Main Purpose of the Job

The Head of Communications leads the Earlham Institute’s communications and public engagement activity by developing and delivering highly effective strategies, aligned to organisational priorities and programmes.

You will have overall responsibility for coordinating and measuring the impact of activity across media relations, public engagement, internal communications, brand, multimedia, digital, and social media.

As the most senior communications professional, you will devise and implement multi-channel approaches and manage a busy, multidisciplinary team to help build the Institute’s reputation as a leader in genomics and computational science.

From our social media accounts and news stories to the physical building itself, you will develop and promote a clear, coherent, and consistent brand that is recognised, locally, nationally, and internationally. You will be expected to model the organisational values, research culture and be able to clearly explain our vision and mission, and support others to find their own ways of doing the same. You will work closely with our staff, students, funders, partners, and other stakeholders to maximise the impact of our work, simultaneously enhancing our reputation, supporting the delivery of strategic objectives, and providing expert communications advice and incident response experience.

Applications from those seeking part-time or flexible working arrangements are welcomed.

Key Relationships

Internal:          Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer and part of the Senior Management Team, the Head of Communications will work closely with all members of the Executive Team, Group Leaders, Heads of Support Function, and other senior managers across the Institute and our shared service provider (NBIP). They will also work closely with our Head of Public Affairs. They will work across EI’s staff and students and visiting scientists. The Head of Communications will also produce quarterly reports on their Group’s activity for the Board of Trustees.

External:         Key external relationships include comms and public engagement peers across the Norwich Research Park and UKRI/BBSRC family, comms and PE professionals working in partner organisations, and local community groups with a relevant link to our work. Strong relationships are needed with local media and journalists covering science for national and trade media. Key audiences include our funders, the general public, and educational organisations. They will also be involved in hosting and manging visits for VIP guests and general public open days.

Other:             Conference and exhibition organisers, collaborators on outreach activities, and their communication and media staff.

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Percentage

Internal communications – Deliver internal communications to enable effective engagement of all staff and students with the strategic objectives of the institute; advise and support research groups and operational leads in delivering their own internal projects.

20

Leadership and management – Lead and manage the Communications Group to promote a clear, coherent, and consistent internal and external brand, which is recognised regionally, nationally, and internationally; as a member of the Senior Management Team, produce clear and consistent reports to inform the SMT of key achievements, priorities, and risks; identify development opportunities for team members and support them in horizon scanning, best practice, and the adoption of new technologies or approaches in their respective areas of expertise.
 

20

Website and social media – Work with the Digital Media and Website Manager, our digital agency, and other digital specialists to ensure the Earlham Institute’s website (and any subsidiary websites) and social media channels help to deliver against strategic goals, communicate the strategy and brand, our culture, meet the needs of users, and comply with security, privacy, and accessibility standards; monitor content performance and user experience; maintain a watching brief of best practice in website and content design and structure; keep abreast of social media platforms or trends and new opportunities for communicating key messages to target audiences.
 

15

Communications and Public Engagement strategy – Understand the Institute’s mission and strategic objectives and develop a comprehensive strategy to help deliver against these; set a strategy and delivery model to consistently communicate the outputs and impact of EI’s research, our technology platforms, and our culture which is suitable for target audiences and across all media platforms; support the Institute with key reporting material for good governance, annual reports and annual grant reporting cycles; manage relationships with key stakeholders, partners, and freelancers; ensure communication systems comply with GDPR requirements.
 

15

Media relations and incident response – Oversee the planning and delivery of proactive and reactive media relations activity; understand the research activity of groups at the Institute, technical platform marketing requirements, and identify opportunities to promote their activity; advise EI Executive Directors and senior team on media handling; oversee the provision of media training and provide on-the-ground advice and support for interviews or events where the media may be present; regularly review the business continuity incident communication plans and management approach and related systems, including testing or scenario planning.
 

15

Brand identity and marketing – Oversee the consistent adoption of brand guidelines across all channels, and digital and physical assets. Assist staff/students, collaborators and partners to adopt a consistent brand by providing media templates; provide advice on the development of new or refreshed brand assets to avoid loss or dilution of the core brand identity oversee the development and delivery of high-quality creative communications and marketing materials that align to the brand; lead the design of marketing materials to assist our technical platforms reach their target audience effectively.
 

10

Other – Develop and oversee the successful delivery of a communications strategy for Earlham Enterprises Ltd; contribute public relations and event expertise in wider stakeholder engagement activity, including MP visits, training and event support, and attendance at conferences; as agreed with line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the role.


 

5

Education & Qualifications

Requirement

Importance

Educated to degree level in a relevant subject to the Head of Communications role at the Institute.

Essential

Postgraduate qualification in relevant field.

Desirable

Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and/or Institute of Public Relations.

Desirable

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement

Importance

Knowledge of the academic or research environment.

Essential

Knowledge of public engagement with science or other technical field.

Essential

Internal Communication strategy development and practical application.

Essential

Knowledge of marketing approaches for a range of key stakeholders.

Essential

Communications strategy development, implementation, and measurement.

Essential

Knowledge of content management systems, publishing tools, surveys, and newsletter publishing.

Essential

Budget management.

Essential

Experience of telling stories across a range of digital channels.

Essential

Knowledge of incident management and planning.

Desirable

Knowledge of research funding and reporting.

Desirable

Relevant Experience

Requirement

Importance

A track record of successfully delivering impactful communications strategies with measurable outcomes in an academic, public sector, or third sector organisation.

Essential

Experience in communicating complex ideas to different target audiences, e.g. ranging from scientists to the public.

Essential

Practical experience in using different approaches to communications across all mediums.

Essential

Experience in managing high profile media stories or campaigns.

Essential

Proven ability to manage communication channels to effectively communicate the organisation’s outputs and key messages. Stakeholder management experience.

Essential

Experience in developing and delivering public engagement programmes or activities based around scientific topics.

Desirable

Knowledge of the UK life science funding landscape and research ecosystem.

Desirable

Experience in commissioning freelance work and working with agencies or contractors.

Desirable

Management and Leadership

Requirement

Importance

Successfully developing and maintaining fruitful relationships with diverse stakeholders, including the public

Essential

Experience in managing a team and motivating staff to deliver a high standard or work.

Essential

Evidence of strategic leadership in communications and/or marketing, including setting strategy and policy development.

Desirable

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement

Importance

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

Essential

Highly effective influencing skills.

Essential

Ability to coach and/or brief staff for media interviews.

Essential

Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills.

Essential

Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work well as part of a team

Essential

Additional Requirements

Requirement

Importance

Attention to detail

Essential

Commitment to promoting the Earlham Institute’s core values of inclusion, diversity, equality, and accessibility.

Essential

Willingness to travel, nationally and internationally, and to work outside of normal office hours on occasion and as the role demands.

Essential

Able to present a positive image of self and the Earlham Institute.

Essential

Promotes equality and values diversity

Essential

Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Institute, ensuring it is a great place to work

Essential

Earlham Institute

About the Earlham Institute
The Earlham Institute is a hub of life science research, training, and innovation focused on understanding the natural world through the lens of genomics.

We are building a future where the biology of any organism can be understood by analysing its genome. Our mission is to decode the scale and complexity of living systems so we can understand, benefit from, and protect life on Earth.

The Earlham Institute is based on the Norwich Research Park and is one of eight institutes that receive strategic funding from the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC).

Our Science
Earlham Institute scientists specialise in developing and testing the latest tools and approaches needed to decode living systems and make predictions about biology.

We are home to state-of-the-art facilities and technology, creating a unique combination of expertise and infrastructure. We have dedicated laboratories for genome sequencing, single-cell analysis, engineering biology, and large-scale automation; as well as one of the largest supercomputing facilities for life science research in Europe. Our Advanced Training team also provides access to specialised scientific training to upskill the next generation of research and technical staff.

Our Culture
The Earlham Institute champions 'team science'. Our collegiate and innovative research environment comes with significant support, including a commitment to your professional development, research and administrative assistance, and opportunities to build collaborations with scientists and industry on the Norwich Research Park, across the UK, and internationally.

The Institute is also home to talented technical and operational staff, whose invaluable contributions enable our science to have the maximum impact. We aim to recognise, reward, and develop all staff and students so that every individual feels able to achieve their best with us.

We work hard to nurture an engaged and positive workplace, centred on core values that include openness, technical excellence, and collaboration. We attract staff from around the world who contribute to - and benefit from - an environment that enables them to deliver world-class science alongside a supportive and social community.

For more information about working at the Earlham Institute, please click here.

Further Information:

Our Vision and Mission

Our Strategy

Our Culture

Life at Earlham Institute

Department

Communications Group

Group Details

The Communications team has a focus that spans the scientific and marketing communications landscape. We work across digital, creative design and public relations to communicate our research to a range of audiences both locally and internationally. The latest technology, data analytics and media monitoring tools are used to stay up to date in the exciting world of modern biology.
You can follow us on social media and explore our website to find out more about the work that we do.
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Head of Communications

Applications are invited for a Head of Communications to join the Communication Group at the Earlham Institute, based in Norwich, UK.

Background:

The Communications team has a focus that spans the scientific and marketing communications landscape. We work across digital, creative design and public relations to communicate our research to a range of audiences both locally and internationally. The latest technology, data analytics and media monitoring tools are used to stay up to date in the exciting world of modern biology.

The role:

The Head of Communications leads the Earlham Institute’s communications and public engagement activity by developing and delivering effective communication and marketing strategies, aligned to the organisations priorities, research programmes and technical platforms. You will have overall responsibility for coordinating and measuring the impact of activity across media relations, public engagement, internal communications, brand, multimedia, digital, and social media.

As the most senior communications professional, you will have a history of successfully delivering impactful communications strategies with measurable outcomes in an academic, public sector, or third sector organisation. At Earlham Institute you will implement multi-channel approaches and manage a busy multidisciplinary team to help build the Institute’s reputation as a leader in genomics and computational science. From our social media accounts and news stories to the physical building itself, you will develop and promote a clear, coherent, and consistent brand that is recognised, locally, nationally, and internationally. You will be expected to model the organisational values, research culture and be able to clearly explain our vision and mission, and support others to find their own ways of doing the same.

The ideal candidate:

The successful candidate must be educated to degree level in a relevant subject to the Head of Communications role at the Institute, it is desirable if the post holder is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and/or Institute of Public Relations.

It is an essential requirement that the post holder has knowledge of the academic or research environment, along with knowledge in marketing approaches for a range of key stakeholders. It is advantageous if the candidate understands research funding and reporting, but not essential as full training will be provided.

Additional information:

Applicants must submit their CV as part of their application, along with a covering letter explaining why you are suitable for this role.

Salary on appointment will be within the range £55,500 to £69,250 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time post offered on an indefinite basis.

Interviews will be held on 18 February 2025.

This role does not meet the full salary requirements set by UKVI to allow for visa sponsorship.  However, some individuals may still be eligible for visa sponsorship depending on their personal circumstances.  If you require visa sponsorship, please click here to find out if you qualify before applying. Please note, the occupation code for this role is 1133, which is not on the immigration salary list.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy.

The closing date for applications will be 31 January 2025.