External Communications Manager in Aberdeen

External Communications ManagerFull – Time, PermanentAberdeen, Scotland

About Us James Fisher and Sons plc is a group of pioneering and specialist engineering and marine businesses. Together, we enable seismic shifts in the way the world transports goods, protects natural resources and generates power. We are relied on in the marine, defence and energy sectors to help our customers deliver on their promises and realise their ambitions safely, efficiently and responsibly.

About the Role As the company transforms for the future, strong communications will play a major role in delivering our exciting ambitions at James Fisher. That is why we have created the exciting new role of External Communications Manager for the Group!

You will be responsible for establishing a new in-house strategy, team and plan, working in close partnership with our Communications and Marketing Team, and trusted external advisors. Strong relationships with key stakeholders, both internally and externally, will be key in the initial weeks. However, you won’t be alone. You’ll be leveraging our broader One James Fisher community to help you – and with 175+ years of heritage - there’s an untapped pipeline of support.

This will be a hands-on role, particularly in the early stages, but you will soon see the impact of your hard work.

The role will be based in Aberdeen, and we offer a mix of office and home working with some travel to other sites involved.

Key Responsibilities:

• Establish a new external communications strategy and messaging for the company, that enhances our brand reputation across Energy, Defence and Maritime Transport.
• Establish the key foundations of:
• Media relations – establish and nurture key trade, national, regional and local relationships that allow us to share our stories with the right media stakeholders.
• Press releases – build a pipeline of stories about our people, technology, partnerships and more.
• Technical and thought leadership – identify and harness the brightest minds in our company to deliver broader story telling across our industry publications.
• Technical and white papers – work closely with our subject matter experts to build and submit a portfolio of papers that demonstrate our technical expertise in key areas.
• Social media – work closely with our digital marketing team to drive a new, dynamic and integrated approach to our social media channels.
• Campaigns and events – provide external communications expertise that supports/integrates with our broader campaigns and events.
• Work closely with our Group Corporate Communications and Marketing Teams to understand our business, markets and customers. Develop annual (and long term) external communications plans that drives delivery, KPIs and reporting.
• Play an active role in the company’s rebrand in 2024 (we’re very excited about it!), leading the external communications activity.
• Manage and work closely alongside our PR and creative agencies, to deliver the greatest value from our partnerships.
• Monitor and measure our external communications activity, to demonstrate the impact and ROI from our activity.
• An active member of our Emergency Response team, including broader crisis communications advice and support.
• Mentor and develop our communications executives, as the progress their corporate communications careers within us.
• Build strong and trusted relationships within the company – from shop floor through to Executive Committee level.
• Champion exceptional safety as our top priority, at all times.
• Act as the brand ambassador for the company.
• Key budget responsibility.

What we are looking for:

• Strong on the job experience in a similar role (B2B preferred, but B2C welcome as well).
• University/college degree in communications or business, or related will be preferred.
• Experience in a similar or technical industry (Maritime, Defence, Energy).
• Strong strategic and change management mindset, embraces the opportunity to drive new ways of thinking and working.
• Experience working with senior leadership teams, ability to step up and be on call as/when peak times demand.
• Established relationships with key media, from trade through to regional/national.
• Proactive, organise, agile and adaptable. Works hard but embraces fun!
• Team player with outstanding interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills required.
• High level of attention to detail is essential.

Did we capture your interest? Click Apply if this sounds like your ideal next challenge.