Job Description

The role:

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading the Charity’s external communications, PR and marketing plan with a strong focus on digital communications including the website, social media and content marketing. The role will also manage media relations and lead on joint communications with the Charity’s partners including the main organisations representing employers and education and its delivery partners including the National Association of Head Teachers and the National Governance Association. Whilst the focus is on external communications, support for internal communications will also be required on an ad-hoc basis. The role will be expected to lead:

• A programme of wide-reaching communications with schools and the education sector, including through strategic and delivery partnerships, ensuring strong audience engagement
• Support for the promotion of our research team’s work including published reports and events
• Development of our digital marketing strategy and web presence to support all communications across the charity.
• Delivery of high-quality content for all our promotional materials and communications with key stakeholders.
• Recruitment campaigns to increase the numbers of volunteers for our programmes, ensuring targeted campaigns for specific demographics and with a focus on digital marketing supplemented by traditional marketing approaches.

The candidate will be expected to maximise awareness of the charity’s work through publicity and the production of relevant promotional materials and attend conferences and events where communications support is required.

We are looking for a highly articulate experienced and hands-on communications and marketing professional who is creative, digitally savvy with strong stakeholder management skills and a good understanding of the education communication landscape from trade press to communication channels. Education and Employers is a small charity working at a rapid pace to bring about change and the ideal candidate will be a self-starter with strong communication skills, able to absorb key information quickly and work well with a small team in a dynamic working environment.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic

• Understand our different audiences and ensure updated and relevant information is provided on all our programmes which are disseminated and used by staff and key stakeholders
• Deliver a communication strategy that will support the delivery of our delivery programmes and our internationally recognised research
• Develop and implement a digital marketing strategy with including a focus on social media

Communications to School and Education Sector

• Working with the Senior Management Team and the Head of Schools Engagement to implement a communications plan to engage primary and secondary schools and colleges with the Primary Futures and Inspiring the Future programmes. This will include working with the communications leads in strategic and delivery level partners to ensure joint communications and cross promotion.
• Raise national awareness and engagement with the Inspiring Governance online recruitment service. To include raising awareness of all governor recruiters including schools, Chairs of Governors, LAs, Multi-Academy Trusts and Clerks
• Promoting the success of the Inspiring Governance service using a range of techniques from case studies to testimonials
• Work with the DfE, education trade press and regional education communication networks to further raise the profile and standing of the charity and its offer to schools

Communication to support volunteer recruitment and employer engagement

• Working with the Senior Management Team, design and deliver both regional and national recruitment campaigns to increase the number of volunteers engaged on our programmes focusing on digital channels and social media including twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
• Design and deliver bespoke recruitment campaigns to increase and support the diversity of our volunteers
• Provide comms support and direction for our wider employer engagement work, including content/ copy for employers’ and professional associations’ own existing comms channels.
• Promote the value of large employers working with the Charity including partner pages, corporate logos and comms partnerships

Digital Marketing & Media Relations

• Develop and implement a digital and social media strategy and ensure that all our digital activities work together effectively to create cohesive, audience-led experiences which are engaging, relevant and enhance the work of the charity.
• Use digital analytics and SEO to ensure our digital communications are effective
• Manage the organisation’s website ensuring that it is accurate and updated with relevant and engaging content.
• Manage liaison with the media overseeing, with the support from leadership, all press releases produced by the organisation and distributing to the relevant media in both a proactive and reactive manager as appropriate.

Content Development & Communications

• Ensure that the findings of our research are disseminated to a variety of audiences – government, policymakers, employers, schools and volunteers
• Lead and direct the compilation, writing, editing, design, production and distribution of printed, audio-visual, digital materials to generate more volunteers and usage by schools
• Support the CEO and the team with communications and marketing around events, PR and internal communications.
• Ensure the charity has in place strong crisis communications policies and procedures and be able to lead on crisis communications alongside the CEO if required
• Lead internal communications across the team determining the best medium to support both staff in the London office and those working regionally

Line Management responsibilities

• Line management responsibilities for the Communications officer and Events Officer ensuring both roles set annual personal and delivery objectives and are well supported

Other

• Contribute to the Charity’s strategic development
• Other ad hoc duties as required

Person specification

Skills/ Knowledge/ Expertise

Essential

• Management level experience of developing and implementing, marketing and communications including digital marketing strategy
• Experience in developing innovative engagement and communication channels, preferably relating to national level campaigns, policy and influencing agendas
• Outstanding contemporary communication and influencing skills
• Excellent proofreading, copywriting and editing skills
• Demonstrable successful use of digital and social media
• Management level experience of programme and project management
• Understanding of crisis communications
• Excellent stakeholder management and experience of working in partnership to delivery communications campaigns
• A good understanding of the education communications landscape from trade press to communications channels

Desirable

• A passion for supporting young people in realising their potential
• A successful track record in planning effective campaigns to influence the behaviour of external stakeholders / customers
• Specialist knowledge of the education and employment sectors and the policy environment and delivery models which underpin relationships
  • Experience of working in a small team
  • Understanding of risk management and data protection

Personal Attributes

• Good level of education, demonstrating strong client facing aptitude and communication skills both written and verbal. Comfort and confidence in working with a variety of external stakeholders, having an entrepreneurial and enterprising approach to their work.
• Good working knowledge and practical application of Microsoft office tools and customer relationships software
• A “doer”- ability to anticipate requirements and act to provide workable solutions
• Creative and solutions orientated, perceiving processes as the means rather than the end and as an aid to effective delivery
• Influencer - demonstrates personal ‘presence’ and gains the confidence of others through temperament, capability and calibre
• Demonstrates sensitivity and possesses the ability to manage effectively the organisational tensions that sometimes develop between all stakeholders involved in the organisation and delivery of the event. 
• Team Player: working collaboratively and flexibly to achieve outcomes and is keen to add value to the organisation’s culture and ethos
• Able to undertake some occasional work in the evenings and at weekends
• Able to travel in the UK if required

Application

The Education and Employers charity values having a diverse workforce.  We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of their background.

The closing date for applications is Friday 11th January and only successful candidates will be notified no later than Monday 21st January that they have been shortlisted. Interviews will take place on Tuesday 29th January at the Education and Employers’ offices in Fleet Street London.

Please send a CV and Covering letter setting out your interest in and suitability for the role using the online application method.

Applications will only be accepted from those with the right to work in the UK with a valid passport/visa

Please note we will only consider applications with both a CV and covering letter.

Applications from recruitment agencies will not be considered under any circumstances.