Job Description

The Head of Communication leads the development and delivery of effective integrated communication and engagement strategies that inform, engage and inspire internal and external audiences to support organisational goals.

The job exists to enhance organisational reputation, strengthen culture, build trust with stakeholders, ensure employees, partners and the public understand and support organisational priorities, while managing reputational risk.

Principal Accountabilities

• Lead the creation and implementation of effective and efficient organisation‑wide communication strategies to inform, engage and influence internal and external audiences in line with business goals and objectives.
• Ensure close collaboration with the NDA group to align communication messaging and priorities.
• Shape, govern and protect key organisational messaging and narrative to ensure clarity, consistency and alignment across all communication channels to support the delivery of organisational goals and objectives.
• Oversee internal, external and corporate communication planning, channels and content to deliver accurate, timely and accessible information to diverse audiences.
• Engage, and advise senior leaders on communication approaches to build visibility, trust, credibility and stakeholder confidence.
• Direct crisis, issues and incident communication activity to enable business continuity, mitigate operational, regulatory or reputational risk.
• Commission, plan and evaluate communication campaigns and insight‑led activity to measure impact and support continuous improvement.
• Engage with internal stakeholders, partners, media, and external bodies to ensure communication activity is integrated, targeted and aligned with organisational needs.
• Lead, develop and inspire the Communications team to build professional capability, strengthen standards and ensure high‑quality delivery.
• Collaborate across all communication disciplines within Corporate Affairs (internal, external and corporate) to ensure coherent, insight‑driven communication planning.
• Use data analysis and audience insight to support evidence-based decision‑making, targeting and communication strategy development.

Authorities & Dimensions

Authorities:
• Lead the operational delivery of corporate communications for Sellafield Ltd.
• Represent business in key external forums.
• Decision-making authority on company messaging to internal and or external stakeholders.
• Authority to halt publication of any communication activity inconsistent with company narrative.
• Ownership of the company brand and appropriate use of it.
• Ownership of communication‑related reputational risk controls.

Dimensions:
• Budget responsibility: Provide input to and manage defined areas of stakeholder engagement resource allocation and budget.
• Line management of a corporate team of communication professionals.
• Scope: Influence across internal, external, stakeholder and corporate communications spanning multiple sites and audience types. Manages resourcing, agency partnerships and capability development.

Corporate Communication:
• Brand governance and assurance: Set and oversee brand proposition and standards to ensure strong consistent corporate brand, messaging and assets.
• Public facing digital channel ownership: Ensure consistent corporate tone and brand identity to support enhanced brand visibility and build trust across relevant audiences.
• Departmental planning: Lead and oversee cross-function contracts and budget, and strategic comms planning and campaigns.

Essential Skills

• Degree‑level education or equivalent in a relevant discipline (e.g., Communications, PR, Marketing, Media).
• Extensive knowledge of communication models and channels with significant practical application within a complex business.
• Demonstrated expertise across corporate and strategic communication disciplines.
• Proven ability to advise, influence and challenge senior leaders using organisational and stakeholder insight.
• Strong capability in developing effective communication strategies, campaigns, narratives and measurement frameworks.
• Strong collaboration skills both internally and externally to find communication solutions to support business initiatives.
• A professional communicator with considerable experience in senior communications and stakeholder relations positions in a complex and or heavily regulated environment.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing communication teams and setting functional direction.

Desirable Skills

• Relevant professional communications accreditation: government relations, stakeholder engagement, or journalism (CIPR, CIM, PRCA, IoIC).
• Previous experience in public sector.

Additional Information

• Open VN
• Number of Vacancies: 1
• Contact/s: Helen Connolly

The interviews for this vacancy are expected to take place the week commencing 2nd November 2026.

ASW’s may have the right to apply for internal Sellafield Ltd vacancies. Please note if you are an Agency Supplied Worker you are required to attach evidence of all qualifications obtained to support your application. We require a minimum of A*-C (9-4) GCSE in English Language, Maths & Science/IT or equivalent / higher qualification.

Contracted Supply Workers (CSWs) are not eligible to apply to internal vacancies. CSWs are welcome to apply to external vacancies advertised on our external vacancies board.

If you choose to apply for this role and your application is shortlisted by the hiring manager, you will be invited to a competency based interview. The competencies will be issued once invited to interview.

Please see link to the competency framework for further information:
https://slportal.ssa-intra.net/pub/SC001/00027/Competency%20Framework/Forms/AllItems.aspx

If your technical competency is not in the above framework, please refer to the profession’s share point page for further information.

Sellafield Ltd are recognised as a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3). Disability Confident employers offer an interview to disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for a vacancy. Sellafield Ltd define the minimum criteria as the ‘essential skills’ which are listed on the vacancy notice. Whilst completing your application form, you will be able to indicate if you wish to be considered under the disability confident scheme. If you would prefer to discuss this directly with us, please contact the GBS Recruitment team on recruitment@sellafieldcloud.co.uk

Please ensure that you save a copy of this advert for future reference if you make an application for this role.

The closing date for this vacancy is Sunday 18th October 2026.