Head of Corporate Communications

This review offers insights into the Head of Corporate Communications opportunity at Centrica, aiming to guide potential candidates in their career exploration.

Opportunity Overview:

Centrica presents a compelling opportunity for a seasoned Head of Corporate Communications to play a pivotal role in shaping the narrative of a forward-thinking energy company. Beyond traditional energy provision, Centrica is deeply committed to revolutionizing the energy sector, focusing on a greener, fairer future powered by decarbonized solutions. This role offers the chance to be part of a substantial investment in renewable generation, security of supply, and customer-centric innovations, making a tangible impact on the energy transition.

Advantages for Candidates:

• Purpose-Driven Work: Join an organization with a clear and impactful purpose: "energising a greener, fairer future." This role allows you to contribute directly to addressing critical global challenges in the energy sector.
• Strategic Influence: As Head of Corporate Communications, you will be instrumental in positioning Centrica as a thought leader. You'll manage high-impact communications, advise senior leadership, and shape strategies that advance business objectives and reputation.
• Comprehensive Scope: Centrica's integrated approach to energy – making, storing, moving, selling, and mending it – offers a unique and broad landscape for communications. You'll gain exposure to diverse aspects of the energy value chain.
• Significant Investment & Growth: The company's commitment to investing £4bn by 2028 in key areas signals a period of substantial growth and innovation, presenting exciting opportunities for professional development and career progression.
• Thought Leadership: The role involves actively managing the CEO's engagement plan and thought leadership activities, providing a platform to influence industry discourse and elevate the company's profile.
• Community Impact: Centrica's strong commitment to igniting positive change in its communities, alongside its sustainability goals, offers a chance to align your professional contributions with social responsibility.
• Employee Well-being & Flexibility: Centrica emphasizes a "people place" culture, offering a flexible total rewards package designed to support employees' financial, physical, and emotional well-being. This includes a strong focus on inclusivity and supporting diverse realities.

Key Considerations for Candidates:

• Deep Media Expertise: The role demands extensive experience in financial PLC and corporate communications, with a strong track record in media relations and strategic messaging.
• Influencing & Stakeholder Management: Exceptional influencing skills are crucial, as you will be working with and advising senior leaders, including Board and Executive Committee members, and building strong relationships with key journalists and internal stakeholders (Investor Relations, CEO office, Regulatory Affairs, etc.).
• Strategic & Analytical Acumen: A keen analytical mind, attention to detail, and the ability to align media strategy with long-term business goals are essential. Commercial acumen and an understanding of legislative and regulatory change will be highly valued.
• Agility & Pace: The ability to respond quickly to issues, work at pace on complex matters, and potentially travel at short notice is a requirement. Participation in an out-of-hours on-call rota is also part of the role.
• Industry Knowledge: While not strictly mandatory, a solid understanding of the energy and services sector, or another highly regulated environment, would be a significant advantage.
• Proactive Communication: This is a proactive role focused on storytelling and positioning. Candidates should be adept at developing and executing engagement campaigns and maintaining a consistent external narrative.

Career Path Guidance:

This Head of Corporate Communications role at Centrica is an excellent opportunity for professionals looking to deepen their expertise in corporate affairs within a dynamic and transformative industry. It offers a significant platform to build upon existing media relations skills, develop strategic communication planning capabilities, and gain invaluable experience in navigating complex regulatory and market landscapes. The emphasis on sustainability and community impact aligns with the growing demand for purpose-driven careers. For individuals aspiring to senior leadership roles in communications, this position provides exposure to C-suite engagement, financial communications, and the strategic challenges of a major energy player undergoing significant evolution. The company's commitment to employee development and well-being suggests a supportive environment for long-term career growth.