External Communications Manager

External Communications Manager – JR663

Full time (37 hours per week)

Salary £43,092-£45,973 (dependent on skills and experience)

Based at our Wallingford site. Currently trialling hybrid working with up to 2 days at home

Closing date: Wednesday 7th September 2022, however we reserve the right to close this vacancy should we receive sufficient applications.

Interviews: Will be held shortly after the closing date

We have an exciting opportunity for an External Communications Manager to join a small and friendly team at our Wallingford Site! This role will plan, deliver and evaluate external communications for a range of audiences, with a focus on building our reputation, supporting income generation and increasing the impact of our science.

Main Responsibilities

Reporting to the Head of Communications and Engagement, this role will:

• Manage a small team, who are responsible for delivering our media relations, social media, website content, public engagement, and major events.
• Proactively cultivate media partnerships, and build and maintain relationships with editors and journalists across broadcast, print and online media.
• Manage our press office function, including a reactive enquiries service and an out of hours press office service.
• Manage the crisis communications process and deliver effective crisis communications when required.
• Develop our web and social media presence, creating engaging content for these channels.
• Support the implementation of our public engagement principles, embedding excellent public engagement with research in our science projects.
• Manage the planning, delivery and evaluation of key corporate and industry events, and support attendance at key academic conferences.
• Liaise with scientists across four UKCEH sites to scope communications needs, maintaining a forward plan that facilitates cross-team working.
• Create and deliver effective communications plans for priority projects, and provide regular reports evaluating performance.

We will only be accepting applications made through our careers portal. As well as a CV and completing the on-line application questionnaire, please provide a covering letter detailing how you meet the criteria listed for this vacancy.