Marketing and Communications Manager

Advert

Marketing and Communications Manager (Part-time)
College of Biomedical and Life Sciences
Cardiff University is an ambitious and innovative University with a bold and strategic vision located in a beautiful and thriving capital city.

We are currently seeking to appoint an experienced communications professional to support the activities of the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences.

The Marketing and Communications Manager will support the marketing and communications activities of the College with specific responsibility for leading on several key projects. Work will focus on the development of integrated, inspiring, targeted, and timely communications plans to support the objectives of the College.

The successful candidate will work to significantly enhance the way the academic Schools of the College present themselves to the outside world, as well as communicating effectively with a diverse range of both internal and external customers and delivering a mix of marketing and communications activity that will inform, inspire, involve and influence.

The post holder will provide expert advice to staff in Academic Schools and offer strong managerial support to the wider College Communications Team.

We are seeking an individual with exceptional communication skills and the ability to interpret complex information into high quality, engaging and creative written copy. Experience of student recruitment, managing and implementing marketing campaigns and liaising with external agencies would be advantageous. As would experience of managing small marketing teams. 

You will report directly to the Head of Communications, Marketing, and Student Recruitment within the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences.

The College of Biomedical and Life Sciences is a vibrant academic community, which undertakes innovative research and provides state-of-the-art learning facilities. The College brings together seven Schools with immense strength in research and teaching, not just in Wales, but the UK and worldwide.  An integrated approach is taken to all aspects of health and biomedical research, achieving internationally respected results at all stages of the medical research process, from laboratory science through to improved medical and healthcare practices.

We aim to provide a positive and enriching student experience where our students learn and engage with inspirational academic scholars and researchers and become part of an internationally inclusive and diverse environment.

Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 37 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), local pension scheme, a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments within the pay scale, and more. It is an exciting and vibrant place to work, with many different challenges and is a proud Living Wage supporter.

The majority of roles at Cardiff University are currently operating under “blended working” arrangements, with staff having the flexibility to work partly from home and partly from the University campus depending on specific business requirements. Discussions around these arrangements can take place after the successful candidate has been appointed.

For informal enquiries about this post please contact Greg England, Head of Communications, Marketing, and Student Recruitment, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences ([email protected] )

The post will be assigned responsibility for a particular school(s) but may be required to provide support across the College as required.

This position is part-time, 21 hours per week and open-ended.

Secondment opportunity welcome – please note for Cardiff University members of staff interested in this post on a secondment basis, permission will need to be sought from your current Line Manager before applying.

Salary: £36,333 – £43,155 per annum, pro-rata (Grade 6); appointment is usually made at the bottom of the scale per annum, pro-rata for hours worked.

Date advert posted: Wednesday, 15 March 2023

Closing date: Sunday, 16 April 2023

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds.  We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age.  In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Job Description

JOB PURPOSE

The Marketing and Communications Manager will support the marketing and communications activities of the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences with specific responsibility for leading on a number of key projects. Work will focus on the development of integrated, inspiring, targeted and timely communications plans to support the objectives of the College.

The post holder will provide expert advice to staff in Academic Schools and offer strong managerial support to the wider College Communications Team.

Work will focus on a diverse range of both internal and external customers with the aim of delivering innovative communications activity to inform, inspire, involve and influence.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Support the College Head of Communications to develop, implement and maintain a communications and marketing strategy for the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences.

Offer an innovative perspective to marketing our services and creative ways to engage with target markets. Make recommendations to improve the impact and effectiveness of College marketing and communications campaigns.

Support the delivery of the communications and marketing strategy, ensuring that all messaging is relevant, consistent, and interesting to the various market segments. Oversee the implementation of the strategy, planning, coordinating, organising and delegating work, monitoring progress and intervening as required.

Directly line manage a team of Communications Officers based within the Academic Schools. Provide strong leadership and support to the team ensuring they deliver successful marketing and communications activity at a local level in support of the overall strategy.

Provide strong support to the wider College Communications Team in the delivery of a comprehensive service for our customers, to include:

• Advice and guidance on all aspects of communications policy and practice.
• The delivery of high-quality communications, ensuring consistency and compliance with the key communications messages of Cardiff University. Adhering to quality standards, branding, design, accessibility and textual style guidelines.
• The production of high-quality, engaging and creative written copy for a wide range of audiences and purposes including the website, press releases, marketing materials and newsletters.
• Work with research and academic colleagues to develop communications outputs based on their research. Use judgement and creativity to suggest the most appropriate course of action where appropriate and ensure complex and conceptual issues are understood.
• Manage relationships with external agencies, including commissioning films, publications, photography and design work.

Use expertise and knowledge to identify opportunities to deliver effective College wide campaigns for the benefit of all Academic Schools. Co-ordinate this activity to ensure successful delivery and to maximise impact.

Establish strong working relationships with key contacts, developing appropriate communication links with the University’s Schools/Directorates and outside bodies / stakeholders as required.

Act as the College’s point of contact for issues relating to Customer Relationship Management and Competition and Markets Authority.

Deliver a College-wide programme of marketing activity to support student recruitment across the College at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Work closely with colleagues across the university to maximise conversion and enhance student satisfaction.

Continued under Additional Information

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Degree/NVQ 4 or equivalent Professional membership/experience.

Substantial experience in a marketing or communications role including experience of digital marketing, website content management and social media.

Able to demonstrate professional knowledge within specialist discipline to give advice and guidance to internal and external customers.

Substantial experience of managing a team and evidence of ability to plan the work of a team, reacting to changes in workload and priorities.

Proven ability to communicate conceptually detailed and complex information effectively and professionally with a wide range of people, incorporating excellent writing skills and the ability to tailor communications to target a range of different audiences.

Proven ability to develop networks in order to contribute to long term developments.

Evidence of ability to solve expansive problems using initiative and creativity; identify and propose both practical and innovative solutions.

Evidence of ability to undertake and deliver specific projects and supervise short term project teams.

Self-motivated with an enthusiastic, proactive, flexible and adaptable approach to work.

Evidence of developing a corporate identity/brand within industrial, educational or charitable organisations

Desirable Criteria

Postgraduate/Professional qualification.

Experience of working in a Higher Education environment.

Fluency in Welsh, written and oral.

Additional Information

Job Description continued:

Use market research and advances in marketing practice to identify and target the emerging needs of potential applicants and to coordinate, develop and enhance conversion content. Ensure that market research and market analysis are delivered to the College and its constituent Schools, proactively changing the delivery according to customer requirements.

Carefully manage the College’s presence on the University’s recruitment web pages (Coursefinder). Support the development of content in order to help Academic Schools maximise student recruitment. Work closely with colleagues to continuously develop the way we present ourselves to the outside world through this important media channel.

Work collaboratively with communications staff across Cardiff University to ensure an integrated approach to marketing and communications. Plan and deliver specific communications projects / campaigns as directed by the College Head of Communications.

General Duties (standard)

Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties.

Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity.

Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.

IMPORTANT NOTE: When submitting your supporting statement, you must provide evidence as to how you meet each of the essential (and desirable if applicable) criteria below. We suggest that you do so by using each of the criteria as sub-headings, providing written evidence of your relevant skills underneath. Before uploading this attachment, please ensure that you include 16163BR within the filename.

Job Category

Marketing, Media and Public Relations