Director of Communications at The People Practice

Job role

• Our client, a major stakeholder in the energy sector is looking to hire a brilliant, strategically minded Director of Communications to lead the development and execution of high-impact communications strategies.
• This individual will shape, own, and protect the public narrative around key initiatives, ensuring complex policies and programmes are communicated with clarity, credibility, and impact.
• This is not a passive, administrative communications role.
• You will be the architect of our public voice, translating complex energy regulations, infrastructure milestones, and economic policies into clear, compelling narratives that build public trust, engage international investors, and align key industry stakeholders.

Purpose

• You will own the organisation’s public narrative, media strategy, and stakeholder communications.
• Your job is to ensure that every press release, digital post, media appearance, and public statement is consistent, high-impact, and directly advances the administration’s energy agenda.

Responsibilities
Narrative Strategy & Brand Ownership:

• Develop a master communications strategy that aligns with national energy goals and clearly communicates reform milestones to local and international audiences.
• Draft and refine speeches, op-eds, briefing papers, and talking points for the CEO ensuring a consistent, authoritative, and accessible tone.
• Thoroughly brief and prepare the organisation's leadership. for press conferences, panel discussions, television appearances, and high-level international summits.

Media Relations & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Maintain and cultivate strong relationships with energy beat reporters, political editors, and international foreign correspondents.
• Write, pitch, and distribute press releases and media kits. 
• Manage inbound media requests with speed and precision.
• Coordinate messaging with other government agencies, ministries (such as Power and Petroleum Resources), and private sector partners to ensure a unified front.

Digital Presence & Content Engine:

• Oversee and modernize the organisation’s digital footprint, including the website, active social media channels (X, LinkedIn), and stakeholder newsletters.
• Supervise a Communications Officer and creative vendors to produce high-quality infographics, explainer video, and digital assets that simplify complex energy data.

Crisis & Reputation Management:

• Anticipate political, regulatory, or operational controversies and establish proactive response protocols.
• Lead the crisis communications war-room when issues arise, drafting clear, factual statements under tight deadlines to manage public sentiment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Policy, or a related field.
• Master’s degree in Public Policy, Energy/Environmental Policy, or Business Administration (MBA).
• Professional certifications from recognized public relations bodies (e.g., NIPR, CIPR, IABC).
• 8-10 years of progressive experience in corporate communications, public relations, or political media relations. Experience managing communication strategies in highly regulated sectors (Energy, Finance, Infrastructure, or Telecoms) is highly desirable.
• Track record of executing modern, digital-first PR campaigns. You manage media like a business partner, relying on data, relationships, and rapid turnaround times rather than dry administrative memos.
• Hands-on experience managing high-profile PR crises where public and regulatory scrutiny was intense.
• Experience leading small, high-performing teams and managing external agencies or creative vendors.
• Network of strong relationships with local energy/business editors and international correspondents (e.g., Reuters, Bloomberg, Financial Times). 
• Proficiency in managing modern digital communications, including social media advocacy, video-driven storytelling, and website content management.
• Graphic design, basic video editing, or data visualization skills to make complex policy data visually intuitive.
• Multi-lingual capability (fluency in major local languages to aid localized community engagement) is an advantage.

Must have skills:

• Government Relations: Deep knowledge of public policy, bureaucracy, and disclosure rules. 
• Exceptional Executive Writing 
• Outstanding Verbal communication and presentation skills. 
• Media & Speaker Prep: Experienced in preparing senior officials for live TV, panels, and summits. 
• Tactical skill in neutralizing misinformation and proactively steering public narratives.