Head of External Communications

Job description

Location: London, Guildford, Leeds or Bristol (Hybrid)

Salary: dep on exp + benefits 

Role Description   

Reporting to the Head of Communications this role is responsible for the creation, evolution and delivery of the Allianz UK external communications strategy – with the aim of building trust through business announcements (financial performance, change), thought leadership campaigns, newsflow into national news, consumer and trade media (written and broadcast) and through digital PR and safeguarding trust through reputation risk management and response to crisis situations.

 

This pivotal role will work closely with the Allianz UK CEO and Executive Committee, other senior business stakeholders – including public affairs, employee communications, Digital Content, Marketing and Social Media teams in Personal and Commercial lines, and Group Communications, to bring to life our values, culture and brand and present our expertise through high-impact and integrated external communication campaigns.

 

Key Responsibilities

·  Responsible for Allianz UK external communications strategy and campaign delivery, identifying channels, tactics and messages required to deliver strategic communication outcomes, ensuring that outputs are consistent in approach and high quality.
·  Hold effective relationships with CEO, Executive Committee and senior leaders to build Allianz UK familiarity and trust, build their profile and show their expertise as spokespeople, influence decision making on reputation risks, and be recognised as an expert in crisis situations.
·  Create corporate reputation programme presenting non-financial topics to external audiences (for example but not limited to sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and community partnerships).
·  Design and deliver impactful thought leadership campaigns based on the Allianz UK brand and corporate narratives for consumer and B2B audiences.
·  Create, lead and maintain a strong reputation risk culture for Allianz UK, ensuring that risks are known, are reported and prepared for. Own the creation, management and implementation of the crisis communications plan. Keeping abreast of trends in UK financial services/ insurance sector, focusing on emerging risks and industry trends.
·  Design and deliver external communication campaigns with colleagues in public affairs, brand, personal lines digital marketing, commercial lines marketing, plus broker marketing and distribution teams, which earn trust with consumer and B2B audiences.
·  Manage external PR agencies to ensure alignment to business strategy and leverage value from the relationship, including Edelman Trust Barometer reporting.
·  Responsible for Allianz UK external communications strategy and campaign delivery, identifying channels, tactics and messages required to deliver strategic communication outcomes, ensuring that outputs are consistent in approach and high quality.
·  Hold effective relationships with CEO, Executive Committee and senior leaders to build Allianz UK familiarity and trust, build their profile and show their expertise as spokespeople, influence decision making on reputation risks, and be recognised as an expert in crisis situations.
·  Create corporate reputation programme presenting non-financial topics to external audiences (for example but not limited to sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and community partnerships).
·  Design and deliver impactful thought leadership campaigns based on the Allianz UK brand and corporate narratives for consumer and B2B audiences.
·  Create, lead and maintain a strong reputation risk culture for Allianz UK, ensuring that risks are known, are reported and prepared for. Own the creation, management and implementation of the crisis communications plan. Keeping abreast of trends in UK financial services/ insurance sector, focusing on emerging risks and industry trends.
·  Design and deliver external communication campaigns with colleagues in public affairs, brand, personal lines digital marketing, commercial lines marketing, plus broker marketing and distribution teams, which earn trust with consumer and B2B audiences.
·  Manage external PR agencies to ensure alignment to business strategy and leverage value from the relationship, including Edelman Trust Barometer reporting.

 

  

Essential Skills and Experience

·  Strong relationships with journalist contacts in broadcast and print media - personal finance, business and trade.
·  Excellent writing, digital communication and data presentation skills.
·  Excellent people management and leadership skills.
·  Excellent relationship and influencing skills, benchmarked against ability to engage with senior leaders in reputation risks, crisis management situations.
·  Experience of managing complex communications within fast moving regulatory environments.
·  Proven track record of influencing key stakeholders, presenting complex subject matter in simple, engaging ways to multiple levels with varied knowledge bases.

 

Desirable Skills and Experience  

·  Deep technical knowledge of UK media landscape and external digital communication channels and platforms. 
·  Insight and analytical-led planning, strong skills in building compelling messaging and able to challenge and influence multiple senior stakeholders.
·  Qualifications
·  Degree level or equivalent. Communications or Journalism degree preferred.
·  Professional qualifications e.g. CIPR
·  Extensive relevant financial services and/or insurance experience
·  Leadership experience in a large multi-national organisation.
·  Strong written and verbal communication and data presentation skills.

 

  What We Will Offer You   

 

Recognised and rewarded for a job well done, we have a range of flexible benefits for you to choose from- so you can pick a package that’s perfect for you. We also offer flexible working options, global career opportunities across the wider Allianz Group, and fantastic career development and training. That’s on top of enjoying all the benefits you’d expect from the world’s number one insurance brand, including: 

 

·  Flexible buy/sell holiday options 
·  Hybrid working. 
·  Annual performance related bonus 
·  Contributory pension scheme 
·  Development days 
·  A discount up to 50% on a range of insurance products including car,  home and pet 
·  Car Allowance

Our Ways of Working  

Do you need some flexibility with the hours you work? Let us know as part of your application and if it’s right for our customers, our business and for you, then we’ll do everything we can to make it happen.  

Here at Allianz, we are signatories of the ABIs flexible working charter. We believe in supporting hybrid work patterns, which balance the needs of our customers, with your personal circumstances and our business requirements. Our aim with this is to help innovation, creativity, and you to thrive - Your work life balance is important to us.  

  Diversity & Inclusion  

At Allianz, we prioritize diversity and inclusion, demonstrated by our numerous accreditations: EDGE certified for gender inclusion, Women in Finance Charter members, Disability Confident employer, Stonewall Diversity Champion, Business in the Community’s Race at Work Charter signatories, and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard employer. 

We embrace neurodiversity and welcome applications from neurodivergent and disabled candidates, offering tailored adjustments to ensure your success. 

We encourage our employees to advocate for their needs, whether it’s assistive technology, ergonomic equipment, mentoring, coaching, or flexible work arrangements. 

Offer an Interview Scheme - As a Disability Confident employer, we will offer an interview to candidates with disabilities who meet the essential criteria for the role.  To apply under the Offer an Interview scheme, please let us know when you apply by contacting our Resourcing team to opt into this scheme or for assistance with your application, including larger text, hard copies, or spoken applications. 

Hr-recruitment@allianz.co.uk  

resourcingGI@allianz.co.uk  

61015 | Communication & Public Relations | Management | Allianz Executive | Allianz UK | Full-Time | Permanent

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