Head of Internal Communications & Employee Engagement - Part Time - 14 Month FTC

Job Introduction

When you join Saga we welcome you with open arms and we fuel your career possibilities. We support. We encourage. We champion you to reach your full potential.

This role is an important part of the Internal Communications team who strive to facilitate, to help and support the HR function of the business.

At Saga plc, our people are our business. If we focus on employee engagement, then delivering our plans for customers and investors will follow. That’s why communicating openly and well with our employees is hugely important and is a key part of building stronger levels of employee engagement.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the design and delivery of effective internal communications and engagement activities across Saga plc.

As Head of Internal Communications and Employee Engagement, your role will include scoping and overseeing the delivery of campaigns, change programmes, employee engagement strategies, key announcements, employee communications and related events; thereby helping the organisation to achieve its goals through enabling understanding and engagement.

And in return, you can look forward to all of the responsibility and involvement of an integral role, providing you with a rewarding and fast paced career with an excellent benefits package including life assurance, pension, high street and online discounts, and concessions for holidays and travel.

Please note, being a company that supports work/life balance, there is flexibility on how the 28 hours per week are set. We will also consider this role at a more junior level on a full time basis for the right candidate. 

Role Responsibility

• Own the internal communications and engagement strategy. Oversee the successful delivery of all relevant activities
• Seek out new innovations to get the key messages well landed across the business and continually seek feedback to ensure that the strategy is working
• Manage all leadership communication in partnership with members of the Group Executive and Top Team
• Facilitate and deliver the necessary leadership engagement activities to inform and equip managers to communicate with their teams
• Manage and input into internal communication channels and continuously improve their effectiveness using insight and measurement
• Own the successful implementation and delivery of the employee pulse and annual surveys, working to ensure relevant action plans are put in place and delivered against to drive improvements where necessary
• Chair an employee engagement forum (People Committee) which we can use as a standing forum to engage and communicate with employee representatives
• Ensure message consistency, alignment and relevant translation across Saga (One Saga)
• Drive high impact internal communications messages and campaigns which drive engagement and business performance
• Oversee the management and delivery of major events
• Lead the employee concessions strategy and ensure all employees are knowledgeable about the great deals Saga has to offer. Continue to raise the scope and profile of Concessions
• Build a plan to enhance our approach to CSR over the next 2 years and progressively embed CSR in how we operate. This includes owning the relationship with our national charity partner
• Own financial budgets and manage significant Group budgets
• Negotiate and manage stakeholder requirements to deliver Group strategies rather than P&L strategies
• Work closely with all parts of the HR function to ensure that all work delivered supports the engagement plan and for example to ensure that employee engagement is woven through all areas of employee development

The Ideal Candidate

Capability, knowledge and experience:

• A deep understanding of the drivers of employee engagement in business and a pragmatic approach to building plans and activities to improve engagement
• Experience of planning and delivering internal communications strategies to build a culture of transparency and good communication
• Creative and able to think of new and innovative ways to communicate and engage with our employees
• Effective interpersonal, management and communication skills, including the ability to write and present clear and concise professional communications to all employees
• Determination and influencing ability. This role will play an important part in influencing line managers to step up and drive the engagement in their teams
• Experience of working cross functionally and project managing across various functions in a Divisional business
• Experience of looking at great practice in other companies and identifying what might transfer into a Saga environment
• Ability to manage, and create, high performing teams by developing talent and endorsing culture
• Financially literate, with experience controlling financial budgets
• Ability to assess whether the desired outcomes have been achieved from various initiatives and to use this learning to improve engagement plans

Education and qualifications:

• This role would suit a highly talented HR or Communications specialist
• Humanities, or similar, degree with transferrable skills preferable
• Driving licence is required as multi-site travel is a fundamental part of the role

Personal characteristics:

• A real ambassador for engagement and the power of such in driving business results
• Resilient and not afraid to stand their ground to really push the employee engagement agenda
• Creative, with a flair for understanding employee issues and seeking out solutions
• Flexible and able to adapt to various operating environments.
• High integrity
• Collaborative team player with a dedication to driving change
• Customer focussed and driven to deliver
• Strong personal drive and alignment with The Saga Way

Package Description

The standard benefits when you join Saga include:

• Option to purchase a further 5 days annual leave per year
• Free private medical insurance after 1 years service
• Pension
• AXA Be Supported
• Apples Nursery (Folkestone only and on a waiting list basis)
• Free fruit 
• Give as you earn
• Free eye tests
• Honeymoon benefit
• Sharebuy
• Salary finance
• Discounts on Saga holidays and insurance products
• A range of reductions and offers from leading retailers, travel groups and entertainment companies
• Long service awards

About the Company

When you join Saga you will see that we are committed to treating all employees fairly and to offering equal opportunities in all aspects of employment and advancement. 

We value diversity not just because it is the right thing to do, but because diverse teams perform better. Creating a culture in which everyone feels welcome and offering equal opportunities in all aspects of employment and advancement is incredibly important to us. Fair consideration is given to applications from all applicants, including those with disabilities. If you need support at any point with your application please let us know as we will be happy to help.

Learn more about the Saga business by watching our Saga plc results for the financial year 2018/2019

To all recruitment agencies: Saga does not accept agency CVs unless specifically engaged on the role by the HR Recruitment Team. Please do not forward CVs to our recruiters, employees or any other company location. Saga is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited CVs.

Saga Group