UKPIA's team is central to our success.
We will advertise roles as they are available here and via our social media channels.
Deadline extended to 1st December
Communications Specialist
- Fixed-term contract of 24 months
- Highly competitive salary + excellent benefits
- London-based with some national travel
About Us
UKPIA is the trade association that brings together and represents the companies involved in refining, renewable fuel production, terminal operations and filling stations. Our members contribute significantly to the UK’s extensive and resilient fuel supply chain today and they are preparing for the future by planning and investing in projects that reduce emissions for tomorrow’s Net-Zero economy.
Our members provide a secure supply of affordable energy for road and rail, aviation, and marine applications, as well as for commercial and domestic heating, they also supply feedstocks for the chemicals sector and non-energy products e.g., lubricants, bitumen for use in road surfacing, graphite for use in electric vehicle batteries and as electrodes in steel and aluminium manufacture.
UKPIA’s members have the opportunity to be leaders of an orderly and just transition to a Net-Zero economy. Through reinvention and using extensive resources to decarbonise activities and products, the sector will have an increasingly important role in the supply of new energy carriers and technologies such as hydrogen, energy storage, and carbon capture, utilisation, and storage.
Team Overview
UKPIA’s External Relations team represents the collective voice of the UK’s downstream fuel sector. Its role is to foster and maintain positive and purposeful relationships with government and other important stakeholders that change to enhance the profile of the sector.
By promoting and developing clear and agreed policy messaging on pertinent industry topics, as well as devising and delivering effective advocacy and communication plans, the team ensures the sector is heard and well understood by key decision makers.
Employing a wide range of hard-copy and digital communications, media and events to interact and engage with a variety of audiences across sectors, disciplines and demographics, the team develops and conveys compelling narrative that demonstrates the sector’s enduring role in the energy mix, evidenced by robust quantitative data provided by specialists in the team.
The team is also the membership hub of the association and is responsible for membership growth, engagement and retention, where there is opportunity to reshape this important component of the organisation’s long-term sustainability and representation.
UKPIA offers a creative and educational work environment which encourages flexibility, openness and collaboration and embraces views from across the team to ensure we continue to deliver through our shared values: working together with integrity to deliver excellence.
Role Overview
The Communications Specialist is responsible for delivering carefully crafted and impactful external communications. You will be expected to communicate confidently about issues affecting the sector and through insight, planning and tactical execution to build member affinity and public awareness of the UK downstream fuel sector.
Strengthening and building UKPIA’s brand and image as the leading representative body for the downstream sector is an important objective of this role.
Reporting to the Director of External Relations, this position will work to maximise UKPIA’s external and online communications; support the association’s advocacy programme; grow and maintain UKPIA’s social media presence; and identify proactive opportunities to coordinate with and add value to UKPIA’s diverse network of members, associates, stakeholders and decision makers.
Main responsibilities
- Provide precise, persuasive and tailored copywriting for all external facing communications and publications across the organisation.
- Produce and manage communications plans, detailing activities and resources necessary for implementation and providing recommendations for continuous improvement / good practice.
- Develop and agree key messaging and produce and schedule press releases, editorials, presentations and speeches.
- Build and strengthen UKPIA’s brand and image to reflect an innovative and enduring sector ensuring consistency across its output and through its online presence.
- Lead the production cycle of UKPIA publications.
- Organise and coordinate stakeholder events such as the ‘All Party Parliamentary Group on Downstream Energy and Fuels’
- Lead the ongoing development of the UKPIA website, creating a modern and compelling hub for information on the sector.
- Grow UKPIA’s social media presence across Twitter, LinkedIn and other appropriate online platforms
- Manage the smooth operation of UKPIA Council Meetings and the Public Affairs Committee including monthly dashboard views of the organisation’s activities.
- Produce regular reports on the impact of all communications activities.
- Develop and manage stakeholder databases.
- Contribute to the UKPIA business plan and achieve agreed deliverables
- Contribute to a dynamic, creative and positive working environment at UKPIA.
Competencies and Experience
UKPIA operates in a complex and highly political environment, with numerous stakeholders and an increasingly complex set of regulatory and legislative frameworks. You'll thrive working in ever-changing environments, have the resilience to tackle challenges and setbacks and have a real desire to work closely with member companies and external stakeholders to align behind a common view.
We are seeking an outstanding individual with the following attributes, competencies and experience:
Essential competencies
- Excellent written and oral communications skills
- Exceptional copywriting for publications, web and advocacy, including understanding of the different stages of editorial, design and production processes
- Solid understanding of social media channels (LinkedIn, Twitter)
- Advanced PowerPoint skills
- Ability to convey complex technical information in simple language
- Stakeholder and project management
- Strong understanding of importance of brand
Desirable competencies:
- Basic understanding of the energy sector and the energy transition
- Understanding of UK policy making and political landscape.
- Event planning
- Website development skills (Umbraco)
- An eye for design for in-house publications
Experience:
- Educated to degree level/ or equivalent in journalism, political science, communications or equivalent.
- Proven experience in media and public relations.
- Experienced in stakeholder engagement activities.
The role is offered as a two-year fixed term contract. Applicants will be required to provide evidence of their right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the contract. UKPIA does not offer visa sponsorship.
How to apply
Please e-mail your CV along with a maximum one-page supporting statement and your salary expectations to:
Jamie Baker, Director of External Relations at: Jamie.baker@ukpia.com
The deadline for applications is midnight on Wednesday 24th November 2021.