Responsibilities

• Support the Head of Strategic Communications to develop and deliver communications strategies that advance RDG's Board Priorities and support the transition to Great British Railways (GBR).
• Lead the planning and delivery of high-quality, impactful communications activity across multiple workstreams, ensuring consistent messaging, strong stakeholder engagement and measurable outcomes.
• Develop and deliver proactive, multi-channel communications campaigns that support organisational priorities, industry reform objectives and key transformation programmes.
• Translate complex industry reform, policy and transition developments into clear, engaging communications for colleagues, members and stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively across the Communications team to ensure communications activity is integrated, delivered to a consistently high standard and aligned with organisational objectives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with colleagues, industry partners and member organisations to identify opportunities, gather insight and develop compelling communications content.
• Support the delivery of RDG's transition to GBR communications strategy, helping colleagues, members and stakeholders understand the implications of industry reform and public ownership.
• Develop and implement communications and engagement plans that build awareness, confidence and readiness for organisational and industry change.
• Work closely with transition leads and stakeholders across RDG, Department for Transport (DfT), Department for Transport Operator (DFTO), Network Rail and the wider rail industry to support communications and engagement activity relating to GBR.
• Lead communications support for key GBR comms moments, including the development of leadership briefings, stakeholder updates, presentations, events and supporting materials.

Requirements

• Leadership - able to play a leading role in managing and delivering communications activity, either directly or through members of the communications team.
• Project management - the post holder will have good project management skills to deliver multiple projects at the same time, on budget and of the highest possible quality. Being a driving force for delivery comms outputs, keeping colleagues informed and upwardly managing senior colleagues on progress being made.
• Stakeholder engagement - the post holder will need to work with multiple stakeholders from across the industry and demonstrate the ability to listen to different views and focus and devise effective communications off the back of this.
• Strategic thinking – the role involves corporate-wide horizon scanning to help to achieve results and to solve and anticipate problems and building coalitions to help find solutions.
• 5+ years comms / marketing experience – the role requires the post holder to have broad communication discipline expertise, with a solid understanding on how to deliver across them from events, stakeholder, media, social and marketing.
• Campaign management - Evidence of success in leading the devising and implementation of campaign plans and/or campaigns to influence behaviours, and being able to measure success.
• Content creation – using Canva and basic video skills to produce in-house videos, and work with agencies that create engaging content adhering to RDG brand guidelines and templates.
• Experience of dealing directly with senior colleagues, suppliers and stakeholders to provide communications.
• Ability to build relationships and develop networks with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to exercise good judgement and adapt plans and approaches in accordance with a shifting external landscape.

Benefits

• 75% discount on rail travel (for work and leisure), plus international rail discounts
• 30 Days annual leave (plus buy/sell options and additional leave for key life events)
• Two Personal Development Days are granted to employees annually
• Interest-free Season Ticket Loan for commuting costs
• Enhanced family leave – 30 weeks full pay for maternity, adoption, surrogacy, and shared parental leave
• Pension scheme – up to 8.64% employer contribution
• Subsidised Private Medical Insurance (Vitality PPP) and Health Cash Plan (Healthshield)
• Access to our flexible benefits portal - a central hub for accessing retail discounts, shopping, dining, travel, and entertainment perks
• Flexible working arrangements available