Director of External Affairs

The Energy Institute – who we are

The Energy Institute (EI) is the chartered professional membership body for people who work across the world of energy. Our purpose is creating a better energy future for our members and society by accelerating a just global energy transition to net zero. We do this by:

• Attracting, developing and equipping the diverse future energy workforce
• Informing energy decision-making through convening expertise and advice
• Enabling industry and consumers to make energy lower carbon, safer and more efficient

The EI staff team and its extensive network of volunteers pursue these goals in line with a set of values reflecting the culture of the organisation:

• We are inclusive by treating each other with care and respect
• We build trust through open and professional collaboration
• We are passionate about making a difference

Our status and history

A registered charity, incorporated by Royal Charter in 2003, the EI is licensed by the Engineering Council (UK) to offer Chartered, Incorporated and Engineering Technician status to engineers, and by the Society for the Environment to award Chartered Environmentalist status. We are also unique in granting Chartered Energy Manager status.

The EI was set up in 2003 as a result of a merger between the Institute of Petroleum (IP) and the Institute of Energy (InstE). Both Institutes had a proud and distinguished heritage developed over more than a century supporting their particular energy sectors.

Increasingly these sectors have converged, creating an integrated global energy market which has been mirrored by the development of the EI - established to address both the depth and breadth of the subject.

Today, the EI is home to a range of collaborative initiatives, including the G+ Global Offshore Wind Health and Safety Organisation, SafetyOn and POWERful Women. We host the annual International Energy Week, EI Awards, publish the Statistical Review of World Energy, New Energy World Magazine and the Energy Barometer, and provide the Toolbox web app helping the energy workforce learn lessons from incidents and get home safe.

Job Description: External Affairs Director

London, full time

Competitive salary commensurate with experience

Reports to Chief Executive

Line management responsibilities:

• Head of Communications and Marketing
• Head of Knowledge, Insights and Research
• Senior Editor, New Energy World

Job purpose

The Energy Institute (EI) is looking for an established senior communicator and marketeer, with experience in the field of energy, to play a pivotal role supporting the Chief Executive and Council of trustees developing and delivering the strategic goal of creating a better energy future by accelerating the transition to net zero.

Sitting at the heart of the EI, the External Affairs Director plays an instrumental role as the professional communications and marketing lead for the organisation, engaging personally with stakeholders and members externally, promoting and protecting the brand, its products and services, and assuming a key leadership role delivering communication, marketing and content strategies across multiple teams.

The role has an organisation-wide remit, with a heavy focus on reinvigorating the marketing strategies alongside wider communications activity, and responsibility for guiding the original content and events necessary for delivering one of the organisation’s three strategic themes – ‘informing energy decision-making through convening expertise and advice’.

Ultimately, as Director of multiple teams and with a profile across and on behalf of the whole organisation, the role is instrumental in sustaining the reputation and influence of the EI within its membership and with key stakeholders externally.  

Principle accountabilities

1. To work closely with the Chief Executive, the President and wider Council of trustees and as part of the EI’s leadership team in the setting of organisational values, objectives, targets and standards.
2. To lead and motivate multiple teams, totalling nearly a fifth of the organisation, including communications and marketing, knowledge and editorial. Setting objectives and standards and coaching them in their professional development, in pursuit of the EI’s overall strategy and plans and in compliance with health and safety, equal opportunities, data protection and budgetary practices.
3. To oversee and drive a programme of creative, dynamic marketing activities in support of the EI’s commercial success, using a mix of organic and paid channels to reach customers in existing and new markets, and to drive up take up of member benefits.
4. To act as the guardian of the EI’s corporate identity, signing off all materials to ensure the parent brand, sub-brands and house style are consistently deployed, both physically and digitally, in line with EI’s purpose and values.
5. To sustain a personal external profile on behalf of the EI and its goals, including external relationships at a senior level with business contacts, government officials, journalists and other key stakeholders, and representing the organisation at events.
6. To guide an integrated communication effort across the EI, including PR and public affairs, capitalising on the breadth of the organisation’s activities, to raise the profile, reputation, influence of the EI among key stakeholders in the UK and globally. 
7. To produce and/or quality assure written material, including speeches, articles, media releases and briefings, website content and promotional collateral, across the whole organisation.
8. To help guide the EI’s events programme, ensuring integrated planning, helping to secure high profile speakers and with a focus on target audience and sponsor needs, culminating each year in the prestigious International Energy Week and Awards held at the QEII Centre in London.
9. To oversee the teams producing high quality, relevant, original editorial and research content, including the annual Statistical Review of World Energy, Energy Barometer, and weekly digital New Energy World member magazine.
10. To inspire a data driven approach to all activities, monitoring progress and impact, and implementing corrective action as required.
11. To maintain a profile across all staff in the organisation, to advise the Chief Executive and Director of People and Culture on wider internal communications
12. To lead on crisis management as necessary to protect the reputation of the EI and its activities.

Person specification

Essential

• Extensive experience in leadership roles, providing strategic advice to senior figures, and with the gravitas to represent the organisation externally.
• A track record in building, delivering and evaluating marketing strategies generating revenue and delivering value for money, and policing a corporate brand.
• Experience inleading integrated communications activities which successfully deliver on diverse corporate objectives.
• Well-developed knowledge and insight of the field of energy, gained either within industry, trade or professional bodies, government/public bodies or NGOs.
• An established network and networking skills, with the ability to engage with government officials, journalists and other key stakeholders.
• Impeccable written capability, with experience coaching teams to produce quality copy targeted at specific audiences.
• Proven experience in leading, motivating and developing multi-disciplined teams to improve performance and deliver corporate objectives.

Desirable

• Financial management, data analytics and project management skills.
• Experience using CRM, CMS, email marketing platforms and other IT systems.
• Knowledge of the requirements of GDPR compliance for marketing purposes.
• Membership of relevant professional body and evidence of commitment to CPD.

Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Compressed working scheme – extended daily hours in return for every other Friday off
• Desirable central London location, as well as flexible working by agreement
• Great office culture and organisation-wide socials
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Generous annual leave plus bank holidays
• Cycle to Work Scheme, Season Ticket Loan

How to apply

Please send a CV and cover letter to hr@energyinst.org by 29 November 2024