Strategic Communications Partner (6-Month Fixed Term Contract)

at  Financial Conduct Authority

Strategic Communications Partner (6-Month Fixed Term Contract)
Division – Communications
Department – Strategic Communications & News
Salary – National – ranging from £39,100 – £47,000 and London from £41,600 – £50,000 per annum (Salary offered will be based on skills and experience and will be pro rata for the 6-month period)
About the FCA
The FCA regulates the conduct of 45,000 firms in the UK to ensure our financial markets are honest, fair and competitive. Follow this link to find out more
About the FCA
In the Communications division at the FCA we change opinions and behaviours to enable a fair and thriving financial services market for the good of consumers and the economy. It’s an exciting time as we’re expanding our team and changing how we do things to deliver more engaging, insight-led, audience focused communications. If you want to be part of a supportive and fun team, work across a wide range of issues and are ready to be challenged, curious and creative then come and join us.
The Strategic Communications and News team is new to the FCA’s Communications division. This team is at the heart of what and how the organisation communicates – working with the strategy team to help set and deliver the FCA’s external communication objectives and ensuring that our communication is clear, concise and compelling. The team is split into three: strategic communication partners, editorial and speechwriting, and social media.
The Strategic Communication Partner team is organised into six sub-teams, each of which aligns with parts of the organisation and are responsible for taking communication plans from planning to delivery, communicating the FCA’s work to our external stakeholders.
The Associate Strategic Communications Partner will work across two sub-teams, responding to media queries and helping to deliver proactive announcements.

What will you be doing?

• Triaging all reactive media queries and ensuring national queries are promptly fed through to relevant senior communications colleagues where appropriate
• Responding efficiently and effectively to trade media queries
• Building relationships with trade media journalists
• Supporting senior communications colleagues to deliver significant proactive announcements and leading on lower profile announcements where appropriate
• Monitoring media, social media and other commentary and producing updates on media coverage and stakeholder comment
• Supporting senior communications colleagues to engage relevant trade bodies, building relationships and attending industry events
• Taking personal responsibility for individual projects and ensuring the quality of the end product is high

What will you get from the role?

• This is an exciting role, providing the opportunity to strengthen your skills within a dynamic communications environment
• A strong grounding in dealing with the media and financial services stakeholders
• The role presents the opportunity to become a subject matter expert in specific areas of financial regulation

Which skills are required?
We are a Disability Confident Employer; therefore, disabled people or individuals with long-term conditions who best meet the minimum criteria for a role will go through to the next stage of the recruitment process. (To learn more about the Disability Confident Scheme
Click Here
)

Minimum

• Previous experience of managing communication projects and/or dealing with media
• Proven ability of being able to communicate clearly, concisely and in a compelling way, verbally and in writing, for diverse audiences
• Able to confidently deal with journalists and other stakeholders, both internal and external

Essential

• Strong knowledge of traditional and social media
• Strong written skills
• Ability to turn complex information into clear, compelling, concise messages
• Familiar with relevant communication tools used for media and social media monitoring

Our Values & Diversity
We are proud to be an inclusive employer and our ambition is to cultivate a culture for all employees that respects their individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe that our differences and similarities enable us to be a better organisation – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers better regulation.
Within the workplace you will have access to various employee resource groups which aim to promote and achieve a healthy work / life balance and support our diversity ambitions.
Did you know? 50% of our Executive Committee are women.
The FCA is committed to achieving greater diversity across all levels of the organisation. Given this, we particularly welcome applications from women, minority ethnic, disabled, and neurodivergent candidates for our role.

Benefits of working at the FCA

• 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays
• Hybrid working (work from home up to 60% of your time)
• Private healthcare with Bupa
• A non-contributory Pension of at least 8%
• Life assurance
• Income protection

We also have a competitive flexible benefits scheme which gives you the opportunity to create a personalised benefits package, tailored to suit your lifestyle.
We welcome applications from candidates who are looking for flexible arrangements. Many of our staff work flexibly including working part-time, staggered hours, and job shares. We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want but we can explore what might work best for both sides.
Follow this link to see what life is like at the FCA -
Life at the FCA
Application Support
We are dedicated to removing barriers and ensuring our application process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible.
If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition requiring changes to the recruitment process, please contact your recruiter using the details below and they will be happy to discuss this further with you.
Useful Information and Timeline
This role is graded Associate Leve 8 – Corporate.

This role is available on a 6-month fixed term basis.

• Advert Closing Date: 6th February
• CV Review/Shortlist: W/C 10th February
• Competency Based Interview: W/C 17th February

Your Recruiter will discuss the process in detail with you during screening for the role, therefore, please make them aware if you are going to be unavailable for any date during this time.
Got a question?

If you are interested in learning more about the role, please contact:

• For internal applicants, please contact Melanie Dubock at

Melanie.Dubock@fca.org.uk

• For external applicants, please contact Ifrah Azam at

Ifrah.Azam@fca.org.uk
Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via email will not be accepted

What will you be doing?

• Triaging all reactive media queries and ensuring national queries are promptly fed through to relevant senior communications colleagues where appropriate
• Responding efficiently and effectively to trade media queries
• Building relationships with trade media journalists
• Supporting senior communications colleagues to deliver significant proactive announcements and leading on lower profile announcements where appropriate
• Monitoring media, social media and other commentary and producing updates on media coverage and stakeholder comment
• Supporting senior communications colleagues to engage relevant trade bodies, building relationships and attending industry events
• Taking personal responsibility for individual projects and ensuring the quality of the end product is hig

What will you get from the role?

• This is an exciting role, providing the opportunity to strengthen your skills within a dynamic communications environment
• A strong grounding in dealing with the media and financial services stakeholders
• The role presents the opportunity to become a subject matter expert in specific areas of financial regulatio

This role is available on a 6-month fixed term basis.

• Advert Closing Date: 6th February
• CV Review/Shortlist: W/C 10th February
• Competency Based Interview: W/C 17th Februar

If you are interested in learning more about the role, please contact:

• For internal applicants, please contact Melanie Dubock at