Planning Advisor

Job Description

Your new roleAs Planning Advisor, you will play a key role in supporting the management of the communications planning function, helping to ensure activity is strategically aligned and maximises opportunity for reputational enhancement or protection. You will ensurecommunications activity takes account of Government and other major announcements and look for timely hooks (e.g. national awareness days, industry events etc) which can be used as a platform to raise the profile of National Highways and maximise planned activity.In addition to this you will provide ad hoc planning support to the teams and play an integral part in preparing monthly reports for senior audiences.What youll be leading on

• Work with the Head of Planning to provide timely planning support across directorate and organisational boundaries to identify business needs, priorities and maintain an overview of all activity across the directorate over the next six to 12 months, consistentlylooking at ways to improve and simplify the planning process and ways information is collated and presented.
• Research and map out relevant external milestones throughout the year, such as awareness days or anniversaries, and look for opportunities to use as a platform to increase the value, reach and timeliness of existing activity
• Work with the Head of Planning and Assurance to hold high level cross-directorate planning meetings to discuss upcoming activity and highlight opportunities for greater collaboration and reputational gain.
• Work with the Head of Planning and Assurance to manage the risk and change control process for the directorate communications plan delivery.
• Support the Head of Planning in compiling the directorates contribution to the Board report, CEO report and any other corporate reports as required
• Manage, develop and maintain the Directorates communications planning mechanism / tools to provide an overview of upcoming activity, campaigns, milestones ensuring that it is a robust tool for managing the directorates time and resources to meet the companypriorities.

To be successful

• Experience of planning in a large and complex organisation.
• Experience in drafting formal business papers and awards submissions.
• Experience of identifying opportunities to maximise communications activities (e.g. through other channels, across teams) to enhance or protect reputation.
• Understanding of how to align communications with strategic goals and objectives.
• Good understanding of the current external environment and its potential impact on our planned activity in addition to an understanding of upcoming news agendas.
• Ability to analyse large volumes of information, identify key issues and present these succinctly and effectively to others.
• Experience of developing, managing and maintaining communications planning systems and processes.
• Ability to present complex project management plans in a way that is accessible and interesting to others.
• Strong PowerPoint and Excel skills, and familiarity with project management / planning software.

A bit about usThe Customer, Strategy & Communications Directorate is responsible for developing the future vision and direction for National Highways and within this sits our Planning and Assurance, Corporate Communications division.If you are successful, it is key to know all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory completion of our pre-employment checks which include:

• Right to work check
• 3 year employment history references
• DBS criminal record check
• Social media and adverse journalism check
• Driving licence check (if applicable)
• Fit to work questionnaire (for all), followed by a medical check (if applicable)

An informal blended working approach has been adopted for many of our roles across National Highways. We offer many different ways to work flexibly and were open to discuss part-time working, job shares, and flexible start and finish times. Please waituntil the interview stage before asking us about flexibility, and we will explore what is possible.Our benefits packageOur total reward package includes basic salary, the potential for a performance related bonus, and employer pension contributions of up to 10%.We also offer:

• Annual Leave starting at 26 days (plus Bank Holidays) rising by 1 day each year up to 31 days (plus Bank Holidays)
• Flexible hours and blended working between base location/home
• Life assurance of 4 times annual salary
• Health and wellbeing support, including an Employee Assistance Programme, available 24/7 365 days and network of mental health first aiders. Plus access to a wellbeing app to enhance your self-care 24/7, Occupational health service and flu vaccines
• A cycle to work scheme for the purchase of a bicycle and equipment for healthy, low carbon travel
• Significant investment in your career development, through learning and development, talent management, coaching, mentoring and on job experience

And we are:

• Family friendly with enhanced maternity leave and pay, paternity leave (15 days), shared parental leave, adoption leave. Plus access to financial support for holiday play schemes and paid special leave (up to 5 days pa), eg for caring responsibilities
• Money friendly with access to a discounts platform including over 3000 discounts for supermarkets, eating out, leisure, holidays. Alongside a financial wellbeing programme

Community friendly - offering paid leave to volunteer, 3 days basic/year plus an extra 3 days to support the national Covid effortSo if you put safety first, take ownership of your work, show passion for what you do, work effectively in a team, and demonstrate integrity in how you do it - then youll be a great fit for our organisationAnd finally we reserve the right to close before the advertisement expires