedures. We provide high-quality technical advice and an understanding of insolvency legislation to those we regulate. We communicate regulatory outcomes and promote good insolvency practice. The IPA is also a leading professional membership body providing training, events and professional examinations to the insolvency sector, running 20+ in-person and online events each year to improve the quality of regulatory practice and two professional examinations that are the best foundation qualifications for insolvency practitioners in the UK.

Role responsibilities:

• Produce, deliver and assess the effectiveness of the IPA’s overall communications strategy, liaising with key internal and external stakeholders, to position and promote the IPA’s reputation and strategic aim to be the main UK regulator and membership body of choice for insolvency professionals.
• Lead the quality of all IPA publications, including drafting, editing and promoting member newsletters, reports, consultations and surveys where appropriate.
• Communicate to multiple and segmented audiences via email, website and social media channels, through innovative and engaging content, and by promoting data and news to members and stakeholders.
• With the Head of External Affairs, support the marketing of IPA events and training and communications on membership benefits, including technical updates.
• With the Director of Regulation and Policy, deliver all regulatory and compliance communications to insolvency professionals and their firms.
• With the CEO, Chief Operating Officer and HR staff, deliver internal communications.
• Support the CEO and Board on all external communications, including to senior stakeholders in parliament and government.
• Handle reactive press enquiries and seek proactive media opportunities, liaising with journalists and others as required.
• Manage one member of staff and ensure operational continuity of all communications activity.
• Attend the SLT and Board (as required) in order to be informed by and contribute to strategic discussions about communication and engagement.
• Work collegiately across the IPA with other teams, fostering a culture of accountability, inclusion, integrity and collaboration in line with IPA values.

Person specification:

• Essential: At least five years’ professional communications, engagement and marketing experience, with a good understanding of communication strategy and objectives, audience segmentation, channels and tools.
• Excellent communication skills, particularly drafting and editing and understanding of regulatory and/or commercial content.
• Well organised and professional, with good time-management skills and a proactive approach to getting things done.
• Personal integrity and ability to work well in small teams in a busy environment.
• Excellent understanding of digital channels, including search engine optimization, web and social media.

• Desirable: Understanding of data and how to use information to improve outcomes.
• Experience of the insolvency sector, professional membership associations or regulation.

Diversity and Inclusion at the IPA: The IPA is committed to diversity and inclusion. We believe that the insolvency profession, and our own organisation, does best when it reflects the society we serve. We value and promote diversity and are committed to equality of opportunity for all appointments made on merit. We positively encourage applications from people from all sections of the community, from all backgrounds and with a broad range of experience.

Salary and Benefits: Salary: £55,000 p.a., pro rata for part-time candidates. Good Benefits Package: private health, death-in-service and a generous pension package. Annual Leave: 27 days, with an opportunity to purchase up to a further week. Appointment into this role will be subject to the receipt of a satisfactory Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Applicants should note that employment cannot commence until this check has been completed and confirmed as satisfactory.