External Communications Manager

Role purpose

Planning and communications delivery

• Translate the Group’s external communications strategy into an annual plan with priorities, owners, and measures.
• Deliver the plan across brands and markets and take increasing ownership of defined strategy areas.
• Apply Group messaging across businesses while allowing each brand to speak in its own voice.
• Partner with brand and marketing teams on commercial priorities and coordinate significant announcements with Internal Communications.

Media and corporate communications

• Run the proactive and reactive press office and build senior international media relationships.
• Lead campaigns, announcements, and thought leadership; draft and approve press materials and leadership content.
• Prepare and brief spokespeople, including media training and interview preparation.
• Deliver communications for capital raises, joint ventures, acquisitions, disposals, and other corporate milestones.
• Coordinate investor-facing messages with Investor Relations, Legal, and Finance while protecting sensitive information.

Public affairs and reputation

• Monitor policy and regulatory developments and assess their business implications.
• Develop policy positions, briefings, and messages with communications leadership and business leaders.
• Coordinate consultation responses and participation in sector forums and coalitions.
• Support crisis planning, identify reputational risks, lead live incident communications, and maintain protocols and scenario playbooks.
• Conduct post-incident reviews and support reputational-risk reporting to leadership and the Board.

Insight, digital, and events

• Set KPIs, report performance, and turn data and listening insights into clear recommendations.
• Oversee corporate websites and social channels, content creation, accuracy, consistency, and governance.
• Lead Generative Engine Optimisation to improve brand visibility in AI-powered search tools.
• Shape events, speaking, and awards activity and oversee spokesperson positioning and follow-up content.
• Coach and develop more junior colleagues in writing, media, and insight capabilities.

Essential experience and knowledge

• 8–10 years of external communications experience, in-house or agency, leading communications-plan delivery.
• Experience across more than one region, including work across time zones and cultures.
• Excellent writing and editing; established media relationships and a record of securing quality coverage.
• Proven issues and crisis management experience and sound judgement under pressure.
• Corporate or B2B media experience in at least one of real estate, financial services, or hospitality and leisure.
• Understanding of institutional investor audiences and real estate investment; experience partnering with Investor Relations, Finance, or Legal.
• Public affairs, government relations, or policy communications exposure.
• Willingness to work flexibly, including outside normal hours and across time zones when issues arise.

Desirable experience

• B2C communications experience in an operational, customer-facing business.
• Experience with media and social listening tools, video storytelling, GEO, SEO, AI search visibility, or sustainability/ESG communications.
• Additional languages relevant to the employer’s markets.

Personal attributes

• Delivery-focused, commercially minded, and curious about the business.
• Confident and credible adviser to senior leaders who can challenge constructively.
• Calm under pressure, insight-led, and able to influence across teams and countries.
• Global mindset, cultural awareness, and ability to coach and develop others.

Benefits

• The posting lists a bonus scheme, pension, private healthcare, and other benefits.