Senior Communications Manager – Formula E
Formula E

In its first eight seasons, Formula E has crowned seven different champions and celebrated 23 winners in 100 races. With more automotive manufacturers on the grid than any other motorsport, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is one of the world’s most compelling racing series and enters its ninth season as the fastest growing sport on the planet.

But we’re more than a race; Formula E was founded to counteract climate change by accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles and as an unparalleled proving ground for race-to-road electric vehicle technologies. In Season 9, our ambition has grown as has our vision to accelerate sustainable human progress through an all out race for better futures. The only sport certified net zero carbon since inception, Formula E is a beacon for fans who want to enjoy edge-of-seat racing today at the same time as having a positive effect on the world tomorrow.

Formula E is a unique fusion of world class sport, sustainability, and cutting edge technology on a global stage. Season 9 signals the start of the Gen3 era in the sport with the debut of the third generation race car – the fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car ever built. Formula E will also go further than ever before in Season 9 with 18 races in 13 iconic world cities.

Working with us

At Formula E, we have created an environment that supports our colleagues to perform at their best. We are innovative, curious and we love the world we live in which is why we value sustainability. We believe that work should be fun and, whilst we are passionate about delivery, we are one team and supporting each other is key to our success.

Job Purpose:

This new role is equivalent to a ‘Head of’ department position in a one of the fastest-moving and most vibrant environments in the public relations sector, combining elite international sport, stunning live events, leading automotive brands, innovative consumer technology and industry-leading sustainability credentials.

The Senior Manager will oversee the effective and efficient day-to-day operation of a high-performing specialist team of four managers and executives responsible for: corporate and sustainability communications; sporting communications; and consumer public relations.

They will also be responsible for maximizing the impact of the international PR agency network supporting Formula E in every race market, and thrive on showcasing the measurable outcomes achieved by this international Communications team with evidence-based, timely reporting.

The Senior Manager will report directly to the Communications Director, an Executive Team position in Formula E, and be accountable for delivering an always-on communications strategy that makes Formula E the noisiest sport on the planet in earned media (despite being the quietest sport).

Key Deliverables:

• Consistently uphold best-in-class PR practices for an international, fast-growing, faster-moving challenger brand.
• Effective management of high-performing communications practitioners.
• Ability to multi-task in a high pressure environment.
• Strong judgment of media and reputational issues.
• Proven ability to play a leading role in a dynamic team structure.
• Able to create effective, measurable PR solutions to answer complex business challenges.
• Effective professional relationships with internal department leads and external stakeholders in partnerships, race teams, promoters and race locations.
• Experience managing multiple external suppliers on a global scale.
• Experience of managing celebrities and high-profile individuals as part of a campaign or through rights or sponsorship access.
• Internal communications best practices.
• Maintain Formula E’s existing network of international journalists, and expand the media relations programme to increase the range and quality of media engaged positively in Formula E.
• Willingness to travel to races and ability to thrive working with different international cultures.

Duties & Responsibilities:

The day-to-day activities for the Senior Manager will vary based on the race season with two key scenarios: race week, and all other periods outside of race week including the off season.

Please refer to the full job description detailing key responsibilities between race and non-race periods.

Experience Required:

• Demonstrated experience in PR or communications role, agency or in-house.
• Proven, effective team leadership and management capability.
• Experience in a live events, sports and/or entertainment business preferred.
• Good knowledge of the sports media sector required and contacts preferred.
• Experience of leading the development and implementation of high-impact communications strategies and/or campaigns with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience managing international clients and/or external suppliers on a global scale.
• Experience delivering campaigns with evidence of adapting to differing cultural and social practices.
• Effective budget management through a full financial year.
• Proven experience in crisis management and communications.
• Writing and copy editing experience is essential.

Knowledge Required:

• What makes a great story in earned media, and how to deliver it.
• How to develop and implement multiple ongoing PR campaigns as part of a global communications strategy.
• Understanding of the importance and impact of sustainability practices on business.
• Live event promotional techniques to support ticket sales is preferred but not essential.
• Understanding of the broadcast and TV rights environment is essential.
• Understanding of the role of PR in the rights holder / rights owner model is essential.

Skills and Aptitudes Required:

• Writing. The candidate must be able to write and edit news and feature copy to the standard of a professional journalist, to tight deadlines.
• Consultancy. The candidate must have had experience as a a PR practitioner either in-house and/or in agency of listening to an internal ‘client’, helping identify the business problem, and providing trusted PR advice to solve the problem.
• News awareness and judgement. The ability to generate a story and deliver it in media is highly-valued in a a challenger business trying to leverage every opportunity to generate ‘noise’ in media.
• Comfortable working with colleagues at all levels from CEO to work experience placement and treating everyone with the same positive professionalism.

Professional Membership:

• CIPR membership will be provided. Candidates demonstrating evidence of recognized continuous professional development in public relations is well-regarded.

Personal Qualities Required:

• Thrives in a busy, multi-tasking environment.
• Unflappable under pressure.
• Loves winning. Even when it’s not going to plan and others are fearing failure, the Sneior Manager will always look for positive opportunities to create a motivational win.
• Confident and comfortable with professional capabilities.
• Strong people manager capable of setting a high standard, and encouraging and inspiring others to follow.
• Enjoys meeting people and professional socializing. We maintain a large, vibrant network of international journalists requiring ongoing management during race week, and beyond.

Interests:

• Any sport, particularly live sport.
• Motorsport desired but not essential.
• Live events, probably music or arts/theatre
• Sports news, current affairs, international affairs.
• Sustainability issues.

Educational Attainment:

• Public relations degree or similar preferred, but not essential.
• Public relations, marketing or similar professional qualificiations preferred but not essential.
• Candidates must have proven experience and be able to demonstrate high level of writing ability, creative planning, project management, team management.

Circumstances:

• Willing and able to travel to all Formula E races up to one week before the designated race weekend. Exceptions can be made based on the current provisional Season 10 (check the Formula E website for dates) if raised during the application and selection process.

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