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About Sage Homes
Sage Homes is an innovative Blackstone and Regis business addressing the housing crisis in England by making good homes affordable for people across the country who need them.
Since 2017 we have delivered around 17,000 new homes across affordable rent, shared ownership and social rent for individuals and families. In 2021 Sage Homes became the largest provider of new affordable housing in England, and we continue to deliver high quality affordable homes across the country.
We have invested more than £3 billion into high-quality affordable housing. Our entrepreneurial spirit combined with our technical expertise has got us to where we are today and will enable future sustainable growth.
About the role:
Sage Homes is looking for a strategic, collaborative, and forward-thinking Head of Communications to position and promote Sage Homes as a leading organisation within the housing sector.
In this role, you will be accountable for internal, customer, and external communications, shaping how Sage tells its story to stakeholders, customers, colleagues, partners, and the wider sector. You will work closely with Sage's investors, our external Political Communications agency, and colleagues across the business to deliver impactful, engaging, and consistent messaging.
You will lead a multidisciplinary Communications team covering customer communications (including digital), internal communications, and corporate communications.
Responsibilities include:
External Communications & PR
Develop a clear, strategic communications plan in partnership with Sage's leadership team and investors.
Act as a spokesperson for Sage Homes across trade and national media, as well as in corporate engagement with local government, MPs, government departments, trade bodies, and partner organisations.
Protect and strengthen Sage Homes' corporate and social reputation across traditional and digital channels.
Identify, mitigate, and prepare for potential reputational risks, including managing live issues and crises.
Ensure Sage Homes has a clear point of view on major social housing policy developments and consultations.
Collaborate with the leadership team to build their individual and collective profiles in the sector.
Manage data and insight to support clear, accurate, and effective messaging.
Corporate Communications
Deliver all public-facing corporate documents aligned with Sage's brand, tone of voice, and regulatory requirements (e.g., Annual Reports, Customer Annual Reports, Complaints Reports).
Oversee website and social media content strategy, supporting teams across the business to translate goals into effective digital communication.
Lead on analytics, social listening, monitoring, and user testing to inform ongoing improvements and strategic direction.
Internal & Customer Communications
Ensure all regulator-required customer communications meet the standards set out in the Consumer Standard.
Work with customer-facing teams to deliver clear, helpful communications that drive customer engagement and satisfaction.
Partner with teams across Sage to surface and share internal stories that contribute to a positive and connected culture.
Manage communications and messaging for all-company meetings and leadership updates.
Leadership & Management
Lead, inspire, and develop a team of four communications professionals.
Set clear goals and expectations, regularly reviewing progress and performance.
Conduct performance reviews, address issues proactively, and support team members' growth and development.
Ensure that all communication activities meet organisational requirements for quality, safety, regulatory compliance, environmental policies, and duty of care.
About you
Experience within the real estate or housing sector, with an understanding of the political and external landscape.
Approximately 8+ years' experience developing sector engagement strategies, public engagement plans, and comprehensive communications plans.
Exceptional writing skills across short-form (press quotes, social media) and long-form (corporate documents) communications.
Strong ability to synthesise and communicate complex issues clearly for senior internal and external audiences.
Experience working within or with hybrid communications structures.
Strong political awareness and understanding of local and national political processes.
Credibility and confidence when engaging with senior stakeholders.
A proven ability to build effective relationships with key internal and external decision-makers to enhance organisational reputation.
Experience working in a fast-paced, agile, and growing environment with lean teams.
Demonstrable leadership capabilities, with experience motivating and guiding teams through change and growth.
Higher education qualification and/or substantial relevant professional experience.
Experience of managing journalist enquiries and delivering engaging communications releases
We are committed to ensuring you have the best career here at Sage. As well as regular support and guidance from your manager you can expect to receive a variety of learning and development opportunities to support you as you grow within our business. This includes internally and externally delivered development programmes and opportunities to study for professional accreditations and qualifications
Culture and benefits:
At Sage Homes, we want to empower diverse, ambitious people to thrive. We are fast-paced and inclusive, and encourage our people to use their passion, curiosity and inventiveness to help us create safe places for our customers to flourish.
To make sure our colleagues feel welcome and cared for, we provide a suite of excellent benefits, including:
25 days holiday, and an additional day for every year's service (up to five years)
Annual discretionary bonus scheme
A health cash plan, with financial support for a range of options including physiotherapy, opticians, dental and private online GP sessions
Study support package, helping you achieve your personal and professional development ambitions
Workplace Pension - matching personal contributions up to 5%
Cycle to Work scheme, helping you save up to 40% on a new bike and accessories
Electric car scheme, enabling you rent a brand-new electric car at low-cost payments
Wellbeing support through MyndUp
Two days' paid volunteering leave a year, allowing you support causes you care about
Charity fundraising support, with match-funding up to £1,000 for good causes
We believe that investing in our people is key to our success. Our benefits are designed to support your well-being, professional growth, and work-life balance, ensuring you feel valued and empowered to make a difference every day
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