Head of Communications & Engagement (Job Number: 26001404)

Responsibilities

• This senior level, strategic communications role is suited to professionals with significant leadership experience in large, high profile and complex institutions and used to working across large and varied portfolios, often at pace. You will guide, advise and develop strategies and plans focused on building and managing the University’s reputation internationally, nationally and regionally with key audiences and stakeholders.
• The role is based within the Global Division: Advancement (Marketing and Communications, Development and Alumni Relations (DARO)). Collectively, the teams enhance and support the University’s reputation, student recruitment and revenue generation, and enable effective engagement with students, staff and stakeholders to advance the University’s mission and objectives.
• This role reports to and deputises for the Director of Communications and Engagement, will line manage the external / internal communications teams and will also work closely with the Head of Corporate Marketing. While it is based within the communications team you will work across the three Advancement teams (Communications, Marketing and Development and Alumni Relations) to guide, advise on and deliver integrated strategic communications activity working across the PR mix, including digital and social media, media relations, events and internal / external stakeholder management.
• You will chiefly be working with senior colleagues on a breadth of strategic activity but will also make a significant contribution to leadership and development of the communications team and a pan-University strategic communications community of practice.
• You will have a breadth of national and international media contacts and will have extensive experience of front-line media relations, advising on media strategy and leading media teams. You will also be digital communications savvy, with extensive knowledge and experience of devising, delivering and supporting teams to deliver digital communications innovations and activity.
• As an essential part of the role, you will also provide significant support for the Director of Communications and the Head of Corporate Marketing in leading the Marketing and Communications team’s 24/7 out of hours function. This involves providing senior level strategic communications guidance and support at evenings and weekends to senior stakeholders and the on-call team for major incidents or matters of reputation.

Requirements

• 1. Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
• 2. Professional strategic communications practitioner with specialist knowledge and expertise to influence service delivery, events and activities within the organisation.
• 3. Experience of providing specialist strategic communications advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues, working across an integrated PR mix (digital / social media, media relations, events, internal / external stakeholder management). A strong, strategic and ideas driven thinker, able to translate effectively strategy to delivery.
• 4. *Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships and positively influence the University’s reputation.
• 5. A proactive and innovative approach. Experience of identifying and implementing where relevant service improvements are required and devising, developing and embedding policies and procedures.
• 6. Track record of cross-functional management and development experience and/or an enhanced management or professional strategic communications (or similar) qualification applied across a large service team and / or multi-disciplinary teams. Extensive line management experience.
• 7. Significant experience of working at a senior level in large, complex and high-profile organisations to deliver strategic communications, advising and guiding senior stakeholders.
• 8. Significant expertise in delivering integrated digital and social media and traditional media strategy, policy and operations, at an international / national level, working with and through multi-disciplinary teams. Evidence of proactively devising, delivering and guiding teams to deliver digital communications innovations and activity.
• 9. Extensive experience of frontline digital and social media management and media relations across a diversity of issues and situations.
• 10. Established relationships / contacts within the national / international media and ability to manage effectively engagement with journalists.

Preferred

• 22. Experience of working in or with a knowledge of high-profile higher education sector organisations. A thorough knowledge of the sector’s operating context.
• 23. A professional qualification or equivalent in strategic communications.