Head of Communications & Engagement

Are you passionate about bringing people together, supporting businesses, connecting countries? Looking for a challenge in one of the world’s largest airline groups in one of the most dynamic and high-profile industries? Looking to have a big impact with a broad and responsible communications job?

International Airlines Group (IAG), the parent company of Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, Level and Vueling, combines leading airlines in Britain, Ireland and Spain together carrying around 122 million customers a year.

IAG Transform is a company within the parent company of International Airlines Group (IAG) focused on building value for the Group via AI, innovation, and transformation, as well as handling major procurement and technology programmes including cyber security. IAG Transform is a small area of the Group (~500 employees), but with a big ambition to drive change across the Group to shape the future of aviation, developing all the time.

Job Description

Reporting to the Group Corporate Affairs Director, the Head of Communications & Engagement IAG Transform is responsible for partnering with IAG Transform (primarily) and IAG’s other central teams to support employee engagement, attraction, and retention.

Acting as a trusted and expert senior adviser to the IAG Transform Management Committee, particularly the Chief Transformation, Innovation and Procurement Officer, support the performance and transformation of IAG by delivering employee engagement while managing change and reputation risk. This is the lead internal communications role in IAG, primarily supporting a part of the business (IAG Transform) that is rapidly evolving but with a secondary focus on other IAG internal communications needs, working on this with the IAG Head of Communications. As such, the role requires a strategic thinker who can define and implement a refreshed strategy, working with senior stakeholders within IAG Transform as well as in IAG, and a ‘do-er’, interested in new technologies and technology-led ways of doing things. The role also requires an accomplished writer who can organise and develop a narrative and messaging for emerging topics from IAG Transform e.g. AI. The breadth and placement of the role, inside the global headquarters, allows for significant impact into IAG’s wider agenda and performance as a business. The role will work seamlessly with the IAG Head of Communications.

In your role you will be responsible for:

• Identifying and defining communications objectives, strategies and plans to support the business as it is today and as it evolves, consulting with senior stakeholders particularly IAG Transform Management Committee.
• Working with the Chief Transformation, Innovation and Procurement Officer on all his strategic communications needs.
• Delivering communications to support organisational change while maintaining engagement levels and minimising reputational risks.
• Ensuring delivery of all urgent and routine business and HR-related communications.
• Developing creative communications and campaigns on topics that are relevant to IAG and IAG Transform to maximise engagement and drive a performance culture e.g. Artificial Intelligence, Financial Results, Employee storytelling.
• Developing the plan and content, and oversee the logistics for Senior Leadership events, Management Team meetings and Town Halls.

• Ensuring the brand is used in accordance with the guidelines internally and externally.
• Looking for the latest tools, platforms and technologies, and ensuring that messaging is delivered effectively on external and internal digital platforms including the IAG Transform intranet and LinkedIn feed; working smartly to adjust the tone and content of each communication moment to reflect that platform and bearing in mind external reputation risks.
• Aligning internal communications for a weekly Group communications grid and for flagging relevant stories for weekly reporting as well as identifying risks and opportunities for the business.

Qualifications

Required skills & experience

• Experience of working in a large, multi-sited, international employer organisation, within the Headquarter communications operation, in an employee communications role.
• Experience of managing large-scale change projects successfully, defining necessary outcomes and communications to fulfil those, dealing with complexity and different stakeholder needs, including overseeing a best-in-class channel mix with digital channels.
• Precise, accurate, excellent written English and the ability to explain complex concepts and technical content in a simple way. Able to co-create internal narratives for senior executives and turn ideas into compelling written prose.
• Experience of working in different communications disciplines previously e.g. in an external, digital or media role, including knowledge of LinkedIn. Used to thinking about multiple end audiences for a message e.g. investors, industry, employees, customers, as well as media.
• A strategic but hands-on professional. Someone who can own a communications activity from the beginning to end; thinking strategically to propose solutions, thinking creatively to design campaigns, and thinking through all the implementation and logistics, as well as the feedback to internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success of working with senior stakeholders on an ongoing basis at the highest level e.g. Management Committee level. Capable of inspiring confidence and building trust.
• A focus on driving outcomes with an understanding of measurement and evaluation to drive effectiveness of communications and feedback to internal stakeholders.
• Be a powerful and inspiring leader able to challenge senior stakeholders and inspire those who report to them.

Additional Information

What we offer

• Competitive Annual Incentive Scheme
• LinkedIn Learning Platform
• Comprehensive health insurance
• Life Cover
• Generous (8%) pension plan
• Cycle2Work program
• Electric car scheme
• Exclusive shopping discounts
• Eye test voucher
• Attractive travel discounts
• Press Reader
• Plus, many more perks!