Associate Director (Strategic Communications)

We’re a lean, agile and important team within the business that is focused on supporting our clients’ corporate communications and public affairs requirements. As one of the sector\’s largest independent communications agencies for the built environment, we support clients across the space, helping to manage their reputations, raise their profiles and communicate with a range of stakeholders.

We’re looking for a passionate, experienced and organised Associate Director (Corporate Communications), someone who can lead and shape client programmes, generate and pitch for new business, help to guide our client offer and deliver broader marketing initiatives.

We work with a range of exciting clients across the built environment, from public sector local authorities who need help communicating their property and housing ambitions, to corporates needing help engaging with industry and stakeholders through to large, listed companies acquiring assets and progressing development proposals.

Your duties will include, but will not be limited to:

1. Media relations: being a well-networked relationship builder, consistently securing coverage in the relevant nationals and trade publications for clients as well as being tuned into relevant podcasts, blogs and more.
2. Setting the strategic direction for clients and making sure that content and programmes align with client briefs and objectives.
3. Offering relevant reputation management advice to clients, together with other senior team members.
4. Supporting and driving our new business strategy by developing industry networks and leading pitches.
5. Overseeing strategies for targeted, engaging and effective content (press releases, blogs and social media posts, thought leadership articles) on behalf of clients.
6. Develop and implement creative, integrated engagement strategies and communications campaigns, working collaboratively and effectively with our in-house studio, planning, placemaking and political insights functions.
7. Identify opportunities for clients and Kanda to build their profile at industry events, conferences etc.
8. Work closely with our political insights function to ensure we capitalise on local and central Government opportunities as part of our wider public affairs strategies.
9. Managing up and down to ensure that projects are completed to a high standard and in a timely fashion.
10. Line manage junior team members, supporting their work and career progression.
11. Working closely with the Strat Comms Director and other senior employees to grow our Strat Comms offer.
12. Supporting Kanda’s marketing and new business strategy through event participation, digital content delivery and other outputs.

Key Attributes and Skills:

1. 6+ years in communications / agency environment.
2. Experience within the built environment including established media relationships.
3. Proven delivery of media relations and corporate reputation management.
4. Extensive B2B experience.
5. Entrepreneurial work ethic – unafraid to voice opinions and progress ideas, and a keen eye for new business leads.
6. Works collaboratively; good team player.
7. Excellent communication (written and oral) skills including an ability to advise at a senior level.

What we offer:

We believe our people are our biggest asset and have developed an industry-leading benefits package based around financial rewards, wellbeing and social rewards and physical rewards to ensure that our employees feel fully supported in all areas of their professional lives. In addition to the usual perks like fruit bowls, company drinks etc, we offer the following to all employees:

1. Life assurance (3x salary) and income protection scheme (75% of salary).
2. Discretionary 10% bonus paid in two sums per financial year.
3. 5% company pension contributions.
4. Interest-free season ticket loan.
5. Enhanced maternity and paternity pay for those becoming parents.

Wellbeing and social:

1. Formal time off in lieu policy.
2. Length of service rewards at 5, 7 and 10 years.
3. 2x company social days per year including our Kandie Staykation overnighter.
4. 25 days holiday plus 3 days over Christmas, as well as a birthday day.
5. ‘Thrifty Thursday’ Kanda sponsored lunch on the last Thursday of the month before payday.

Physical:

1. BUPA private medical cover.
2. Access to Health Assured, our Employee Assistance Programme which offers free access to counselling, legal advice, health support and more.

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