CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, UK & IRELAND

The Rolls-Royce Corporate Communications team has a global footprint with colleagues in the US, Singapore, Japan, China, Middle East and Europe, in addition to the team based at Goodwood in West Sussex. Reporting to the Global Director of Communications, every aspect of corporate communications is covered, including Corporate Reputation Management, Product, Lifestyle, Digital, Corporate Relations, Heritage, Philanthropy and Employee Engagement (Internal Communications). The team works closely with multiple departments across Rolls-Royce and BMW Group worldwide and has a unique insight into the business. Corporate Communications is a vibrant, exciting and exceptionally busy function, which requires a flexible approach from team members, but equally can offer exceptional opportunities and also flexible working arrangements.  Business Responsibilities:

• To protect the reputation of the company.
• Promote the company, its officers and products to the media, potential customers and the wider public.
• Development and strategic management of agencies to generate positive media coverage, sales and positive social acceptability.
• Implementation of the Rolls-Royce Communications strategy in UK & Western Europe.
• Management of press conferences and special events.
• Support for Rolls-Royce Regional Director and team.
• Budget responsibility to maximise investments.

Nature and scope of main accountabilities:

• Responsible for designing and executing strategic communications plans regionally. Communicates to media to ensure positive coverage of the company and its products so as to support sales and enhance social acceptability for Rolls-Royce in the regional market;
• Manage regional agency to deliver strategic support and direction. Organise press conferences, special projects and media communications to a high standard and within budget;
• Manage and control budget for the role and supporting special projects to ensure effective cost control and optimum use of available resource.
• Tactically utilise regional press fleet to secure positive product coverage in local media, increasing regional reach and enhancing regional brand and product appeal.
• Strategically initiate, design, plan and executes projects to ensure positive brand, company, product and social coverage in target regional media.

Purpose and subject of interaction with internal / external customers and key contacts:

• Agency interaction regionally. Regional PR agency to assist in project identification, media targeting, story generation, communications and monitoring. Development of all collateral required including press releases, photography, speeches, press packs, and other assets to support of communications strategy for UK & Western Europe.
• Planning, coordination, management and realisation of projects and events designed for a media audience. Manages appointed agencies to assist with press conferences, media communications, logistics and event management.
• Close liaison with CR-K colleagues (Goodwood and Regional) in relation to execution of the local strategy, special events and press conferences etc.
• Works alongside CR-V-6 regional colleagues in relation to communications strategy implementation and communications.
• Identifies and works with other luxury brands and organisations to develop joint regional communications strategies.

Challenges with regard to innovation and change:

• Responsible for the development of the regional communications manager role within Rolls‑Royce UK & Western Europe. This entails embedding and establishing new media contacts in area of responsibility and the deployment of the regional communications plan to generate an increased presence for Rolls-Royce in the region. Evolve brand perceptions, increase new prospect appeal and generate a positive purchase media environment to ultimately facilitate sales.
• Generate a high volume of positive regional print and online coverage designed to increase coverage of Rolls-Royce, its company and products in all appropriate media and other relevant communication channels, such as social and digital media.
• Meeting the demands of the regional media, evolving opinion and challenging negative perceptions to enhance brand and product image and social acceptability of the brand.
• To ensure the proper, authentic representation of the Rolls-Royce story in the region and to establish the broadest reach into all media channels available.
• Enhance cross-departmental projects with strategic insights relating previous experience, efficient suggestions for improvement and to enhance cross-functional benefit.

 

Essential:

• Excellent verbal and written skills.
• Sensitivity, patience and diplomacy.
• The ability to provide support wherever necessary to ensure success of projects and events.
• An ability to communicate effectively and work productively with people at all levels.

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent).
• Team/agency management, budget management and significant organisational, scheduling and coordination skills.
• Experience in public relations, marketing or related discipline.
• Project management experience.
• An understanding of wealth and the luxury lifestyle.

Ideal:

• Previous experience with a luxury brand.