Head of External Communications

Permanent
Full time
35 hours per week
Competitive
Birmingham
In line with our Communication and Engagement strategy, the SRA’s External Communications team leads our media work communications planning, corporate literature and much of our event work, aiming to achieve a transparent, consistent and effective communications approach.

As the Head of External Communications for the SRA you will be a key player in shaping and developing a strong external profile to promote the SRA’s messages, policies, initiatives and publications.

Joining the organisation at an exciting stage of building its external profile, you will lead in establishing and maintaining positive relationships with print and broadcast trade and mainstream journalists and editors to enhance the SRA’s profile amongst the profession.

With exceptional communication and team management skills you will support brand development activities and develop integrated communication campaigns, while providing specialist media advice to colleagues at all levels of the organisation.

Although the SRA’s head office is based in Birmingham – in the iconic and modern building of The Cube - the role holder could be based either in Birmingham or in London with regular travel between the two locations.

Essential

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and experience:

First-class verbal communication skills

Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to draft press releases and corporate and promotional copy

Demonstrable experience of turning communications strategies into clear and timely communications plans

Ability to influence senior staff to ensure external messages are communicated in the most appropriate and timely manner

Experience of managing small teams

Desirable

Significant experience of working at a senior level within a communications team

Knowledge of design and print processes

Experience of planning and managing corporate events

The SRA is the independent regulator of solicitors and law firms in England and Wales, protecting consumers and supporting the rule of law and the administration of justice. We do this by overseeing all education and training requirements necessary to practise as a solicitor, licensing individuals and firms to practise, setting the standards of the profession and regulating and enforcing compliance against these standards.
We offer an inclusive, supportive and friendly working environment and the chance to develop your career within a professional organisation. We are committed to the health and wellbeing of staff, helping everyone to strike a good balance between personal and professional life.

Additionally, we provide a generous flexible benefits package, including gym membership with a tax only cost, an excellent defined contribution pension scheme and an additional 3% of annual basic salary upon successful completion of probation.
Vacancy closing date: 19/07/2015, 23:55

The Solicitors Regulation Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Diversity and inclusion is central to everything we do. We are actively committed to promoting and participating in good practice in the way that we attract, recruit and retain staff.

Everyone is encouraged to bring their whole self to work because we appreciate the value that a truly diverse workforce brings to an organisation. We celebrate difference, recognising the benefits this brings to our inclusive culture, including age, disability, gender identity and expression, religion, race, sex, sexual orientation and socio economic background.

 We are a Stonewall Top 100 Employer, a member of ENEI, a disability confident employer and we are happy to talk flexible working.

This opportunity is closed to applicants.