PR and External Affairs Lead (6 Month FTC)

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: PR and External Affairs Lead (6 Month FTC)

🔹 Company: Good Energy

🔹 Location: Chippenham, Wiltshire, United Kingdom

🔹 Job Type: Fixed Term - Full Time

🔹 Category: Communications, Brand and Public Affairs

🔹 Date Posted: 2025-04-04

🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years

🔹 Remote Status: On-site (Hybrid)

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Proactive and reactive media engagement to ensure Good Energy's voice is prominent in discussions about clean technologies and renewable energy.
• Developing and leading external affairs campaigns to advance the company's policy goals.
• Building and maintaining relationships with key journalists and policymakers.
• Collaborating with internal teams to create customer and product PR stories for relevant media outlets.

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of media experience and strong communication skills. The ideal candidate will be able to align external affairs with the organization's strategic goals and have a good understanding of energy policy.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Reactive press office: Stay on top of the news agenda, spotting and responding to key events to find ways to get Good Energy noticed.

✅ Campaign development: Develop and lead external affairs campaigns which reach both media and policymakers, advancing Good Energy’s key policy goals, both commercial and purpose focused.

✅ Media relations: Develop and own relationships with relevant journalists at key national, trade and regional publications.

✅ Public affairs: Work closely with the Head of Communications and Regulatory Affairs Manager to reach and engage with key policymakers on Good Energy’s commercial and purpose focused policy goals.

✅ Customer and product PR: Work with the Head of Communications and Senior Communications Executive to develop an active flow of customer case studies and product PR stories for relevant business, regional and national media.

✅ Stakeholder mapping: Identifying and mapping relevant internal and external stakeholders to develop effective engagement strategies.

ASSUMPTION: The role requires strong project management skills and the ability to work effectively with various internal teams and external stakeholders.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree or above in a relevant field, such as policy, communication, or energy.

Experience: Extensive media experience dealing with media, both developing stories for journalists and spotting reactive opportunities in the news.

Required Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Understanding of how media and policy influencing interact.
• Ability to develop and lead the management of a project from start to finish.
• Demonstrable ability to align external affairs with an organization's strategic goals.

Preferred Skills:

• In-depth knowledge of the energy industry, particularly renewables.
• Agency or consultancy experience.

ASSUMPTION: While not explicitly stated, it's assumed that candidates should have a strong understanding of the energy sector and be able to quickly get up to speed with Good Energy's business and purpose.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £38,000 - £45,000 / year

Benefits:

• Great allowances for hybrid working: £500 work from home allowance and £500 travel allowance per year.
• £500 annual development allowance to spend on chosen development area.
• 25 days annual leave, a day off for your birthday, additional days leave for long service, plus bank holidays, with the option to buy additional leave.
• Ethical Pension with Aviva, with employer-matched contributions up to 7.5% of base salary.

Working Hours: Full-time, with flexible hybrid working arrangements (3 days on-site per week).

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on industry standards for a PR and External Affairs Lead role in the UK energy sector.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Good Energy operates in the utilities sector, focusing on renewable energy and green technologies. The company is a pioneer in the UK renewable energy market, having been founded over 25 years ago.

Company Size: Good Energy is a medium-sized company with 201-500 employees, providing a supportive and collaborative work environment.

Founded: The company was founded over 25 years ago and has since grown to become a leading provider of renewable energy services.

Company Description:

• Good Energy helps homes and businesses to become greener and more self-sufficient through renewable energy and green tech.
• The company champions independent renewable generators of all sizes and offers a range of services, including solar panel installation, battery storage, EV charging, and heat pump installation.
• Good Energy is a proud B Corp, recommended by Friends of the Earth, and has achieved a top three-star rating from Best Companies, making it a World Class employer.

Company Specialties:

• Renewable Electricity
• Independent Renewable Energy Generators
• Microgeneration
• Green Energy
• Renewable Heat
• Electric Vehicles
• Greenwashing
• Climate Change
• Net Zero
• and Technology

Company Website: https://www.goodenergy.co.uk/

ASSUMPTION: Good Energy's commitment to sustainability and renewable energy makes it an attractive employer for candidates passionate about making a positive impact on the environment.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is suitable for experienced professionals with 5-10 years of relevant experience in public relations, communications, or a related field.

Reporting Structure: The role reports directly to Ian McKee, the Head of Communications at Good Energy.

Work Arrangement: The role follows a hybrid work arrangement, with employees expected to work on-site for 3 days per week.

Growth Opportunities:

• Upon completion of the 6-month fixed-term contract, there may be opportunities for the role to become permanent, depending on the company's needs and the individual's performance.
• Good Energy offers an annual development allowance of £500, which can be used to pursue professional development opportunities.

ASSUMPTION: While the role is initially offered as a 6-month fixed-term contract, there may be opportunities for growth and progression within the company for the right candidate.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Good Energy's headquarters is located in Chippenham, Wiltshire, offering a modern and collaborative work environment.

Office Location(s): Monkton Park Offices, Monkton Park, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 1GH, GB

Geographic Context:

• Chippenham is a market town in Wiltshire, England, with a population of approximately 40,000 people.
• The town is located near the M4 motorway, providing easy access to London and other major cities in the UK.
• Chippenham offers a range of amenities, including shops, restaurants, and leisure facilities, as well as easy access to beautiful countryside and historic sites.

Work Schedule: The role follows a full-time work schedule, with flexible hybrid working arrangements (3 days on-site per week).

ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement allows for a better work-life balance, enabling employees to work from home for part of the week while still benefiting from the collaborative environment offered by the on-site office.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission through the Good Energy careers portal.
• Phone or video screening with the HR team to discuss the role and assess cultural fit.
• Face-to-face or video interview with the hiring manager, Ian McKee, to discuss the role in more detail and assess relevant skills and experience.
• Final interview with the senior leadership team to discuss the role and make a hiring decision.

Key Assessment Areas:

• Media and communication skills, including the ability to develop and pitch stories to journalists and engage with key policymakers.
• Understanding of energy policy and the ability to align external affairs with the company's strategic goals.
• Project management skills and the ability to work effectively with internal teams and external stakeholders.

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant media experience and communication skills.
• Demonstrate your understanding of energy policy and how it relates to Good Energy's business and purpose.
• Prepare examples of successful media campaigns or projects you've worked on in the past to discuss during the interview.

ATS Keywords: Media relations, external affairs, energy policy, communications, project management, stakeholder engagement, public affairs, journalism, campaign development

ASSUMPTION: Good Energy uses an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to manage job applications, so including relevant keywords in your resume and cover letter can help ensure your application is seen by the right people.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Media monitoring and analysis tools (e.g., Mention, Brand24, or similar)
• Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, or similar)
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot, or similar)

ASSUMPTION: While not explicitly stated, it's assumed that the role will require the use of standard office software, media monitoring tools, project management tools, and CRM software to effectively manage campaigns and engage with stakeholders.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Fair: Good Energy strives to be fair in all its interactions, treating customers, employees, and partners with respect and integrity.
• Straightforward: The company is committed to being open, honest, and transparent in its communications and actions.
• Focused: Good Energy is dedicated to delivering on its promises and achieving its goals, with a strong focus on results and impact.
• Inclusive: The company values diversity and fosters an inclusive work environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to contribute to its success.

Work Style:

• Collaborative: Good Energy encourages teamwork and collaboration, with employees working together to achieve common goals.
• Adaptable: The company is open to new ideas and approaches, and employees are encouraged to be flexible and adaptable in their work.
• Results-driven: Good Energy is focused on delivering results and making a positive impact on the environment and the communities it serves.

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you share Good Energy's commitment to sustainability and renewable energy?
• Are you comfortable working in a collaborative, adaptable, and results-driven environment?
• Do you have a strong understanding of energy policy and the ability to align external affairs with an organization's strategic goals?

ASSUMPTION: Good Energy's values and work style are essential considerations for candidates, as they provide insight into the company's culture and the type of environment they will be working in.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• The role is initially offered as a 6-month fixed-term contract, which may limit job security and opportunities for growth and progression.
• The role requires a high level of media experience and strong communication skills, which may be challenging for candidates with less experience in public relations or communications.
• The role involves working with a wide range of internal teams and external stakeholders, which may require strong project management and organizational skills to manage effectively.
• The role may require working outside of regular business hours to respond to media inquiries or manage crises, which may impact work-life balance.

ASSUMPTION: While the role offers many exciting opportunities and challenges, it's essential for candidates to be aware of the potential challenges and consider how they might approach them.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Compared to other PR and External Affairs roles in the energy sector, this role offers a unique opportunity to work for a company that is deeply committed to sustainability and renewable energy.
• Good Energy's size and focus on renewable energy make it an attractive employer for candidates interested in making a positive impact on the environment and the energy sector.
• Compared to other roles in the energy sector, this role offers a competitive salary range and a comprehensive benefits package, including an annual development allowance and flexible hybrid working arrangements.

ASSUMPTION: While the role may have some similarities to other PR and External Affairs roles in the energy sector, its focus on sustainability and renewable energy, as well as its unique benefits package, make it a standout opportunity for the right candidate.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing and executing a media campaign to raise awareness of Good Energy's commitment to net-zero emissions and its role in supporting the UK's transition to a low-carbon economy.
• Managing a crisis communication response to a negative media story about Good Energy's operations or business practices, working closely with internal teams to develop and implement a strategic communication plan.
• Creating and implementing a stakeholder engagement strategy to build and strengthen relationships with key policymakers, industry influencers, and other external stakeholders, supporting Good Energy's commercial and purpose-focused policy goals.

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects provide insight into the types of tasks and responsibilities the role may involve, as well as the level of strategic thinking and project management skills required to succeed in the role.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the company's approach to media relations and how it has evolved over time?
• How does the role fit into the company's overall communications and public affairs strategy, and how will it contribute to the achievement of the company's commercial and purpose-focused policy goals?
• What are the key priorities for the role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days, and how will success be measured?
• How does the company support the professional development and growth of its employees, particularly in the area of external affairs and communications?
• What is the company's approach to work-life balance, and how does it support employees in achieving a healthy work-life balance?

ASSUMPTION: Asking insightful questions during the interview process can help candidates better understand the role, the company, and the opportunities for growth and development, enabling them to make a more informed decision about whether the role is the right fit for them.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through the Good Energy careers portal: https://careers.goodenergy.co.uk/en/postings/9dee5839-7301-4958-9b10-fe3cd44c51dc
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant media experience and communication skills, as well as your understanding of energy policy and Good Energy's business and purpose.
• Prepare examples of successful media campaigns or projects you've worked on in the past to discuss during the interview.
• Follow up with the HR team one week after submitting your application to inquire about the status of your application and express your continued interest in the role.

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.