Communications and Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Communications and Design Manager

Company: Iberdrola (ScottishPower)

Location: Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom (ScottishPower HQ) or Prenton, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Marketing & Communications Operations

Date Posted: May 29, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Strategic Communications Leadership: Drive the development and execution of comprehensive internal and external communication strategies to support significant energy transmission projects, ensuring alignment with business objectives and stakeholder expectations.

• Content & Design Execution: Oversee the creation, production, and distribution of a wide array of communication materials, including regulatory submissions, promotional media, and digital content, ensuring consistency in messaging and brand representation.

• Stakeholder Engagement & Management: Actively manage and nurture relationships with diverse stakeholders, including employees, consumers, regulators, and influential groups, to foster understanding and support for critical infrastructure initiatives.

• Performance Measurement & Optimization: Implement robust mechanisms to measure the effectiveness of communication campaigns, utilizing feedback and data analysis to drive continuous improvement and adapt strategies for maximum impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Communications and Design Manager," the core responsibilities and context provided (supporting SP Energy Networks' transmission projects, regulatory business plans, stakeholder engagement for RIIO2) strongly indicate a role with significant operations-adjacent functions. This role is crucial for the Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy of large infrastructure projects, requiring strong coordination, strategic messaging, and stakeholder alignment, akin to GTM operations in a project-driven environment. The emphasis on regulatory submissions and stakeholder management within the energy sector positions this as a critical operational support function for business development and regulatory compliance.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a strategic stakeholder communications strategy for internal and external audiences, including employees, consumers, and key influential stakeholders.

• Champion the creation of standardized materials to provide consistent messaging and narratives to selected target audiences, ensuring brand integrity and clarity across all communications.

• Produce high-quality content for regulatory business plans, key submissions, stakeholder publications, independent groups, and newsletters as required by the business.

• Manage, develop, and maintain a diverse range of communication channels, including intranet, website, webinars, events, printed materials, and videos, to effectively disseminate information.

• Measure the effectiveness of communication initiatives by collecting feedback, commissioning research, analyzing outputs, and evaluating data from internal and external sources to support continuous improvement.

• Create promotional media such as videos, leaflets, and other collateral to support the company's vision and market position for both internal and external purposes.

• Collaborate closely with other Communications colleagues to ensure a unified and consistent message across all business communications, linking back to the overarching business strategy.

• Support the Project Director and Director with external-facing materials, reinforcing the company's position and key messages to critical stakeholders.

• Work with external design and marketing agencies as required, ensuring they align with project objectives and brand guidelines.

• Support the development of communication skills, knowledge, and behaviors across the RIIO2 team and the wider business.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a strategic, project-focused approach to communication within a highly regulated industry. The inclusion of "regulatory business plans," "RIIO2 team," and "transmission projects" points to a role deeply embedded in operational planning and execution for infrastructure development. This goes beyond typical marketing communications and requires a strong understanding of operational project lifecycles and stakeholder management within that context.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Proven track record of developing and delivering complex internal and external communications strategies.

• Demonstrable experience in project management activities, including planning, execution, and monitoring.

• Evidence of strong customer and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships.

• Experience in producing content for regulatory business plans and key submissions.

Required Skills:

• Strategic Communications: Ability to devise and implement overarching communication plans aligned with business goals.

• Stakeholder Management: Excellent interpersonal skills for engaging with diverse internal and external stakeholders.

• Content Creation & Design: Professional ability to design high-quality materials and produce coherent written business documents for varied audiences.

• Project Management: Strong planning, organization, and execution skills to manage multiple initiatives under tight deadlines.

• Influencing Skills: Exceptional communication and influencing abilities with internal and external stakeholders.

• Problem Solving: Ability to devise solutions to complex communication challenges.

• Computer Literacy: Proficiency in relevant software for content creation and communication management.

• Team Player: Flexible attitude and strong interpersonal skills for effective collaboration.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the energy sector, specifically transmission networks or regulated utilities.

• Familiarity with RIIO (Revenue = Incentives + Innovation + Outputs) regulatory frameworks.

• Experience in media production (video, digital content).

• Proficiency in utilizing digital communication channels (intranet, webinars, social media).

• Data analysis skills for measuring communication effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The skills listed are a blend of core communication competencies and operational project support. The emphasis on "regulatory business plans," "RIIO2 team," and "project management" suggests that candidates with experience in highly regulated industries or complex project environments will be particularly well-suited.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Communication Strategy Case Studies: Showcase examples of developed and executed internal and external communication strategies, detailing objectives, target audiences, key messages, channels used, and outcomes.

• Content & Design Samples: Provide a diverse portfolio of professionally designed materials, including examples of written business documents, promotional media (leaflets, videos), and content for regulatory submissions or stakeholder publications.

• Project Management Demonstrations: Present evidence of managing communication projects from initiation to completion, highlighting planning, execution, and successful delivery under pressure.

• Stakeholder Engagement Examples: Illustrate successful management of stakeholder relationships, demonstrating methods used to engage, influence, and gather feedback from diverse groups.

Process Documentation:

• Communication Strategy Development: Outline the process for researching, planning, and approving communication strategies, including stakeholder mapping and message framework development.

• Content Production Workflow: Detail the workflow for creating, reviewing, approving, and disseminating communication materials, emphasizing quality assurance and brand consistency.

• Channel Management Procedures: Describe the process for managing and optimizing various communication channels (digital and print) to ensure effective reach and engagement.

• Performance Measurement & Reporting: Explain the methodology for measuring communication effectiveness, including data collection, analysis, feedback loops, and reporting to stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role like this, a portfolio is crucial. It should not just be a collection of work but a demonstration of strategic thinking, process adherence, and measurable impact in communication initiatives, particularly those supporting complex projects and regulatory compliance.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £55,200 - £69,000 per annum

Bonus: Up to 15% annual bonus

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Healthcare: Single healthcare cover included.

• Retirement Savings: Competitive pension scheme with a company contribution match of up to 10% (company doubles employee contribution up to 10%).

• Generous Leave: 36 days of annual leave.

• Work-Life Balance: Holiday purchase scheme to allow for additional annual leave.

• Share Ownership: Share Incentive Plan and Sharesave Scheme.

• Charitable Giving: Payroll giving and charity matched funding initiatives.

• Technology & Transport: Technology Vouchers, Cycle to Work scheme, and public transport season ticket loans.

• Health & Wellbeing: Options for dental insurance, private medical insurance, health cash plan, and annual health assessments.

• Life Assurance: 4x salary life assurance coverage.

• Financial Support: Access to SmartSave financial wellbeing support.

• Employee Discounts: Extensive discounts on shopping, leisure, restaurants, gyms, and travel insurance.

• Environmental Initiatives: Count us in program for carbon emission reduction pledges and Electric Vehicle Schemes for green driving.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours (assumed 40 hours per week, based on typical UK industry standards). The role specifies flexible hybrid working.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a Communications and Design Manager role in the UK, especially within the energy sector. The comprehensive benefits package, including bonus, pension, and extensive discounts, reflects a strong employer offering. The mention of "hybrid working" and support for "green driving" aligns with modern employee expectations and company values.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Utilities (Electricity Transmission & Distribution)

Company Size: Large (Iberdrola is a global utility company with a significant presence in the UK via ScottishPower)

Founded: ScottishPower was founded in 1990, but Iberdrola has a much longer history dating back to 1901.

Company Slogan: "With plans to see SP Energy Networks (SPEN), part of the ScottishPower Group, look to invest over £5bn in transmission projects by 2030, the Transmission Stakeholder Engagement and Communications  team will play a key role in supporting SPEN to work at pace to deliver the transmission network that is required to support ambitions Scottish and UK Government 2030 targets." (This is a mission-driven statement rather than a traditional slogan, emphasizing ambitious infrastructure development.)

Team Structure:

• This role sits within the Transmission Stakeholder Engagement and Communications team.

• It will likely collaborate closely with project directors, RIIO2 team members, and other communications colleagues.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Communication: The role involves measuring communication effectiveness and acting on results and feedback, indicating a data-informed approach.

• Strategic Planning: Emphasis on developing and delivering strategic communication plans for internal and external audiences.

• Process Optimization: Focus on creating standardized materials and improving communication processes for consistency and efficiency.

• Stakeholder-Centric: A core methodology involves continuous stakeholder feedback and research to refine communication strategies.

Company Website: https://www.iberdrola.com/ and https://www.scottishpower.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Iberdrola, and by extension ScottishPower, operates in a critical, highly regulated industry. The company culture is likely to be focused on long-term investment, sustainability, and meeting stringent regulatory and governmental targets (e.g., Net Zero by 2044). The emphasis on large-scale infrastructure projects (over £5bn investment) suggests a results-oriented, project-driven environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Senior level position, requiring substantial experience in communications strategy and execution. It's a managerial role overseeing specific communication functions within a larger project or departmental framework.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to a Project Director or Director within the Transmission Stakeholder Engagement and Communications team. This indicates a direct line of support to senior leadership involved in strategic project delivery.

Operations Impact: The Communications and Design Manager plays a vital role in ensuring the successful execution of SP Energy Networks' ambitious transmission projects. Effective communication is critical for:

• Stakeholder Buy-in: Securing support from the public, regulators, and government bodies for essential infrastructure development.

• Internal Alignment: Ensuring employees are informed and engaged with the company's strategic direction and project goals.

• Regulatory Compliance: Supporting the creation of documentation required for regulatory submissions and approvals.

• Brand Reputation: Maintaining and enhancing the company's image as a leader in energy infrastructure and renewables.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Potential to deepen expertise in energy sector communications, regulatory affairs, or large-scale project communications.

• Leadership: Advancement to senior communication strategist roles, managing larger teams or broader communication portfolios within Iberdrola/ScottishPower.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Opportunities to move into related roles within stakeholder engagement, corporate affairs, or project management within the energy sector.

• Learning & Development: Access to company-provided training, potential for industry certifications, and participation in projects that foster new skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a significant step for a communications professional looking to impact large-scale, vital infrastructure projects. The company's commitment to growth and investment in the energy transition provides a fertile ground for career development within this specific operational context.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based at ScottishPower HQ in Glasgow or Prenton, suggesting a corporate office environment. The "Flexible Hybrid Working" arrangement indicates a blend of in-office and remote work.

Office Location(s):

• ScottishPower HQ, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role requires close collaboration with various internal teams (Communications colleagues, Project Directors, RIIO2 team) and external agencies, suggesting an environment that values teamwork and open communication.

• Technology & Tools: Access to standard office technology, communication platforms, and potentially specialized design software, depending on internal capabilities versus agency reliance.

• Operations Focus: The workspace will likely support the coordination and execution of communication plans tied to operational projects, requiring efficient workflows and clear communication channels.

Work Schedule: Flexible Hybrid Working is offered, allowing for a balance between in-office and remote work. Standard full-time working hours are expected, with the understanding that deadlines may require flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model offers flexibility, which is attractive for professionals balancing work and personal life. The corporate office setting in Glasgow or Prenton ensures access to necessary resources and facilitates in-person collaboration essential for strategic initiatives and team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of CV and cover letter focusing on experience in strategic communications, design, and project management, particularly within relevant sectors.

• Competency-Based Interview: Assessment of skills and experience against the required qualifications, using behavioral questions to gauge problem-solving abilities, stakeholder management, and strategic thinking.

• Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to present a selection of their work, showcasing communication strategies, design capabilities, and project outcomes. This is a critical stage to demonstrate practical application of skills.

• Case Study/Practical Exercise: Potential for a practical exercise or case study related to developing a communication plan for a specific transmission project or stakeholder group.

• Final Interview: Discussion with senior management (e.g., Project Director) to assess cultural fit, strategic alignment, and overall suitability for the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Narrative: For each portfolio piece, clearly articulate the strategic objective, target audience, key messages, channels used, and the measurable impact or outcome.

• Design Excellence: Showcase high-quality, professional design work that demonstrates an understanding of branding and audience engagement. Include varied formats (digital, print, video).

• Process Demonstration: Highlight your role in the communication process, from strategy conception through to execution and measurement.

• Regulatory Context: If possible, include examples or discuss experience in creating materials for regulated industries or complex project approvals