Head of Communications and Engagement

The Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) is part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and is the UK's Centre of Excellence for integrated research in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems and their interaction with the atmosphere. Working in partnership with the research community, policy makers, industry and society, CEH undertakes cutting edge research to deliver world class solutions to the most complex environmental challenges facing humankind. CEH has an annual turnover of £35 million, and employs staff across four sites; the headquarters is at Wallingford with further sites at Bangor, Edinburgh and Lancaster.

Background

The Centre for Ecology and  Hydrology (CEH), part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), is the UK's Centre of excellence for integrated research in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems and their interaction with the atmosphere.

Working in partnership with the research community, policy-makers, industry and society, CEH’s research builds on an extensive monitoring network associated with a wealth of environmental information and addresses some of the most complex environmental challenges facing humankind. CEH has an annual turnover of £35 million and has over 600 permanent staff and students across four sites; the headquarters is located in Wallingford with further sites at Bangor, Edinburgh and Lancaster. 

The Role

An exciting opportunity now exists to join CEH as the Head of Communications and Engagement. Reporting to the Director of Impact & Innovation,  you will lead a team of six, based at Wallingford and Lancaster with responsibility for organisation-wide external and internal communications. The role will work to convey the impact and societal relevance of CEH science, promote public engagement with research, closely support CEH business development and commercialisation priorities via appropriate marketing and facilitate employee engagement. Key aspects of the role are promoting CEH’s capabilities on the international stage capitalising on recent successes in a number of territories and identifying new communications opportunities and needs arising as a result of likely transition of CEH to independent status.

Skills Required

You will be expected to have extensive experience and understanding of the key issues surrounding internal and external communications including corporate messaging, marketing and branding across the spectrum of media types, new media development, event/project management and employee engagement.  

You must demonstrate relevant communications experience at a senior level, including knowledge exchange, gained within a research intensive environment. Knowledge of the current political debate in the environmental field and an ability to identify connections between policy development, business needs and scientific drivers, are essential. 

You will be a proactive individual, able to communicate fluently and persuasively and used to taking your own decisions, able to work seamlessly across personnel in research, policy and business environments. Previous experience of successfully leading a communications team and project management skills are essential.

Main Duties

The responsibilities of the role, achieved through leadership and management of the CEH Communications Team, are as follows: 

• develop, deliver and evaluate the Communications and Engagement Strategy for CEH through a defined communications plan. Working with the executive board and science area heads ensure that the strategy realises the organisation’s mission and objectives
• provide expert advice on effective communications and stakeholder engagement within and beyond CEH, facilitating successful science delivery, business development, public engagement with research and recognition and optimisation of research impact and protecting and enhancing the organisation’s reputation
• drive the successful delivery and continual improvement of the CEH communications strategy and plan through utilisation of all communications platforms and channels, including traditional media, digital, social media and website
• develop an external communications plan incorporating events and associated materials to support the launch of CEH as an independent, not-for-profit research institute, subject to a final review
• lead CEH’s press office function and social media activity, responding effectively to media enquiries and identifying opportunities for proactive media engagement
• act as a guardian of brand across all channels
• plan, manage and implement events, accountable for successful delivery from inception to event and subsequent evaluation
• manage website infrastructure and content management system including design and development
• manage, guide and develop staff within the communications team to build a flexible and supportive team able to deliver creative solutions and a high quality service, able to react to urgent requirements
• deliver an enquiries service, including parliamentary questions and manage the collection and reporting of output performance measures across CEH for the RCUK research outputs system
• write and edit reports and case studies on the impact of CEH’s work for Centre evaluation exercises and marketing
• evaluate and report on internal and external communications activities
• define and manage the CEH communications budget ensuring value for money and optimising return on investment.

Qualifications

You will be educated to Honors degree level, desirably with a Postgraduate qualification, and hold a professional qualification in communications and marketing, with evidence of continual professional development.

How to apply:

Applications are handled by UK SBS; to apply please click here. Please ensure that you complete an application form as CVs will not be accepted as a standalone. The form should be uploaded via the "My Account" menu option on the "Jobs Home" page. Applicants who are unable to apply online should contact us by telephone on 01793 867000, please quote reference number IRC244530.