Canal & River Trust
Boat Safety Scheme National Communications & Public Affairs Manager
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About Us
Boat Safety Scheme Limited (BSS) is a public safety initiative run as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. Our role in supporting navigation and harbour authorities is to help reduce the risk of boat fires, explosions, carbon monoxide, or pollution from boats harming visitors to the inland waterways, the waterways' workforce, other waterways users, and property on or alongside the waterways.
The BSS comprises a team of 10 operating across the UK supporting 16 Navigation & Harbour Authorities. BSS colleagues are Canal & River Trust Employees permanently seconded full time to BSS Limited.
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 while 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 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 while 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.
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Skills & Qualifications
Essential:
- Degree-level education; Ideally a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.
- Substantial experience in a communications management field.
- Can effectively allocate and manage budgets.
- Track record of measuring and evaluating activity and reporting back to an executive team.
- Track record of working with external partners and stakeholders to achieve shared objectives.
- Substantial experience of contributing to the creative development of new ideas, strategies, and stories as part of the wider communications team.
- Strong knowledge and understanding of current trends in digital media/social media.
- Excellent understanding of GDPR compliance and other relevant data protection legislation.
- Highly proficient in the use of Microsoft 365 packages including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and appropriate CRM software and systems.
- Highly computer literate. Able to analyse complex data, identifying issues and trends, interpret results, and develop recommendations.
- Full UK Driving License.
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Desirable:
- Knowledge of appropriate Windows software and knowledge of appropriate CRM software and systems, including SAP and Salesforce.
- Public affairs experience in working with local and national government departments and agencies.
- In-service training to administration level competencies for the Salesforce ecosystem.
- Proven ability to effectively and confidently communicate financial matters to non-financial colleagues through data analysis and reporting.
What We Offer
In addition to your salary of up to £50,000 per annum + £425 Car Cash allowance per month, you will benefit from a competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, great holiday entitlement, and numerous other employee benefits, including several salary sacrifice benefits, all of which can be found here (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits).
Our Values
We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments - whether for a disability, neurodiversity, or health condition - please let us know what you need and how we can support you. We’ll work with you to make any necessary changes.
All of our jobs can be considered on a part-time, flexible, or job share basis.
We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. You are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. We recognise not everyone who is classified as disabled under the Equality Act personally identifies this way, or with this definition of disability. Please do not let this discourage you from applying under the scheme.
We are committed to fair, transparent, and ethical recruitment practices. As part of our hiring process, we may use AI to analyse applications and support us in working more efficiently. However, all hiring decisions – without exception - are made by our hiring managers.
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us
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