AddressUK Research and Innovation
Salary: £43,116
Hours: Full Time / Part Time (Min 30hrs Per Week)
Contract Type: Fixed Term (2 Years)
Location: Polaris House, Swindon. (This role will include regular travel to Brussels)
Closing Date: Sunday 7 April 2024
Role Aims:
- Deliver professional content and communications capacity to UKRO, covering business-to-business Comms for external audiences and effective messaging to internal UKRI users
- Deliver high quality communications that enhances the UKRO subscriber experience,
- Support the senior UKRO team and UKRO Board with accurate reports across a range of metrics, contributing to effective governance and oversight
- Support UKRO’s external events offering, across all areas, including leading planning and execution for the annual conference and 40th anniversary
- Coordinate as appropriate on wider media opportunities and issues with the International Communications team in UKRI Communications and Public Engagement
- Develop and maintain stakeholder relationships, representing UKRO and contributing to augmenting UK participation in Horizon Europe
Job Overview:
The UKRO Communications and Outreach Manager will play an important role in supporting UKRO’s mission to maximise UK organisations’ engagement with the EU, especially the current framework programme ‘Horizon Europe’. Stakeholder engagement is a key aspect of the role, with the post-holder being responsible for representing UKRO and cultivating relationships with key internal teams and external organisations.
The roles sit with the wider team of European Advisors and the post-holder will work collaboratively to enhance the delivery UKRO subscriber services and National Contact Point services, through engaging Communications and activities in a range of formats. The postholder will be responsible for developing and managing the UKRO communication and content plans and will be responsible for content across all UKRO’s external channels, including social media accounts and website.
To ensure UKRO’s work is fully embedded within UKRI, the postholder will work closely with UKRI International and UKRI’s Communication and Public engagement teams. Stakeholder engagement and engaging with the UKRO Board, subscribers, the wider UK research community, as well as Brussels-based stakeholders and research organisations, will be a key part of the role.
The role is collaborative, fast paced, and with a considerable degree of autonomy required by, and afforded to the successful candidate.
Key Responsibilities:
Stakeholder Outreach and Impact- 40%
Work with and alongside key UKRI Stakeholders
- Maintain close links with UKRI’s comms and external affairs teams, and with other UKRI Council teams relating to comms activities
- Contribute to UKRO’s visibility within the International Team & Wider UKRI Team
UKRO Board Engagement
- Provide accurate reports to the Board and wider International team as needed; including statistics on communications, portal usage, social media, and events
- Assist in the preparation for Board meetings, including items on risk and governance, linking to the International Governance and Operations team
- Support the UKRO Director and Deputy in business-planning activities
External Stakeholder Outreach
- Lead on plans for UKRO 40th Anniversary activities
- Lead the relationship with external stakeholders communications teams e.g. Universities UK International (UUKi), UK Mission to the EU (UKMis) and across the Brussels R&I networks.
- Craft and capitalise on opportunities for synergistic comms across the Brussels landscape
- Establish good relationships with other organisations and use social media in enhancing external relationships
Communications Portfolio Leadership (20%)
Strategic Oversight
- Develop broad understanding of UKRO, UKRI, the European Commission Framework Programmes, and research and policy landscape
- Maintain coherent oversight of entire comms related portfolio
- Maintain excellent records on comms-related activities and provide accurate reports
Support the UKRO Portal Lead, and team, on ensuring high level of professionalism on all portal content
- Lead on reporting for the UKRO portal using google analytics
- Become a proficient user of, and contribute to content on the portal
- Ensure portal content meets the needs of both subscribers and general visitors
Content Development (40%)
Create & Manage Comms plan
- Create and manage a content calendar.
- Create a comms plan and manage external and internal communications
Content Development
- Proactively create a range of communications features and resources on all aspects of UKRO business
- Produce materials that are accessible and impactful both externally and internally
- Support the UKRO Director and team with preparation for external speaking commitments
Lead & Manage Social Media
- Manage social media content accounts including X (formerly known as Twitter), and LinkedIn, and proactively post to raise UKRO’s external profile and lead on growth areas for UKRO’s social media impact
- Set up accurate records and create and manage internal reports on social media activity.
Support National Contact Point (NCP) Services
- Support NCPs in the UKRO team to deliver comms as part of NCP services, including monthly NCP newsletters and promotional material for NCP activities
- Support NCP events, including producing relevant UKRO Portal content
Person Specification:
Essential
- Ability to use a range of international communication channels including print, audio visual and digital to effectively target a range of audiences, including those speaking English as a second or third language
- Demonstrable creative and innovative social media skills across a range of platforms
- Ability to absorb, evaluate and communicate complex information appropriate to the audience
- Excellent team working skills, and the ability to work collaboratively across teams, communities and with external stakeholders
- Ability to delegate and task-manage others
- Ability to handle multiple projects and ability to work to deadlines
- Ability to develop robust relationships and demonstrates credibility with stakeholders
- Flexibility to adapt to change, and able to navigate ambiguity and uncertainty
- Analytical and strategic thinking
- Ability to influence, persuade and negotiate
- Understanding of UKRI’s vision and objectives.
- Excellent IT skills
Desirable
- Experience working in or with the HEI or funding sector
- Experience working in or with government, industry, or the third sector
- Experience in European research and funding
- Experience in making digital content for e.g. videos, reels, podcasts, etc
About UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK. Together we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found at www.ukri.org.
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
