UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Head of Communications and Engagement
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, Connecticut, us, 06495
Head of Communications and Engagement
Location: WallingfordTime Type: Full timePosted on: 5 Days AgoJob Requisition ID: JR1306Salary: £58,981 - £62,591Hybrid working (50/50)PermanentWe reserve the right to close this advert early if we find the right candidate, so we encourage you to apply early.UKCEH is looking for an experienced Head of Communications and Engagement to join our team of talented individuals, contributing to scientific discovery and generating the data, insights, and solutions that researchers, businesses, and governments need to solve complex environmental challenges.Working at UKCEH is rewarding. Our science makes a real difference, enabling people and the environment to prosper, and enriching society. We are the custodians of a wealth of environmental data, collected by UKCEH and its predecessors over the course of more than 60 years.As a valued member of our team, you’ll get:27 days annual leave, rising to 29 days after five years, plus 3 days for our Christmas closure10% employer pension contributionEnhanced maternity and paternity leave (subject to qualifying requirements)24 hour, 365-day access to support with physical, mental, social, health or financial issues plus access to our trained Welfare OfficersFlexible working opportunitiesAre you a passionate and visionary leader with a proven ability to inspire dynamic teams and cultivate strategic partnerships across diverse sectors?We are recruiting for a Head of Communications and Engagement to join us and champion the presentation of our world-class science to drive positive change. This is a vital role which crafts and delivers impactful, inspiring, and creative marketing and communication strategies that highlight our contributions to environmental science.Reporting to our Director for Partnerships and Impact, you’ll lead a team of 10 passionate individuals involved in corporate, external and internal communications activities, as well as public engagement with research, and public affairs and shaping our marketing approach and capability. You’ll lead the development and execution of innovative communication and marketing strategies, significantly enhancing our centre’s visibility and reputation across the scientific community, public, businesses, NGOs, and key stakeholders. You will also collaborate with our exceptional scientists to craft and share compelling narratives that highlight the profound impact of our work.As a key member of the senior leadership team, you will spearhead communications and engagement efforts on ground-breaking initiatives, such as the new Floods and Droughts Resilience Initiative (FDRI). This role is pivotal in bringing marketing experience and nous to work across the organisation and supporting new income streams by elevating the organisation's profile and connecting with new audiences and as part of our wider business development approach. You will be dedicated to maximising the impact of scientific work through strategic communication and engagement, ensuring that the research influences both policy and public understanding.You’ll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute that’s committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support you need to thrive at UKCEH.Your main responsibilities will include:Strategic Leadership:Sits on the senior leadership team and participates collegiately in organisation-wide forums/schemes as requiredLeads a team of professionals, providing development and management to achieve a high performing team.Creates and manages budgets to ensure cost-effective delivery with impact.Develop and implement an integrated communications and marketing strategy aligned with UKCEH’s goals and objectives.Lead on brand positioning and reputation management to enhance UKCEH’s profile nationally and internationally.Identify and leverage opportunities to promote UKCEH’s research impact through traditional and digital media, innovating and adapting over time to enhance our presence and profile and support wider organisational strategy.Stakeholder Engagement:Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including media, government bodies, academic institutions, and industry partners to deliver wider organisational strategy and objectives.Act as a spokesperson for UKCEH where appropriate, representing the organisation at high-profile events and in media engagements.Collaborate with scientists, researchers, and other internal teams to ensure that complex scientific information is communicated clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.Acts as a trusted advisor to the CEO, Science Director, Director of Partnerships and Impact, leading scientists and other senior leaders and supports them in delivering strong and impactful external messaging and managing that enhances UKCEH’s reputation.Develops relationships throughout the organisation to ensure our scientists are confident and able to represent UKCEH effectively and with impact.Ensure a convincing and credible programme of public engagement, working with scientists to engage relevant audiences and ensuring we are open to funding opportunities to support excellent and engaging research.Supports and embeds excellent communications and engagement within multimillion pound science programmes, including FDRI.Liaises with key external stakeholders to increase the profile and reach of UKCEH communications.Leads crisis communications and reputation management, including planning and leadership training.Content Development & Management:Develops and shapes UKCEH’s brand and visual identity.Develops and implements proactive and engaging campaigns and engagement strategies to raise the profile of UKCEH.Develops and delivers marketing collateral for use across the organisation.Seeks to innovate across all channels including social media to ensure maximising impact and engagement with our science.Oversees multichannel campaigns to increase awareness, income and impact, working in partnership with science teams and business development to focus this.Keeps ahead of external developments in the field to bring emerging thinking, partners and technologies to inform the growth of UKCEH.Oversee the creation and dissemination of high-quality content across multiple platforms, including press releases, reports, digital media, and publications.Ensure consistency in messaging and branding across all communication channels.Innovate and implement digital strategies, including social media and multimedia, to increase engagement and reach.Monitoring & Evaluation:Set KPIs and regularly evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies, using data-driven insights to refine approaches.Prepare and present reports on communication outcomes to senior management and the board of trustees.Provides high quality management information, drawing on research, monitoring and analytics, informing continuous development.Develops KPIs to measure success and help build future strategies and campaigns.In addition to providing a compelling public voice on environmental issues and shaping public debate, you will foster collaboration across UKCEH, cultivating a strong and cohesive community. Your focus will be on building and protecting UKCEH's reputation, ensuring the organisation engages with the right people in the right way to sustain its leadership in environmental science.For the role of Head of Communications and Engagement, we’re looking for somebody who has:A degree or professional qualification in marketing, PR, or a related fieldExtensive experience in senior communications roles, ideally in scientific, research, or environmental sectorsProven expertise in creating, delivering, and evaluating communications and engagement strategies across corporate, external, and internal channelsExperience leading public engagement with research and influencing organisational strategyStrong leadership abilities, with experience managing and developing high-performing teamsExcellent written, verbal, analytical, and stakeholder management skills, with a track record of producing impactful content for diverse audiences.The ability to translate complex scientific concepts into clear, engaging messages using digital tools and platformsSkills in using diverse media and innovative approaches to drive impact, income, and inspire audiencesDesirable experience:Experience working with or within governmental or academic institutions.Familiarity with environmental policy issues and the UK’s research landscape.At UKCEH we believe that different perspectives and collaborative working help us achieve our best work and come together to form a high performing team which makes positive changes in the business. That’s the power of every individual. Our strategy sets out four guiding principles – excellence, impact, sustainability and outstanding people – which underpin everything we do as an organisation.If you are looking for an opportunity to work with world class and amazing people in some of the most inspiring places in the UK and around the world, then UKCEH could be for you.If we’ve just described you, we’d love to meet.
Apply now.
Please send us your CV, accompanied by a covering letter which highlights any relevant skills and experience, together with what excites you most about the role and working for UKCEH.Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position at this time.
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Location: WallingfordTime Type: Full timePosted on: 5 Days AgoJob Requisition ID: JR1306Salary: £58,981 - £62,591Hybrid working (50/50)PermanentWe reserve the right to close this advert early if we find the right candidate, so we encourage you to apply early.UKCEH is looking for an experienced Head of Communications and Engagement to join our team of talented individuals, contributing to scientific discovery and generating the data, insights, and solutions that researchers, businesses, and governments need to solve complex environmental challenges.Working at UKCEH is rewarding. Our science makes a real difference, enabling people and the environment to prosper, and enriching society. We are the custodians of a wealth of environmental data, collected by UKCEH and its predecessors over the course of more than 60 years.As a valued member of our team, you’ll get:27 days annual leave, rising to 29 days after five years, plus 3 days for our Christmas closure10% employer pension contributionEnhanced maternity and paternity leave (subject to qualifying requirements)24 hour, 365-day access to support with physical, mental, social, health or financial issues plus access to our trained Welfare OfficersFlexible working opportunitiesAre you a passionate and visionary leader with a proven ability to inspire dynamic teams and cultivate strategic partnerships across diverse sectors?We are recruiting for a Head of Communications and Engagement to join us and champion the presentation of our world-class science to drive positive change. This is a vital role which crafts and delivers impactful, inspiring, and creative marketing and communication strategies that highlight our contributions to environmental science.Reporting to our Director for Partnerships and Impact, you’ll lead a team of 10 passionate individuals involved in corporate, external and internal communications activities, as well as public engagement with research, and public affairs and shaping our marketing approach and capability. You’ll lead the development and execution of innovative communication and marketing strategies, significantly enhancing our centre’s visibility and reputation across the scientific community, public, businesses, NGOs, and key stakeholders. You will also collaborate with our exceptional scientists to craft and share compelling narratives that highlight the profound impact of our work.As a key member of the senior leadership team, you will spearhead communications and engagement efforts on ground-breaking initiatives, such as the new Floods and Droughts Resilience Initiative (FDRI). This role is pivotal in bringing marketing experience and nous to work across the organisation and supporting new income streams by elevating the organisation's profile and connecting with new audiences and as part of our wider business development approach. You will be dedicated to maximising the impact of scientific work through strategic communication and engagement, ensuring that the research influences both policy and public understanding.You’ll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute that’s committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support you need to thrive at UKCEH.Your main responsibilities will include:Strategic Leadership:Sits on the senior leadership team and participates collegiately in organisation-wide forums/schemes as requiredLeads a team of professionals, providing development and management to achieve a high performing team.Creates and manages budgets to ensure cost-effective delivery with impact.Develop and implement an integrated communications and marketing strategy aligned with UKCEH’s goals and objectives.Lead on brand positioning and reputation management to enhance UKCEH’s profile nationally and internationally.Identify and leverage opportunities to promote UKCEH’s research impact through traditional and digital media, innovating and adapting over time to enhance our presence and profile and support wider organisational strategy.Stakeholder Engagement:Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including media, government bodies, academic institutions, and industry partners to deliver wider organisational strategy and objectives.Act as a spokesperson for UKCEH where appropriate, representing the organisation at high-profile events and in media engagements.Collaborate with scientists, researchers, and other internal teams to ensure that complex scientific information is communicated clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.Acts as a trusted advisor to the CEO, Science Director, Director of Partnerships and Impact, leading scientists and other senior leaders and supports them in delivering strong and impactful external messaging and managing that enhances UKCEH’s reputation.Develops relationships throughout the organisation to ensure our scientists are confident and able to represent UKCEH effectively and with impact.Ensure a convincing and credible programme of public engagement, working with scientists to engage relevant audiences and ensuring we are open to funding opportunities to support excellent and engaging research.Supports and embeds excellent communications and engagement within multimillion pound science programmes, including FDRI.Liaises with key external stakeholders to increase the profile and reach of UKCEH communications.Leads crisis communications and reputation management, including planning and leadership training.Content Development & Management:Develops and shapes UKCEH’s brand and visual identity.Develops and implements proactive and engaging campaigns and engagement strategies to raise the profile of UKCEH.Develops and delivers marketing collateral for use across the organisation.Seeks to innovate across all channels including social media to ensure maximising impact and engagement with our science.Oversees multichannel campaigns to increase awareness, income and impact, working in partnership with science teams and business development to focus this.Keeps ahead of external developments in the field to bring emerging thinking, partners and technologies to inform the growth of UKCEH.Oversee the creation and dissemination of high-quality content across multiple platforms, including press releases, reports, digital media, and publications.Ensure consistency in messaging and branding across all communication channels.Innovate and implement digital strategies, including social media and multimedia, to increase engagement and reach.Monitoring & Evaluation:Set KPIs and regularly evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies, using data-driven insights to refine approaches.Prepare and present reports on communication outcomes to senior management and the board of trustees.Provides high quality management information, drawing on research, monitoring and analytics, informing continuous development.Develops KPIs to measure success and help build future strategies and campaigns.In addition to providing a compelling public voice on environmental issues and shaping public debate, you will foster collaboration across UKCEH, cultivating a strong and cohesive community. Your focus will be on building and protecting UKCEH's reputation, ensuring the organisation engages with the right people in the right way to sustain its leadership in environmental science.For the role of Head of Communications and Engagement, we’re looking for somebody who has:A degree or professional qualification in marketing, PR, or a related fieldExtensive experience in senior communications roles, ideally in scientific, research, or environmental sectorsProven expertise in creating, delivering, and evaluating communications and engagement strategies across corporate, external, and internal channelsExperience leading public engagement with research and influencing organisational strategyStrong leadership abilities, with experience managing and developing high-performing teamsExcellent written, verbal, analytical, and stakeholder management skills, with a track record of producing impactful content for diverse audiences.The ability to translate complex scientific concepts into clear, engaging messages using digital tools and platformsSkills in using diverse media and innovative approaches to drive impact, income, and inspire audiencesDesirable experience:Experience working with or within governmental or academic institutions.Familiarity with environmental policy issues and the UK’s research landscape.At UKCEH we believe that different perspectives and collaborative working help us achieve our best work and come together to form a high performing team which makes positive changes in the business. That’s the power of every individual. Our strategy sets out four guiding principles – excellence, impact, sustainability and outstanding people – which underpin everything we do as an organisation.If you are looking for an opportunity to work with world class and amazing people in some of the most inspiring places in the UK and around the world, then UKCEH could be for you.If we’ve just described you, we’d love to meet.
Apply now.
Please send us your CV, accompanied by a covering letter which highlights any relevant skills and experience, together with what excites you most about the role and working for UKCEH.Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position at this time.
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