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The Dot Group

Global student housing investment and management

External Communications Manager

PR & CommunicationsConfirmed live in the last 24 hours
Full-timeLondon, UK

About the Job

Requirements

  • Eight to ten years of external communications experience, in-house or agency, with a track record of leading delivery of communications plans.
  • Communications experience across more than one region, including working across time zones and cultures.
  • Excellent writing and editing skills, with the ability to adapt tone for different audiences.
  • Established media relationships and a track record of securing quality coverage.
  • Proven issues and crisis management experience, with sound judgement under pressure.
  • Corporate or business-to-business media experience in at least one of real estate, financial services, or hospitality and leisure.
  • Understanding of institutional investor audiences and real estate investment, and experience working alongside Investor Relations, Finance, or Legal on corporate announcements.
  • Exposure to public affairs, government relations, or policy communications.
  • Willingness to work flexibly, including out of hours and across time zones when issues arise.

Responsibilities

  • Translate the Group's external communications strategy into an annual plan with clear priorities, owners, and measures.
  • Own delivery of the plan at pace, focusing on impact and balancing the priorities of multiple brands and markets.
  • Contribute to developing strategy, narratives, and messaging frameworks, taking increasing ownership of defined strategy areas over time.
  • Apply the Group messaging framework across all businesses so each brand speaks in its own voice while telling one Group story.
  • Partner with brand and marketing teams to align commercial priorities and identify cross-brand opportunities.
  • Coordinate with Internal Communications so colleagues hear significant news first and announcements are consistent inside and outside the business.
  • Run a proactive and reactive press office.
  • Build and maintain senior media relationships internationally.
  • Lead campaigns, announcements, and thought leadership programmes from idea to coverage.
  • Draft and sign off press releases, statements, Q&As, briefing notes, and leadership content.
  • Prepare and brief spokespeople, including through media training and interview preparation.
  • Deliver communications for GSA and the Group's corporate activity, including capital raises, joint ventures, acquisitions, disposals, and other milestones.
  • Work with Investor Relations, Legal, and Finance to ensure investor-facing messaging is consistent, accurate, and timely, and commercially sensitive information is protected.
  • Monitor policy and regulatory developments in priority markets and assess their implications for the business.
  • Develop policy positions, briefings, and key messages with the Global Head of Communications and business leaders.
  • Coordinate consultation responses and Dot's participation in sector forums and coalitions.
  • Support issues and crisis communications planning, protocols, scenario playbooks, and holding statements.
  • Identify reputational risks early and advise on mitigation with Legal, Compliance, Operations, and brand leaders.
  • Lead communications responses to live incidents across time zones, including outside normal working hours.
  • Run post-incident reviews and keep protocols tested and up to date.
  • Support regular reputational risk reporting to leadership and the Board.
  • Translate data insights into clear recommendations.
  • Set KPIs against an agreed baseline and report on performance, aligning it with business outcomes.
  • Oversee corporate websites and social channels, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and strong governance in line with brand guidelines and tone of voice.
  • Oversee content creation across written, visual, and video formats.
  • Lead Generative Engine Optimisation to improve how Dot and its brands appear in AI-powered search tools.
  • Shape the events, speaking, and awards programme across industry, investor, higher-education, and policy moments.
  • Oversee event communications, spokesperson positioning, and follow-up content.
  • Coach and develop more junior colleagues, building writing, media, and insight capability across the team.

Desired Qualifications

  • B2C communications experience in an operational, customer-facing business.
  • Experience using media and social listening tools and translating data into insight and recommendations.
  • Video storytelling experience, including planning, scripting, and directing content.
  • Experience of Generative Engine Optimisation, search engine optimisation, or AI search visibility.
  • Sustainability or environmental, social, and governance communications experience.
  • Additional languages relevant to the company's markets.

About the Company

The Dot Group

Global student housing investment and management

The Dot Group is a global leader in student housing and related services. It invests in, develops, owns, manages, and digitally connects student accommodation worldwide through its portfolio of brands, including Global Student Accommodation, Yugo, Student.com, and Kinetic Capital. Its offerings span the full lifecycle of student living—from financing and development to hands-on property management and digital platforms that help students find and connect with housing. The company differentiates itself through its long track record (over 35 years) and its integrated approach across investment, development, ownership, operations, and digital connectivity, enabling a seamless ecosystem for students and property partners at a global scale. Its goal is to shape a better future by creating sustainable value for generations to come and continuously advancing the global student living economy.

Company size
11-50
Company stage
Not listed
Total funding
Not listed
Headquarters
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Founded
1991

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