Position: External Communications Business Partner
Location: Maritime House, South Shields
Full Time, Permanent
Salary: £40,000 - £45,000
Role Responsibilities
You’ll lead the development and delivery of external communications strategies that align with business priorities and drive measurable impact.
Strategic communications
* Partner with senior leaders to shape communication strategies that support commercial and organisational goals
* Translate business priorities into clear, targeted communication plans
* Identify opportunities to proactively position the organisation within the industry
* Provide expert advice on communication risks, issues, and best practice
Media, PR and reputation management
* Act as the primary contact for media enquiries, managing both proactive and reactive communications
* Build strong relationships with journalists, editors, and industry media
* Develop compelling stories that support strategic and commercial objectives
* Prepare spokespeople for media engagement, including briefings and messaging
* Monitor media and sector sentiment, providing insight and recommendations
Digital and external channels
* Oversee the organisation’s digital presence, ensuring it is aligned, engaging, and audience-focused
* Lead content planning through a structured editorial calendar
* Ensure high-quality, channel-appropriate content across web and social platforms
* Use data and insight to evaluate performance and continuously improve reach and engagementCollaborate with internal teams and external partners to deliver impactful content and campaigns
What success looks like
* Strong, consistent external messaging aligned to business priorities
* Increased positive media coverage and improved reputation metrics
* Engaging, high-performing digital channels with measurable growth
* Clear positioning as a credible and influential voice within the sector
* Trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and media
What we’re looking for
You’ll be a confident and credible communications professional with the ability to operate at both a strategic and hands-on level.
* Proven experience in external communications, PR, or corporate communications
* Strong strategic thinking with the ability to influence and challenge senior stakeholders
* Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills
* Experience managing communications across multiple channels in a complex organisation
* Ability to simplify complex information for different audiences
* Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
* Experience handling sensitive issues or reputational risk
* A data-driven mindset, using insight to inform decisions and improve performance
About you
* Collaborative, proactive, and solutions-focused
* Confident working with senior leaders and stakeholders
* Calm under pressure, with sound judgement and professionalism
* Audience-focused, with a passion for clear and impactful communication
* Always looking for ways to improve and innovate
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