Communications Officer

Communications Officer x2

Directors UK is the professional association of UK screen directors. It is a membership organisation representing the creative, economic and contractual interests of over 8,000 members – the majority of working TV and film directors in the UK. Directors UK negotiates rights deals and collects and distributes royalties to its members, ensuring they receive fair payment for their work. It also campaigns and lobbies on its members’ behalf and provides a range of services including legal advice, events and career development. Directors UK works closely with fellow organisations around the world to represent directors’ rights and concerns, promotes excellence in the craft of direction and champions change to the current landscape to create an equal opportunity industry for all.  

Job role and duties 

To support the communications team in the day-to-day delivery of communications, PR, digital and social media activity to help raise the profile and awareness of Directors UK as the authoritative voice for UK screen directors; and to assist in promoting and delivering its member services and campaigning activities to key stakeholders. 

Reporting to: Head of PR and Corporate Communications / Head of Digital Content  

We are recruiting for two Communication Officer roles within our team. Whilst the majority of the general responsibilities will be the same, one role will have a specific focus on our Digital Communications, and the other our PR and Corporate Communications. The additional specific responsibilities for these areas of focus is detailed below. This provides a great opportunity to develop your skills in these areas. 

General Key Responsibilities include the following: 

• Deliver impactful communications and PR activity to support Directors UK’s work and raise awareness of Directors UK to members, potential members and the wider industry.  

• Working with the wider team to implement strategies to grow and develop our comms and social media presence to support achieving our business goals and ambitions. 

• Create engaging content for our website on subjects of relevance to members.  

• Maintain our website pages, ensuring content is accurate, fresh and relevant, removing out of date content as appropriate, and escalating any issues as required. 

• Monitor industry news to identify relevant stories and researching ideas for digital content and PR opportunities.  

• Provide communications, PR and social media support at screenings, events and stakeholder meetings (will include attendance at some internal and external evening events), including supporting requests for branding /merchandising/slide creation in advance.    

• Support the creation of podcasts and other AV assets.  

• Create simple, clear graphics using Adobe Suite  

• Support in managing member data, list generation and membership analysis, as required.  

• Build, maintain and develop a key contact list, including internal and external stakeholders  

• Manage the Comms and Press email inboxes, dealing with queries in a timely and professional manner  

• Assist with member queries relating to the website, as well as field general member communications queries to appropriate members of the team.  

• Actively contributing to wider organisational, communications and campaign priorities. working across the organisation to support communications needs.  

• Support general public affairs activity as required, such as contributing to research or supporting materials, and raising awareness of lobbying activity.  

• General admin support for the communications team including research, admin, logistics, managing files and images etc.  

Digital Communications Role  

• Assist the Head of Digital Content in creating a range of content for the website and member newsletter, including using content management systems to upload and layout information, and delivering reciprocal marketing opportunities 

• Management of the preparation and delivery of the Directors UK newsletter, including planning newsletter schedule, sharing with relevant teams and managing any conflicting items in the schedule  

• As a social media expert, schedule and create appropriate and engaging content for all social media channels, utilising these channels to drive awareness, engagement and trust in Directors UK and our activities, providing timely responses to social media opportunities 

• Effectively monitor our social media content, comments and feedback, providing responses as needed, referring to the wider Directors UK team as appropriate. 

PR & Corporate Communications Role 

• Assist the Head of PR and Corporate Comms in the creation and distribution of corporate comms, press releases and campaign materials according to our brand guidelines, including slides/ print /audio-visual materials 

• Horizon scanning for PR opportunities, providing recommendations to the Head of PR and Corporate Communications and wider comms team. 

• Liaise with Directors UK members or spokespeople to gather comments/quotes tailoring as appropriate for various communications activities 

• Work closely with the Digital Communications Officer to amplify PR messaging.  

• Responsible for conducting regular audits to identify press opportunities, critically considering trade and mainstream culture press and providing recommendations. 

• Support the co-ordination of regular press briefings with key trade contacts with CEO and Head of PR and Corporate Comms and maintaining key contacts lists.  

• Maintain the press tracker, filing coverage and highlighting relevant points of interest to appropriate team members. 

• Ensure company information is accurate and up to date, including letterheads, branded document templates, company e-signatures etc as Board member or Staff changes take place 

The above list is not exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope of the role. 

Personal specification 

Essential Skills and Experience 

• Demonstrable excellent verbal and written communication skills 

• Strong presentation skills  

• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills  

• Keen interest in and knowledge of the creative industries including TV and Film 

• Ability to work well under pressure and to deadlines, both within a team and independently 

• Ability to prioritise multiple delivery deadlines  

• Excellent relationship and stakeholder management skills 

• Strong research skills  

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Outlook and Sharepoint  

• Significant experience of digital and social media  

• Pride and ownership in your work  

• Proactive and driven approach 

Desirable Skills and Experience 

• Website content management systems (CMS) experience 

• Experience of using Adobe suite to create simple, clear graphics 

• Experience of working in a membership organisation 

• Research experience 

Key Terms of Employment 

Reporting to: Head of PR and Corporate Communications / Head of Digital Content 

Salary: £32,000 

Hours: 9.30am - 5.30pm  

Work Days: Monday to Friday 

Location: We support a flexible, hybrid working approach with an expectation of 50% of working time in our office, and 50% working remotely. Our Directors UK office is at 4th Floor, 22 Stukeley Street, London WC2B 5LR.  

Contract: Full Time permanent  

Holidays: 25 days per year plus all public and bank holidays (pro rata) 

Benefits 

• Company Pension Scheme 

• Discretionary bonus  

• Annual health check  

• Life Assurance benefit (4 x salary paid to dependent)  

• Season Ticket Loan  

• Perkbox (various discounts) 

• Eye Test (reimbursement of up to £50 for cost of annual eye test)   

• Cycle to Work scheme 

Directors UK is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, gender, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.  

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.  

This appointment is subject to satisfactory references and completion of a 3-month probationary period.   

To apply please send: via the button below

a personal statement as to why you consider yourself suited to this role (maximum 500 words) and 

your CV  

When submitting your application, please specify which Communications Officer role you are applying for; Digital Communications, or PR & Corporate Communications.

Applications closing date: Friday 12th April  

Interviews are due to take place: Expected to be weeks commencing 15th April or 29th April (please let us know of any access arrangements that may be necessary). 

Please note that only candidates shortlisted for interview will be contacted. 

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