Communications Manager, Octopus Ventures

Octopus 

At Octopus, we’re entrepreneurs and we’re investors, on a mission to back the people, ideas and industries that will change the world. As entrepreneurs, we build our own businesses to address some of society’s biggest problems. Octopus Energy, our energy transition business, is the best example of this. As investors, we invest the £12.8* billion our clients have entrusted us with into the areas where we believe we can have the greatest impact. More than 85% of the £12.8 billion we manage is invested in line with three main themes: empowering people, revitalizing healthcare and building a sustainable planet. At our core, we believe that how a company behaves is just as important as what it does. That’s why we chose to become an accredited B Corp, so that the interests all our stakeholders – employees, customers, communities, environment and shareholders – are considered in every decision we make.

About Octopus Ventures

Octopus Ventures is the venture capital-focused investment team and entrepreneur/founder-facing brand within Octopus Investments, the Group’s fund management business. It’s one of the most active venture capital investors across Europe.

Octopus Ventures backs businesses at every stage of their journey, from ideas on a page through to IPO. Each year we deploy more than £200 million across five areas where we see maximum potential for impact: health, fintech, deep tech, consumer and B2B software. We’ve backed the likes of Graze, Secret Escapes, BoughtByMany, Zoopla, Depop, Elvie and WaveOptics, and many more.

Communications and marketing team

The Communications function at Octopus is a strategic external communications function, focused on building brand awareness, protecting Octopus’ reputation and generating loyalty & retention among our stakeholders. It sits within a central marketing function at Octopus, which supports the Group, Octopus Investments, Octopus Real Estate and Octopus Ventures. The other central functions we work closely with include Content, Design, Digital and Public Affairs. There are wider marketing teams that we work extremely closely with. This role will form part of the five-strong Communications team, reporting into the Head of Communications.

About the Role

Role purpose

We’re looking for a talented, creative, results-focused communications professional to build and protect the Octopus Ventures brand and reputation as one of Europe’s leading venture capital investors, with a particular focus on existing portfolio companies and their founders and new companies and founders.

What you’ll do

You will be responsible for delivering the communications strategy for Octopus Ventures, to support the team’s exciting growth ambitions over the coming years. Working closely with the Octopus Ventures Marketing Manager, on an integrated marketing & communications programme, you will be involved with multichannel campaigns across paid, earned, shared, and owned channels, impactful content ideation and creation, thought leadership, media relations and reputation management. You will also be responsible for managing the day-to-day press office for Octopus Ventures, with the support of our Communications Executive, and delivering exceptional press office services to journalists and other key stakeholders. While your day-to-day focus will be on Octopus Ventures, as a member of the central Communications team and function you’ll also occasionally play a role on comms activity across the rest of the Octopus Group.

Qualifications

What skills you’ll need

• Communications experience acquired either in an agency or in-house environment, ideally with exposure to a venture capital or private equity environment
• A good understanding of the venture capital / early stage business / entrepreneurship / technology landscape
• Solid grasp of paid, earned, shared and owned channel strategies
• Proven track record in delivering successful strategic communications alongside an overall brand position, able to think strategically, but stay on top of tactical execution
• Experience of managing and contributing to integrated marketing and communications campaigns
• Experience in thinking creatively about content ideation and creation, and a passion for developing impactful content that will resonate with target audiences
• Experience managing a proactive and reactive day-to-day press office, with a strong contact book of national and trade media
• Experience of using social media effectively to inform and drive comms strategies, and understanding digital comms considerations

Our Values 

At Octopus we don't just focus on what we do but also how we do it. Everyone shares our values of being straightforward, helpful and bold. And while these are the principles that guide us as an organisation. 

What we offer

💰  A competitive salary, bonus, pension and share incentive plan
✈️ Take what you need holiday
🏡 Flexible working 
⚓ Anchor (our wellness hub) which includes Headspace, one to one coaching through Sanctus, Parent Cloud, Digital GP, Shout & more
👪 Enhanced family leave policies
❤️ Life insurance, critical illness cover and income protection
🏥 Private medical insurance for you and your family
🚗 Electric vehicle leasing
🌍 The option to work overseas up to a month per year

Diversity & Inclusion statement

Octopus is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive employee experience for all. We are committed to promoting equal opportunities for growth and development regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, or socio-economic background.

We believe strongly that teams are at their best wherever member of the team feels safe to bring their whole self to work.