Communications & Outreach Manager
Communications & Outreach Manager
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Job Description
Role:Communications & Outreach Manager
Grade and Salary: Grade 7 37174 - 46735 per annum
FTE and working pattern: 1 FTE 35hrs per week Monday Friday
Contract: Fixed Term until November 2029.
Holiday Entitlement: 33 days annual leaveplus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday)
Purpose of Role
We are seeking to appoint a Communications and Outreach Manager to lead all engagement activities for a range of audiences and across a number of platforms for a large multi-partner programme grant researching the development of quantum secure communications technologies.
Heriot-Watt University is leading a consortium of a further twelve universities and two national laboratories supporting the formation of a new international research centre (Hub) funded by EPSRC for a 5-year research programme into Integrated Quantum Networks (IQN). The IQN Hub is supported by an initial 21.8M award from UKRI and additional industrialsupport including in-kind and direct financial support valued at approximately 20M.
The Communications and Outreach Manager will join a dedicated team of professional support staff assisting Hub investigators with all operational aspects of programme delivery over the 5-year duration of the award.
A Communications and Outreach Manager position is available for the duration of the grant (until 30/11/2029) to put in place and help implement effective communications user and public engagement strategies. We are looking for an experienced individual who will work closely with Hub staff to devise the best resources for engaging with a range of different audiences; contribute to the planning and delivery of key user engagement events; communicate effectively Hub key messages and success stories through co-ordinated press releases and news items from across the partnership; work closely with colleagues in the other Hub institutions and the National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP) Communications Strategy Group to raise the profile of the NQTP and contribute to its brand recognition; and to take responsibility for the coordination of the activities of the Quantum Citypublic engagement initiative on behalf of the network of Quantum Technology Hubs and other national programme stakeholders.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
The role holder will be a suitably qualified individual who can bring extensive experience and problem-solving skills to the development and implementation of a coherent communications and engagement strategy in order to promote Hub and wider national programme activities to a broad range of stakeholders the academic community industry government and media representatives and the wider community through a range of approaches (events marketing resources) and across many platforms (social media newsletters website reports).
As the post holder you will be a core member of the Hub professional team with responsibility:
- To work closely with the Hub and Business Development Managers to develop implement and communicate across all project members an integrated communications user and public engagement strategy aimed at raising the profile of the partnership and generating exposure and interest for its technologies.
- To ensure that all academics researchers and industrial partners across the Hub partnership are aware of key messages and branding guidelines and support them in adopting a consistent presentation approach in all communications.
- To take responsibility for the delivery of a variety of high quality marketing materials (videos reports newsletters case studies) targeted at different audiences and highlighting the full spectrum of Hub activities and interests.
- To work closely with Hub researchers and help them identify compose and promote through the appropriate channels newsworthy content from their work in the context of the partnership and including through writing press releases.
- To act as primary point of contact for Hub media and communications relations.
- To respond promptly and efficiently to requests for content for internal/external publications and from parties (incl. the funder and other stakeholders) interested in promoting the activities of the Hub both through writing copy and by collating contributions from the wider project team. And to establish a body of Hub materials (text photographs video etc.) to facilitate prompt responses.
- To help design maintain and evolve the Hub website further through regularly updating its content tracking its use evaluating its functionality and adding new features as appropriate.
- To advance and manage the Hubs social media presence through the adoption of a targeted flexible and evolving approach.
- To deliver along with the Business Development and Hub Managers a schedule of communications user and public engagement events which reach all identified audiences and support the overall objectives of the programme identifying any gaps and agreeing how to fill these as necessary.
- To organise and manage the Hubs attendance at and provide support for - external events.
- To help coordinate the activities of the Quantum City ( public engagement initiative jointly with other NQTP stakeholders including through contributing to planning for its future sustainability and expansion.
- To provide communications advice and input to the National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP) Communications Strategy Group as appropriate including regular updates on the impact of past activities and plans for future ones.
- To monitor and report expenditure of all relevant communications engagement and outreach activities to the Hub and Finance Managers.
- To collate detailed records of all communications user engagement and outreach activities from across the partnership for submission as part of the Hubs ResearchFish impact assessment returns.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of communications activities sharing best practice and lessons learned and recommending courses of future action based on feedback received.
- To ensure that the Hubs communications user and public engagement strategy is under constant review and evolvement utilising feedback received from engagement events the industrial community and fellow stakeholders as well as developments within the wider national programme.
Essential & Desirable Criteria
Essential
- Educated to degree level in a relevant subject (marketing communications journalism science communication) or equivalent professional qualification
- Confirmed professional experience in communications and/or marketing particularly in the scientific and/or technology sectors.
- Willingness to travel nationally
- Demonstrated ability to analyse and measure the impact of external communications.
- Proven knowledge and management of large-scale event organisation
- Knowledge of marketing and communications strategies and practices
- Understanding of digital communications channels including websites and social media
- Ability to write concisely and clearly for a variety of formats: website news stories press releases marketing leaflets blog posts etc.
- Ability to understand and communicate complex scientific concepts to non-specialist audiences using the most appropriate means of doing so
- Substantial experience of creating and editing engaging content for the web print and social media and for a variety of target audiences
- Experience of delivering outreach activities
- Ability to work to vaguely defined and challenging briefs working independently to define problems and come up with innovative solutions
- Relevant IT skills and experience for communication across a range of media and platforms.
- Able to work in a team and form positive working relationships with colleagues/ external contacts
- Good knowledge and understanding of relevant legal statutory and governance applications and turning them into good practice
Desirable
- Proficient with professional graphic and digital design tools
- Thorough understanding of current issues relating to public engagement and research impact
- Knowledge of issues surrounding emerging technologies
- Experience of planning and implementing marketing strategies
How to Apply
Applications can be submitted up to midnight(UK time)on Sunday 15th June 2025.
Please submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system (1) Cover letter describing your interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full CV; (3) Link to a website publication or other published material that you personally created and of which you are especially proud.
We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options.
Heriot-WattUniversity is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected trained promoted appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.
Heriot-WattUniversity values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information please see our website also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers our total rewards calculator: see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.
About Heriot-Watt University
At Heriot-Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.
Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.
Required Experience:
Manager
Employment Type
Full-Time
