Our opportunity

Boat Safety Scheme Limited (BSS) is in place to help minimise the risks to all visitors to the waterways and the waterways' workforce, and to help protect adjacent property, related to the condition, equipment and use of boats. The BSS is also used to minimise the risk of avoidable pollution from boats. (Note - The Scheme's work does not relate to the fixed infrastructure and plant of the waterways).

The Boat Safety Scheme National Communications & Public Affairs Manager will lead and develop initiatives that enhance, promote and protect the Boat Safety Scheme reputation, supporting the delivery of strategic objectives. The role holder will drive activities that build trust in the brand, raise safety awareness and strengthen influence with key stakeholders whilst delivering effective communications that foster positive engagement across diverse stakeholder groups with varying priorities and expectations.

Facts and Figures

• 90,000 boat owner customers subject to the BSS examination and certification process
• 18 navigation and harbour authorities participate in the BSS throughout the UK.
• 19 organisations involved, active stakeholder engagement including all five national boat owner groups.
• Formal/informal partnerships with around 100 external organisations
• 200 authorised independent BSS Examiner

Location & coverage

The position will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces and or other navigation & harbour authority offices throughout the UK as and when required for team working and collaborative meetings. Travel throughout the network of inland waterways is expected in order to conduct site visits.

BSS Limited supports numerous navigation and harbour authorities throughout the UK. We hold forum meetings in numerous locations but mainly based in Warwickshire and Hertfordshire. Our monthly meetings are held In Hemel Hempstead. When travelling on Boat Safety Scheme business, train tickets, and accommodation (when overnight stays are applicable) are bookable through designated apps and websites.

See the links to most of our navigation and harbour authority stakeholders here: www.aina.org.uk

Key Accountabilities

• Hold accountability for organisational brand positioning and reputation, developing and delivering initiatives that increase stakeholder engagement and public awareness.
• Develop, lead and evaluate organisational communications strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and providing expert advice to senior leadership.
• Manage the delivery of a communication calendar that effectively uses corporate schedules, seasonal factors and generated opportunities to deliver effective Examiner support, public understanding of standards and compliance, and propagates public awareness of risk and influences safer public behaviours.
• Create, implement and oversee all BSS communications in a way that satisfies Board of Directors, media, Examiners, Forum members and navigation authority customer needs whilst supporting BSS policy aims. Including all website, email, video, social media communications for internal and external stakeholders;
• Plan, schedule prepare, deliver and monitor a series of national campaigns (integrating media relations, digital, and traditional communication tools) to meet the BSS strategic goals around influence public safety and Examiner support and stakeholder relations.
• Authoring in collaboration with other management members, policy and consultation documents for the Board, forums and other bodies drawing on data collection, analysis and reporting to support the Scheme’s and navigation authority decision making processes.
• Collaborate with the Technical section colleagues and consultants on submissions and documentation supporting BSS positions with national and international standards makers and regulatory bodies.
• Deliver in partnership with governance and technical managers, precise and carefully drafted regulatory and legal documents and policies.
• Deliver a programme of corporate communications activities to: meet our legal requirements; (e.g. Annual Report & Accounts, Annual Meeting)
• Responsible for and management of the BSS public website as a primary delivery tool for boat owner information, customer enquiries and BSS Forum member support (via a password protected sub-site);
• Delivering agreed campaigns (integrating print media relations, digital, and traditional marketing) to meet the Scheme’s strategic goals around influence e.g. to attract and retain further navigation & harbour authorities to adopt the BSS.
• Lead campaigns to raise awareness of project partners, as well as encouraging deeper engagement and involvement through participatory activities.
• Protecting the Scheme’s reputation in response to crises and providing professional guidance for BSS spokespeople.
• Responsible for the brand management of the Scheme.
• Grow relationships to help deliver collaborations with key partners – in particular MPs, Government Departments, arm’s length agencies and sectorial organisations etc to increase risk awareness and action risk reducing behaviours; including by positioning the BSS as a champion in the sector.
• Work with colleagues to produce effective and influential research to meet the Scheme’s / navigation and harbour authorities ‘objectives