Senior External Communications Manager, Financial, Strategic and Responsible Business

Why this job matters

This role is responsible for protecting and promoting BT’s reputation through strategic external communications. It involves:

• Leading corporate, financial, and responsible business communications aligned with BT’s strategy and investor narrative.
• Supporting financial calendar announcements and major corporate campaigns.
• Managing reputational risks, crises, and complex issues .
• Building and maintaining media and stakeholder relationships , and advising BT leaders.
• Collaborating across corporate affairs and business functions .
• Deputising for the FS&RB External Comms Director when needed.

What you’ll be doing

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Communications Planning : Support the External Comms Director in developing, implementing, and refining external communications strategies for Finance, Strategy & Responsible Business (FS&RB), ensuring alignment with BT’s broader corporate affairs objectives.

• Message Development : Lead the creation of clear, compelling, and consistent messaging tailored to different audiences and communication channels, reinforcing BT’s corporate narrative and strategic priorities.

• Content Creation & Oversight : Draft and manage high-quality communications materials including press releases, media briefings, executive scripts, Q&As, backgrounders, and social media content for both external and internal stakeholders.

• Campaign Execution : Plan and deliver proactive PR campaigns and communications activities that showcase BT’s strategic momentum, financial performance, and responsible business initiatives.

• Reputation & Issues Management : Monitor for emerging reputational risks, support crisis communications responses, and contribute to the development of mitigation strategies to protect BT’s brand and credibility.

• Stakeholder & Media Engagement : Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders including senior BT leaders, journalists, industry analysts, and colleagues across corporate functions to support storytelling and reputation management.

• Agency & Supplier Management : Coordinate with external PR agencies, media monitoring services, and other suppliers to ensure effective delivery of communications plans and timely reporting.

• Cross-functional Collaboration : Work closely with internal teams across Corporate Affairs (e.g. internal comms, content & channels, public affairs) and business functions (e.g. Finance, Strategy, Legal, Responsible Business) to ensure integrated and aligned communications.

• Leadership Support : Provide strategic counsel to BT leaders on external communications matters and deputise for the FS&RB External Comms Director when required.

Skills and Experiences

Skills

• Strategic communications planning and execution
• Corporate and financial messaging development
• High-quality content creation for external and internal audiences
• Crisis and reputational risk management
• Media relations and stakeholder engagement
• Storytelling across traditional and digital channels
• Analytical thinking and clear communication of complex issues
• Understanding of corporate brand and customer experience in reputation
• Ability to provide counsel to senior executives
• Collaborative working across cross-functional teams
• Supplier and agency management
• Adaptability under pressure and fast-paced environments

Experience

• Significant experience in corporate or financial communications within a FTSE 100 company or equivalent
• PR agency experience supporting FTSE clients
• Experience translating financial information for external audiences
• Exposure to strategic decision-making and communications planning
• Evidence of providing communications advice to senior leaders
• Experience managing or contributing to crisis communications
• Familiarity with media engagement and relationship-building
• Some experience in people leadership or team enablement (beneficial but not essential)

Benefits

• Annual On target bonus 15% (personal and company multipliers)
• Car allowance - worth £5500 a year, can be taken as cash)
• Private healthcare for you and your family
• BT Pension scheme; minimum 5% employee contribution, BT contribution 10%
• Life Assurance
• Direct share scheme
• Exclusive colleague discounts on our latest and greatest BT broadband packages
• 50% off EE mobile pay monthly or SIM only plans and 50% discount for friends and family on EE SIM only plans
• My Discounts gives colleagues access to unbeatable savings on everyday purchases at hundreds of retailers
• Discounted EE TV including TNT Sport and the NOW Entertainment membership
• Great support for working parents including pay whilst on maternity, adoptive, and paternity leave
• 25 days annual leave (not including bank holidays), increasing with service with buy holiday option
• Volunteering days so you can give back to your local community
• Brand new electric vehicle salary sacrifice arrangement, known as ‘My EV’

Our leadership standards

Looking in:
Leading inclusively and Safely
I inspire and build trust through self-awareness, honesty and integrity.
Owning outcomes
I take the right decisions that benefit the broader organisation.

Looking out:
Delivering for the customer
I execute brilliantly on clear priorities that add value to our customers and the wider business.
Commercially savvy
I demonstrate strong commercial focus, bringing an external perspective to decision-making.

Looking to the future:
Growth mindset
I experiment and identify opportunities for growth for both myself and the organisation.
Building for the future
I build diverse future-ready teams where all individuals can be at their best.

With over 175 years of heritage, BT is now the flagship business brand of BT Group. We’ve brought together our best people and capabilities into a B2B powerhouse serving 1.2 million business customers internationally.

We’re a global leader for secure connectivity and collaboration platforms for businesses of all shapes and sizes, from big household names and government departments, right through to sole traders and new start-ups. But it’s not just the technology that matters, it’s what it can do to help them build stronger, smarter, more secure businesses.

We value diversity and inclusion and believe in making a positive impact. We connect for good by championing digital inclusion and equipping people, businesses, and communities with digital skills to thrive.

As a member of our team, you will be part of an organisation that celebrates difference, fosters innovation and provides you with opportunities to be your best. With millions of businesses relying on us daily, joining BT means you can be part of a diverse and multi-skilled team that makes a significant impact to society.

A FEW POINTS TO NOTE:

Although these roles are listed as full-time, if you’re a job share partnership, work reduced hours, or any other way of working flexibly, please still get in touch.

We will also offer reasonable adjustments for the selection process if required, so please do not hesitate to inform us.

DON'T MEET EVERY SINGLE REQUIREMENT?

Studies have shown that women and people who are disabled, LGBTQ+, neurodiverse or from ethnic minority backgrounds are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification and criteria. We're committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace where everyone can be their best, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement on the Job Description, please apply anyway - you may just be the right candidate for this or other roles in our wider team.