Director – Communications, Financial Conduct Authority
Location: 12 Endeavour Square, London, E20 1JN
Division: CEO Office
Closing date: 15 April 2021

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a communications professional with the right experience and expertise to be at the heart of the FCA at a critically important time for financial services and markets and in the organisation’s development.

The Director of Communications, reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, will provide counsel to the Chief Executive, the Chair, the Board and the FCA’s Executive Committee. You will lead the FCA’s communications strategy, using it to shape campaigns that further the FCA’s objectives.

Working closely with colleagues, including the FCA’s Executive Directors, you will hone the messages the FCA uses to successful reach its audiences.

You will be responsible for ensuring the FCA’s transformation is understood by stakeholders, both internal and external and you will be able, where necessary, to act as the FCA’s senior spokesperson.

The successful candidate will be adept at balancing a focus on long-term objectives with day-to-day communications, involving an active agenda of publications and external scrutiny.

You will be experienced in insight-led, outcome-focused communications; comfortable using data to set clear objectives. You will work closely with the FCA’s Chief Data, Information and Intelligence Officer to ensure our communications deliver real-world outcomes.

You will lead the teams that manage relations with the press, Parliament, the devolved administrations, colleagues and consumers, using a variety of traditional and digital, earned and paid-for channels. As part of the FCA’s wider transformation, the successful candidate will have the mandate to decide the optimal future structure for the Division consistent with the FCA’s strategy and operating model.

Alongside your divisional leadership position, you will also have a crucial role in providing visible, inclusive and engaging leadership across the wider organisation.

This role requires an exceptional senior level communications professional. You will have a strong vision for what good regulatory communications should look like now and in the future, and the capabilities, tools and expertise required to deliver them.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Setting and delivering a vision and ambition for the Communications Division.
• Demonstrating inspirational leadership to direct and deliver world-class campaigns, with strong focus and digital capabilities.
• Building effective and collaborative relationships with a wide range of external stakeholders, showing strong personal impact.
• Working closely with the Chief Data, Information & Intelligence Officer to utilise the right data and insight to inform clear communications that deliver on FCA policy priorities.
• Championing data and insight to build audience-focused communications with a real-world impact on people, communities and businesses.
• Leading professional development to build continued expertise and capability across the Division.
• Managing relations with those agencies on the FCA’s roster.
• Creating an inclusive approach to working in a way that gathers different perspectives to solve problems and pioneer new ideas and approaches.
• Developing and leading high performing, expert, engaged and inclusive teams.
• Applying industry best practice to the FCA’s communications.

What will the candidate get from the role?

You will join the FCA’s senior leadership team at an exciting period of change for financial services and its regulation. You will have the opportunity to shape and lead a department of talented and committed people working collaboratively on significant projects and programme of work. You will get exposure to a broad range of issues and will contribute to the wider FCA’s senior leadership team, helping to shape and influence the organisation’s strategy.

Required skills/experience

Minimum

• Established communications professional with experience of leading teams in fast-paced and high-profile environments, including crisis and issues communications.
• Strategic decision-making skills and judgment, including the ability to analyse complex data quickly, identify salient issues and agree the actions needed to deal with them.
• Proven array of experience and skills to influence a variety of senior stakeholders such as executive committees and boards.
• Role model strong leadership behaviours in line with the FCA values and capabilities, embedding the Mission and delivering organisational priorities.

Essential

• Experience of advising, engaging and negotiating with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to secure the confidence of senior stakeholders, both internal and external.
• Proven track-record of implementing insight-led, outcome-driven communications strategies.
• Track record of creating a culture of innovation and continuous improvement in capability to reflect the changing communications’ landscape.
• Evidence of strong political awareness and professional judgement.
• High level of personal resilience with prior experience of managing media relations in a high profile, politically sensitive environment.
• An excellent leader of people who improves capability, leads through change, builds a diverse and inclusive team and exhibits an engaging and adaptable style that connects with people at all levels.
• Ability to successfully navigate complex environments and deliver through effective and collaborative partnerships.

Desirable

• Understanding of financial services and the different approaches and tools used by the FCA in a regulatory context.

The closing date for this role is 23.55 on Thursday 15 April.

Korn Ferry are managing this role on our behalf.

Internal candidates should discuss any application with your line manager, ahead of submission, as best practice & to aide any potential succession planning.

To apply, please go to https://kfopportunities.loop.jobs/go/ext/XP957/242

For an informal, confidential discussion about the post, please email advertresponse@KornFerry.com

Following shortlisting, selection will be via a two-stage panel interview, and half-day assessment with our executive assessment partners, Mercuri Urval.