Communications Manager [South Eastern Railway]

Who We Are

Join the Southern Region - where your work truly matters. Covering Wessex, Sussex, and Kent, the Southern Region is one of the busiest and most dynamic parts of the railway. Our teams keep some of the UK's most vital passenger and freight routes moving every single day. This is a place where collaboration, innovation, and resilience are key - and where your contribution will directly impact millions of journeys. We are entering an exciting new chapter as we integrate with train operating companies under one national leadership, creating even greater opportunities to shape the future of rail. From supporting major modernisation programmes to improving performance for local communities and enhancing safety across complex operational environments, Southern offers a fast-paced, rewarding environment to grow your career and make a real difference. We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.

About the role

We are looking for a Communications Manager to join South Eastern Railway, the newly integrated business bringing together Network Rail's Kent route and Southern, the train operator. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping how we communicate and engage with our external audiences, helping to deliver clear, consistent and effective communications across the business. Based within the Stakeholder Relations team, you will be part of the wider Communications team, working with some of our most important external stakeholders and colleagues across the integrated business and wider rail industry. You will bring together stakeholder engagement, media, public affairs and social media, building strong relationships and protecting and enhancing the business's reputation. Taking ownership of stakeholder relationships across several key lines of route, you will provide updates on operational developments and ensure stakeholder feedback is heard and used to inform business decisions. You will also work across the wider Communications function to develop proactive external campaigns, respond to media enquiries and create timely, engaging content across South Eastern Railway's channels, including social media and video. Collaboration will be at the heart of the role. You will work closely with operational, infrastructure, communications, customer and commercial teams, using your stakeholder insight and communications expertise to support both day-to-day railway operations and our longer-term vision for the network. This is a fantastic opportunity to help shape how South Eastern Railway engages with the people and organisations who influence the future of the railway. You will be a confident communicator, skilled relationship-builder and trusted adviser, with strong political awareness, have the ability to adapt messaging into a variety of channels as required, and the ability to navigate competing priorities.

What you'll be doing

• Lead and manage relationships with key external stakeholders across several lines of route, ensuring they are informed and have opportunities to provide meaningful feedback.
• Develop and deliver effective communications strategies and proactive external campaigns for key projects.
• Provide timely updates on operational developments and bring stakeholder insight back into the business to help inform decision-making.
• Manage communications across media, public affairs and social media, responding effectively to stakeholder issues as they arise.
• Create engaging content for South Eastern Railway's external channels, including social media and potentially video content.
• Draft clear and timely responses to media enquiries, adapting messaging for different audiences and channels.
• Collaborate with teams across the integrated business and wider rail industry to develop compelling external communications narratives and messaging.
• Represent South Eastern Railway at external meetings, both face-to-face and online, presenting updates and building trusted relationships with stakeholders.

Location: London - Puddle Dock (In the interim, the role will predominantly be based at 4 More London, London Bridge, until the team relocates to Puddle Dock. A minimum of three days per week in the office is expected, alongside travel as required). This is a 12-month Fixed Term Contract with the potential to extend or become permanent.

What's in it for you

Here are a few of the benefits we offer:

• 28 day annual leave with the option to buy and sell days
• Choice of pension schemes
• 75% discount of leisure travel for you and your family
• 5 days paid volunteer or carers leave
• Up to 75% subsidised Rail and Underground travel
• Gym Pass - access to gyms across UK
• My Benefits platform - giving national and local retail discount

Your experience and skills

What you'll bring:

• Significant experience within corporate communications
• Proven track record in public relations activity in a high-profile organisation
• Excellent writing skills and ability to think strategically
• Excellent influencing skills and ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Thorough knowledge of the media and how it operates
• Educated to degree level
• Experience of working within an agency environment

If you are ready to bring your communications expertise to a role where relationships and engagement really matter, join us and help make a difference to the future of our railway.