Senior External Communications Manager

at  Anchor

PERMANENT, FULL TIME - 37.5 HOURS PER WEEK

This is an exciting opportunity to join a multi-award-winning communications team and gain experience in a varied role at the cutting edge of the housing and care sector.
Most recently shortlisted for In-House Team of the Year, PR Week Awards, 2024, Anchor is recruiting for a dynamic and efficient Senior External Communications Manager, to lead its press office, campaigns and manage its in-house team and external PR agency support.
Key responsibilities include leading External Communications activity in line with the Communications and Marketing strategy, developing and implementing activity with a particular focus on press office and campaigns at a national and local level.
You will develop and maintain an effective press office team, promote and protect Anchor’s reputation in the national, local and specialist media, and find creative ways to bring the stories of residents and colleagues to life, supporting our positioning as a leading provider of services for people in later life.
Organisation skills and efficiency are crucial to delivering in this fast-paced environment. A keen writer, your excellent communication skills will support the team and senior stakeholders across the business to develop communications strategy, plans and content, as well as managing campaigns and events.
You will have the opportunity to work on integrated campaigns which champion older people as well as collaborating with and bringing insights to the wider Communications and Marketing functions within the directorate on projects and new initiatives.
This role would suit a highly efficient and organised person, who can multi-task, project manage, nurture a team of comms professionals, and lead the varied activities within England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for people in later life.

ABOUT US

Anchor began almost 60 years ago and today is England’s largest not-for-profit pro-vider of housing and care for people in later life. It provides retirement housing to rent and to buy, retirement villages and residential care homes, including specialist dementia care. In total, Anchor serves more than 65,000 residents in 54,000 homes across almost 1,700 locations. Its residential care services employ the majority of the 9,000-strong workforce, providing services to residents at 120 care homes. Anchor operates in more than 85% of local councils in England. For more information visit www.anchor.org.uk.
Anchor’s commitment to Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) is embedded in our organisa-tional ethos, championing inclusion at every level. At the core of our approach is the concept of ‘cognitive diversity’ – we know that not only are more brains better than one, but crucially, different types of brains too; as we all have different backgrounds and life experiences that shape our outlook and offering. Anchor has a dedicated in-clusion strategy for all colleagues. Colleagues are involved in making D&I an every-day reality, ensuring it runs as a core thread throughout the organisation.

Our colleague networks include:

• enABLE for colleagues living with disabilities or who are neurodivergent
• embRACE which connects people around the subject of race and ethnicity
• Rainbow for colleagues who identify as LGBTQ+
• Inclusive Ambassadors for underrepresented groups and individuals within the organisation

In addition:

• In March 2023, Anchor achieved Gold status from Inclusive Employers. We are proud to be the third organisation in England, and the first housing provider, to achieve the accolade
• We are an Age Positive employer and Stonewall Diversity Champion
• We became accredited by the Housing Diversity Network in May 2023

Please note:

The Senior External Communications Manager will:

• Lead the development and implementation of the External Communications strategy to support the delivery of Anchor’s vision and strategic business plan.
• Provide expert advice to Anchor’s Senior Leadership Team, the Communications and Marketing directorate and other internal stakeholders on proactive and reactive public relations, building and manage Anchor reputation as a leading provider of care and housing for people in later life.
• Deputise for Head of External Communications when needed and represent Anchor at external forums.
• Manage, nurture and upskill a team of three in-house communications professionals
• Manage wider PR/PA agencies providing additional support.
• Project management and event management including facilitating interviews with Executive Committee and media and/or senior political stakeholders.
• Maintain and run a busy and effective press office team including handling proactive media requests and crafting responses to effectively manage reputational matters.
• Develop and deliver positive and proactive PR campaigns across all Anchor’s services to drive brand awareness, to time and to budget.
• Develop and deliver thought leadership programme, including writing comment pieces, blogs, commissioning research and managing strategic partnerships etc