External Communications VP

As an External Communications VP based in Paris, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping Barclays’ reputation across Europe. Sitting within the Investment Bank’s External Communications team, you will advise the Europe CEO and Country CEOs across our Europe region. You will lead high‑impact media strategies, and ensure our messaging aligns to Group and Investment Bank priorities. You’ll oversee multi‑market PR activity, manage relationships with top‑tier European financial media, guide spokesperson strategy, and provide expert counsel on reputational, regulatory and political issues. You will also drive issues management and crisis response, while coordinating closely with Group and regional teams to deliver consistent, strategic communications within Europe.

To be successful as an External Communications VP, you should have the following experience:

• Background in a global or European financial institution, with an understanding of the financial media landscape across Europe, as well as an understanding global tier 1 media.
• Experience advising senior leaders and influencing decision‑making in complex, fast‑moving environments
• Proven ability to manage PR agency relationships and deliver integrated communications activity across multiple markets
• Established media relationships and capability to communicate effectively, both in writing and in person
• Skilled at navigating sensitive issues, planning and prioritising workloads, operating independently, and collaborating within a global communications team

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.

This role is located in our Paris office.

Purpose of the role

To communicate execution of the bank’s strategy and objectives effectively to the relevant external stakeholders. 

Accountabilities

• Delivery and execution of the bank’s external communications strategy so that messages are communicated effectively to the relevant stakeholders across multiple channels, both owned and earned.
• Development of strategy aligned campaigning/ tactical content/ news flow that clearly and effectively communicates the banks values, goals and objectives to the public.
• Maintenance of external stakeholder relationships, such as media outlets and industry groups, so that messages communicated through press releases, owned channels and media statements correctly demonstrate the   bank’s strategy values and reputation.
• Reputational risk minimisation and management for the Bank and its senior leadership through effective advice of risk mitigation, and effective management of negative news flow/ crisis issues.

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..
• If managing a team, they define jobs and responsibilities, planning for the department’s future needs and operations, counselling employees on performance and contributing to employee pay decisions/changes. They may also lead a number of specialists to influence the operations of a department, in alignment with strategic as well as tactical priorities, while balancing short and long term goals and ensuring that budgets and schedules meet corporate requirements..
• If the position has leadership responsibilities, People Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others..
• OR for an individual contributor, they will be a subject matter expert within own discipline and will guide technical direction. They will 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. They will 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.