Communications Officer

Our client is looking for a highly skilled and motivated Communications Officer to join the Marketing, Recruitment, and Communications team. This dynamic role is essential in implementing our communication strategy across public relations, media, internal and external communications, corporate events, and social media to elevate our university’s reputation and profile.

Key Responsibilities:

• Public Relations and Media: Draft high-quality press releases, develop and maintain the university's media profile, act as the main contact for media inquiries, and support academic staff in media engagements. This role also involves reputation management and crisis communications.
• Content Creation: Produce written, visual, and audio content, including blogs, videos, podcasts, and photography. Develop and adapt content for various channels, ensuring alignment with the university's brand. Assist in managing the editorial content calendar and support the web team in maintaining recruitment-facing web pages.
• Social Media: Contribute to the development of an annual social media content plan, manage primary social media accounts, and ensure consistent messaging. Monitor social media analytics to enhance content and boost engagement.

Looking for someone who can write strong copy, press releases, and has excellent stakeholder management. Does this sound like you or someone you know? I'd love to hear from you.

Essential:

• Ability to develop and deliver PR plans that are strategic and have longevity.
• Proven hands-on experience in managing social media channels, including management hubs such as Sprout Social, Hootsuite etc.
• Experience in editing websites, including working with a content management system.
• Understanding of SEO principles and digital marketing and communications practices and trends.
• Excellent creative copywriting and proofreading skills, able to adapt tone and content to a variety of different audiences and platforms, with excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with ability to build relationships with colleagues of all levels.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with tact and discretion.
• Good organisational skills with excellent attention to detail and experience of working successfully to deadlines.
• Strongly able to clearly demonstrate success via proven metrics and data analysis.
• Strong IT skills: MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), and Adobe Creative suite particularly Photoshop and Premiere Pro) and the ability to learn and use other software packages.
• Demonstrable enthusiasm, and the ability to lead and work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Adaptable and flexible approach to work.

DESIRABLE:

• Postgraduate qualification in PR-related field or IPR/ journalism equivalent qualification.
• Excellent network of press and media contacts.
• Knowledge of the Higher Education sector.
• Understanding of legal and regulatory frameworks such as GDPR and CMA guidelines.