Job detail for Group Director, Corporate Affairs

JOB DETAILS

Band: ExCo

Contract type: 1 x continuing (permanent) role

Location: Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, London, Salford

Important - Application Process

The BBC has engaged an executive search firm, Egon Zehnder, to manage the selection process for this role. Please be aware that your application will be managed by Egon Zehnder who will have access to your CV and personal details for the purpose of this vacancy only.

JOB INTRODUCTION

The BBC is seeking an exceptional leader to join its Executive team as Group Director, Corporate Affairs. At a pivotal moment for public service media, this role will shape and protect the reputation of one of the world’s most recognised and trusted organisations, leading the BBC’s communications, policy and engagement strategy.

This includes external and internal communications, all aspects of government relations, stakeholder engagement across the UK and globally, policy development, economic analysis, and the BBC’s regulatory relationships with Ofcom and other bodies.

Leading a joined-up strategic approach to internal and external communications strategy, the Group Director will ensure the BBC speaks with clarity, consistency and impact to staff, media, audiences, stakeholders and decision-makers. The role is central to making the case for the BBC, strengthening trust in the organisation, shaping policy and the regulatory environment, and ensuring the Corporation is well-positioned to anticipate and respond to rapid political, regulatory, media and societal change. The role is responsible for high stakes, high scrutiny corporate communications.

The role also provides Executive oversight of the BBC’s charities, BBC Children in Need and BBC Media Action, helping to ensure they continue to deliver meaningful impact in the UK and around the world.

YOUR KEY & IMPACT

Key will include:

Develops and delivers the BBC's group Corporate Affairs strategy, ensuring close coordination across policy and public affairs, corporate communications, internal communications, programme publicity and digital engagement channels to make the BBC’s case.

Sets and oversees the BBC's communications strategy, leading the development of the corporate story, ensuring consistency and discipline of messaging across external communications, internal communications and digital engagement channels as well as all government, political, stakeholder and regulatory audiences.

Leads the BBC's approach to reputation management and crisis communications, ensuring rapid coordinated and effective approaches to significant issues and events.

Provides executive oversight of the BBC's legislative, regulatory and public policy strategy and positions, leading engagement with government, regulators and policymakers across the UK and internationally, and providing leadership on long-term policy matters to strengthen the BBC’s influence and reputation.

Leads the BBC's strategic approach to staff, media, industry, political and stakeholder engagement, using insight, research and real-time feedback to develop effective campaigns that make the case for the organisation.

Anticipates emerging reputational, political, and regulatory risks and opportunities, ensuring the BBC is proactive in its engagement, influencing and communications.

Advises the BBC’s senior leadership on reputational opportunity and risk.

Drives a coordinated approach to executive, organisational and strategic communications, identifying opportunities to promote the BBC's impact, value and strategic priorities through industry forums, events and external platforms.

As a member of the Executive Committee, helps foster a high-performing, informed and engaged culture, driving organisational alignment on key priorities and ensuring coordinated engagement with audiences, stakeholders and key decision-makers.

ARE YOU THE RIGHT CANDIDATE?

Key Experience

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Exceptional communication, influencing and relationship-building skills with the credibility, judgement and professionalism to engage, advise and influence senior leaders, governments, regulators, stakeholders and partners.
• Industry-recognised leader in corporate affairs, public affairs, strategic communications and reputation management, with experience leading integrated engagement and communications strategies in complex, highly scrutinised environments.
• Exceptional judgement and decision-making in complex, high-profile and often ambiguous situations, balancing audience, stakeholder, editorial, organisational and political considerations.
• Strong understanding of the media sector, the BBC's competitive environment, and the economic, political and technological factors shaping the future of public service media.
• Outstanding leadership skills, with proven experience of leading large multi-disciplinary teams, managing complex change programmes, hiring and developing new talent and showing the flexibility to adapt and adopt new ways of working.

Desirable:

• Understanding of the UK political, regulatory and public policy landscape, with significant experience of operating at the interface of government and regulation.
• Understanding of the BBC's editorial ambitions, standards and wider as a public service broadcaster.

Key Behaviours and Characteristics

• Exceptional judgement and sound instincts, able to navigate complex, sensitive and fast-moving situations, balance competing considerations and make clear decisions under pressure and intense scrutiny.
• Highly credible and influential, able to build trusted relationships while having the confidence and courage to provide clear, independent advice, challenge constructively and tell senior leaders what they need to hear.
• Politically and astute, able to read the external environment, understand different perspectives and anticipate how decisions and events are likely to land with audiences, staff, stakeholders and decision-makers.
• Strategic, forward-looking and enterprise-minded, able to anticipate emerging reputational, political and regulatory risks and opportunities, connect issues across the organisation and translate insight into clear priorities and action.
• Calm, resilient and collaborative leader, bringing clarity and leadership in high-stakes situations, building alignment across organisational boundaries and maintaining trust and effectiveness under sustained public, political and media scrutiny.