We are currently looking for a Communications and External Affairs Manager to join our Communications team on a full time, 18 month fixed term basis.

This new role is an important part of the Communications team, and will support Southbank Centre bring its incredible story to life at a critical point in its history.

The successful candidate will be joining the Communications team at an exciting time, preparing for the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary. The Communications team looks after all press and stakeholder engagement, including external affairs and government relations. This new role will help us to build on our reputation as a leading global arts organisation and sector thought leader.

Main responsibilities include:

• Supporting the Head of External Affairs and Policy and the Director of Communications to articulate the impact of the Southbank Centre and vision of its leadership, as part of the Southbank Centre’s communication strategy
• Lead the writing of the Southbank Centre’s Annual Review, ensuring the Southbank Centre is positioned as a sector leader by supporting on developing an institutional narrative and identifying proof points that help to articulate impact and leadership
• In partnership with the Exec Office, draft speeches, opinion pieces and identify speaking opportunities for the CEO, Artistic Director, Board members and senior management as required
• Monitor policy, political and corporate developments, including opportunities and threats relevant to the arts sector through the Parliamentary monitoring service, wider media and social media, events and conferences, recommend and take forward action based on these, and updating key internal staff, including the CEO and Senior Leadership Team
• Maintain and develop the External Affairs stakeholder database, ensuring up to date information and accurate contact details for business continuity

Key skills that will help you in this role include:

• Has strong written skills, tailored to varying audiences, which includes writing speeches, opinion pieces and corporate documents with creativity and a sharp attention to detail
• Has significant experience of working in corporate communications, public affairs, policy or political environments
• Has excellent interpersonal skills, with ability to network, negotiate and sensitively communicate with a wide range of people and their demands both internally and externally

Please download the Job Description from our Career page for a full overview of this role responsibilities.

We welcome applications from people from a Black, Asian or Ethnically Diverse background or those who are D/deaf or disabled. If you wish to discuss reasonable adjustments such as a BSL interpreter for your interview please indicate this on your application form. Interviews will take place at The Southbank Centre. If you would like to speak to someone about any adjustments or concerns you can also email [email protected] and we will be in touch with you to make the necessary arrangements.

By attracting people to work for us from a broad range of backgrounds with diverse attitudes, opinions and beliefs we can continue to look at the world with fresh eyes and find new ways of doing things. The Southbank Centre is a warm and welcoming place to work, with great aspirations and ambitions to create great and accessible work for all. We pride ourselves in building a supportive environment to enable the development of our staff.

If you feel you have just some of the required skills and experience but meet the person specification, we would still encourage you to apply; we are very open to continuing the training and development of individuals who are self motivated to acquire new skills and knowledge relevant to the role.

Southbank Centre

The Southbank Centre is Europe’s largest arts centre and one of the UK’s top five visitor attractions, occupying an 11-acre site that sits in the midst of London’s most vibrant cultural quarter on the South Bank of the Thames.

Its impact and reach are significant and it is respected internationally as a convener of great artists and diverse audiences and for being entrepreneurial and innovative in response to a volatile and changing financial landscape. The Southbank Centre is a charity that is determined to demonstrate its ambition to remain innovative, disruptive and experimental in what it does and to be highly relevant to the artists it wants to work with and to the audiences it wants to attract.

The Southbank Centre believes that a commitment to diversity and inclusion helps it be a more relevant and effective organisation.

At the Southbank Centre we believe in:

Creating welcoming spaces

• Because upholding respect, safety and belonging is at the heart of vibrant teams and communities.
• This means us all taking responsibility for shaping and protecting a kind, compassionate and inclusive environment for others.

Making wonderful experiences together

• Because we all contribute to amazing artistic moments at the Southbank Centre.
• This means us all understanding and valuing the different parts we play in creating enjoyment and success.

Sparking new thinking

• Because different views and thought-provoking conversations inspire innovation, learning and growth.
• This means everyone having a desire to learn and being open to evaluating how they think and work.

Benefits & Perks:

As well as working at one of London's most popular and exciting sites the successful candidate will also benefit from the following:

• A min 5% employer’s pension contribution (rising to 9% depending on your employee contribution), from day 1 of employment
• 28 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
• Hybrid working model (3 days office working, 2 days from home)
• Enhanced sick pay
• Enhanced family leave benefits
• Up to 30% discounts at onsite retail, food and beverage vendors
• Staff ticket offers for Southbank Centre events
• Free entry to Hayward Gallery
• Free/discounted entry with other reciprocal organisations
• Free staff yoga
• Free access to emotional support from a confidential specialist Employee Assistance Programme available 24/7
• Season ticket loan
• Cycle to work scheme

The deadline for applications is 23:59 on the closing date for the job posting.