Head of Research & Briefing recruitment
The Research Briefing team works alongside the communication activities of media, public affairs, employee communications and internal communications. Its purpose is to provide analysis, develop content and coordinate communications activity. The team has played a critically important role in helping RBS communicate through the economic crisis and continues to do so.
Key Responsibilities
• Insight. To provide a continuous stream of insight on breaking and horizon issues that may affect the reputation of RBS group
• Briefings. To manage the process of briefing the leadership team up to CEO level on their external engagement
• Managing newsflow. To support the development of a new role / service to improve the newsflow from internal and external sources for use through all our communication channels. To ensure this is done with speed and an editorial oversight to make sure the service is useful
• Developing communications content. To develop content on strategic issues to support our engagement with employees and opinion formers (e.g. results, strategic plan, lending, jobs, remuneration, set piece speeches). To ensure this content is planned and supports our campaigning strategy. To ensure we effectively use the content we develop
• Rebuttal. To manage a rapid rebuttal service to support our media and public affairs engagement
• Anchoring strategic communication events. To ensure that high profile, set piece communications events have an effective content anchor. To make sure that the key players are well briefed and have thought through the defensive and proactive arguments
• Issue identification. To ensure that we identify horizon issues that may be material to the reputation of the Group and are planning for them in advance.
• To produce a weekly Communications Digest to keep our internal stakeholders posted on what’s happening
• Leveraging relationships. To ensure that external and internal relationships are developed and leveraged in support of the objectives set out above.
• To line manage two members of a wider team of five
We’re looking for you to have considerable experience within communications coupled with an excellent knowledge of economic and political issues which will affect the banking and wider community. You may be from a more technical finance / economics background, in which case you will be able to demonstrate that you have the communication skills required to thrive in this role and to develop / manage relationships and influence at the highest levels.
You will be an analytical individual who is capable of reviewing detailed information and transforming it into communications appropriate to your audience. Experience of developing and communicating strategies and leading / motivating others is also essential.
With us, hard work adds up to more. Our rewards include a generous salary, the opportunity to participate in bonus schemes and receive discounted Group products. Plus we offer up to 30% benefit funding that gives you the option of choosing your own mix of cash and benefits. We offer a range of career development opportunities across Group Communications and the wider RBS Group, both in the UK and world wide. All of which creates a truly flexible package that fits your changing needs and lifestyle.