Senior Media and External Corporate Communications Manager

About this role

Senior Media & External Corporate Communications Manager

Location: Remote UK based, able to travel to our Head Office in London and other operational sites around the UK when required

As Media & External Corporate Communications Manager, you will play a crucial role in managing a busy press office, media relations and issues management at the heart of the role. You will lead and support responses to complex and high-profile media enquiries, working across the business to protect Capita’s reputation. Alongside this, you will help proactively build our profile and communicate Capita’s transformation narrative to key external stakeholders through national media (including broadcast), regional press, trade press, owned social media and digital channels. Our clients and prospects are primarily public sector organisations, alongside some large private companies, and our work often directly affects the individuals and communities who rely on essential services.

You will report to our Head of External Communications and Marketing, and will work closely with our internal communications team, contract communications teams and marketing teams, as well as liaising closely with investor relations, public affairs and external communications agencies.

Successful candidates must have experience from a PR agency background and journalism.

At Capita, we live by our values: 🤝 Customer First, Always; 🧑‍💻 Fearless Innovation; ✅ Achieve Together; 💙 Everyone is Valued. These guide how we work, collaborate, and deliver exceptional results.Job title:
Senior Media and External Corporate Communications ManagerJob Description:

What you’ll be doing

• Managing and responding to daily media enquiries, often involving complex, high-profile or sensitive issues that affect individuals and communities.

• Identifying emerging reputational risks and working with contract communications leads, public affairs, internal communications, legal teams, senior leaders and external PR agencies to agree clear handling and escalation plans.

• Developing reactive statements, lines to take, Q&As, briefing materials and other communications needed to support rapid and accurate responses.

• Providing clear, evidence-based communications advice to senior leaders, including constructive challenge where required, and preparing spokespeople for interviews and difficult questions.

• Supporting crisis communications planning and urgent issues outside normal working hours when required.

• Helping to shape and deliver Capita’s external communications strategy and plan.

• Developing credible stories and campaigns that demonstrate Capita’s transformation, expertise and contribution to the delivery of essential public services across earned, owned, social and digital channels.

• Working closely with colleagues across contracts and functions to identify evidence, insight, case studies and spokespeople that strengthen our external narrative.

• Building trusted relationships with reporters at key national and trade media outlets covering Capita and the sectors in which we operate.

• Monitoring the media, business and UK political landscape to anticipate risks and identify opportunities to share informed viewpoints and profile our spokespeople.

• Monitoring coverage and evaluating communications activity, using insight and evidence to improve future plans and report on reputation, reach and impact.

What we’re looking for -

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in corporate communications within a PR agency, including media relations and issues management involving UK national and trade media.

• Journalism experience, with a strong understanding of how the media operates and what makes a good story.

• Experience of communications within the public sector, regulated industries or another complex and highly scrutinised environment is preferable.

• Excellent news judgement, with demonstrable experience of writing and editing clear, accurate and high-quality content for different audiences and channels.

• Experience of advising and influencing senior stakeholders, preparing spokespeople and providing clear communications recommendations.

• Ability to interpret complex operational, political and reputational issues and communicate them clearly and concisely.

• Sound understanding of current affairs, the UK political landscape, business issues and relevant technology trends.

• Demonstrable knowledge of digital and social media platforms, with experience of integrated, multi-channel communications.

Soft Skills

• Calm and considered under pressure, with sound judgement and the ability to prioritise effectively when managing competing deadlines or fast-moving issues.

• Proactive, creative and collaborative, with the confidence to contribute ideas, challenge constructively and take action.

• Strong organisation and personal accountability, with the ability to manage your own workload effectively.

• Comfortable working independently and collaboratively as part of a close-knit team.

• A confident communicator who can build credibility and positive working relationships with senior stakeholders.

How this role aligns to our Values
Customer First, Always – You’ll communicate clearly, accurately and thoughtfully on issues that matter to our customers and the communities they serve, helping to protect trust and reputation.
Fearless Innovation – You’ll bring fresh ideas to our external communications, finding creative ways to tell our story, challenge thinking and respond effectively to a fast-changing media landscape.
Achieve Together – You’ll work closely with colleagues across communications, public affairs, legal, contracts and senior leadership to manage issues, develop compelling stories and deliver a consistent external narrative.
Everyone is Valued – You’ll communicate with care and respect, considering different perspectives and ensuring our communications reflect the people, customers and communities affected by the…