Communications Manager

Join Barclays as a VP Communications Manager, where you will navigate a highly dynamic environment, taking the lead in shaping and defining communications where no model currently exists, and building a clear, effective framework to deliver impactful messaging. In this highly strategic role, you will partner closely with senior stakeholders, providing proactive communications support across leadership engagement, change communications, and executive positioning. You will support the development of leadership messaging, townhalls, strategic updates, external profile building, and high-impact content that supports the team engagement and strengthens leadership visibility.

To be successful in this role, you should have: 

• Excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to work in a matrix organisation.
• The ability to conceptualise and execute strategically aligned communications and engagement activity.
• Demonstrated experience in writing with the ability to thoughtfully adapt tone and style to suit diverse audiences.
• The ability to simplify complex technical topics for non-technical audiences, making information engaging and accessible.
• A strategic mindset, capable of linking business content back to organisational priorities.

Other highly valued skills include:

• Experience in the technology sector or related fields, with the ability to develop a solid understanding of the subject matter.
• Knowledge of channel mix and internal communication sign-off processes.
• Familiarity with brand principles to align communications effectively.

You may be assessed on the key critical skills relevant for success in role, such as risk and controls, change and transformation, business acumen, strategic thinking and digital and technology, as well as job-specific technical skills.

The successful candidate will be based in Radbroke Hall, Knutsford.

Purpose of the role

To build strong and effective partnerships with the senior leadership of the organisation, advising on how to engage and influence employees to achieve the business’s goals, through an insight-based employee communications strategy, backed up with outstanding execution capability.

Accountabilities

• Leadership communication, using detailed, systematic insight research to help senior leaders understand employee sentiment, and empower them to communicate empathetically with their people.
• Business strategy alignment, building belief in the strategy of the organisation, and the progress being made, with a strong focus on the impact employees have on the client experience.
• Culture and employee proposition communication, designing and implementing communication interventions that influence individual behaviour to create a culture built on the Barclays Mindset; demonstrate why the organisation is a great place to work.
• Change delivery, creating communication interventions that build employee commitment and capability through organisational change.
• Crisis and issues management, working closely with the senior team as part of the management response, focused on the role of employees in engaging clients.
• Capability building, leading and developing a high-performing team, building individual skills and team capabilities.

Vice President Expectations

• To contribute or set strategy, drive requirements and make recommendations for change. Plan resources, budgets, and policies; manage and maintain policies/processes; deliver continuous improvements and escalate breaches of policies/procedures.
• Be a subject matter expert within own discipline and will guide technical direction. Lead collaborative, multi-year assignments and guide team members through structured assignments, identify the need for the inclusion of other areas of specialisation to complete assignments. Train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions.
• Advise key stakeholders, including functional leadership teams and senior management on functional and cross functional areas of impact and alignment.
• Manage and mitigate risks through assessment, in support of the control and governance agenda.
• Demonstrate leadership and accountability for managing risk and strengthening controls in relation to the work your team does.
• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the organisation functions to contribute to achieving the goals of the business.
• Collaborate with other areas of work, for business aligned support areas to keep up to speed with business activity and the business strategies.
• Create solutions based on sophisticated analytical thought comparing and selecting complex alternatives. In-depth analysis with interpretative thinking will be required to define problems and develop innovative solutions.
• Adopt and include the outcomes of extensive research in problem solving processes.
• Seek out, build and maintain trusting relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders in order to accomplish key business objectives, using influencing and negotiating skills to achieve outcomes.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.