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Central London office / hybrid working from home

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 the role:

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

About you:

The ideal candidate will have:

* Minimum of 5/6 years PR/Communications experience at a senior level

* Strong efficiency and organisation skills and can multi-task and lead various activities in a fast-paced environment.

* Excellent written and verbal communication skills a good eye for detail and exceptional proofreading skills.

* A track record of responsibility for media relations and reputation management at a senior level in a customer-facing business, preferably within a regu-lated environment.

* The ability to engage with and influence people at different levels. Work well under pressure and to deadlines, managing multiple exciting projects.

* Knowledge of the older people’s housing and care sectors is preferable but not essential.

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.

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:

1st Stage Interviews will be held virtually on 11th /12th September

2nd Stage interviews will be held at our London Office on 17th/18th September

Anchor – a great place to work

Anchor is England’s largest not-for-profit providers of care and housing for older people. Our heartfelt ambition is to transform housing and care so everyone can have a home where they love living in later life.

We’re not-for-profit which means every penny we make or save is invested in the people who live with us, the places they live and the people who work here. That means a better standard of care and customer service, better wages, more investment in training and development and improved facilities.

A rewarding environment

From health and happiness to finance and your career, we’ll give you all the support you need.

Health & happiness

Gym, fitness and wellbeing discounts

Mental health support

Flexible working options

Access to online GP appointments

Finance

Pension plan – contribute between 4% and 8% and we’ll match it or better

Quick and easy pension transfer service

Savings and financial advice, loans, free life assurance

Discounts on shopping, holidays, phones, technology and more

Career

Ongoing personal and professional development programme

Leadership Pathways online learning resources

Career progression and promotion opportunities