Head of Communications

You will work in partnership with marketing, events and creative and production services to deliver a programme of planned activity that helps strengthen the organisation's relationship with the community.

Leading a team of 14 digital, internal and corporate communications, public engagement and news and media professionals and working with colleagues across the directorate, you will be responsible for helping to achieve the ambitions of the Communications and Marketing Directorate; enabling the organisation to amplify the impact of its work, voice and brand, proactively and cost-effectively promoting its products, services and benefits to relevant audiences.

The communications must attract attention, inspire involvement and create the desire to take action among all the organisation's audiences, proactively managing and enhancing its reputation and brand, working across the broadest range of channels and tactics to have impact cost-effectively.

This role is available on a full-time interim six month contract and/or permanent basis, with flexible start/finish times possible within a 35-hour five-day week. You can be based at the Cambridge or London offices but will need to be able to spend most of your time, especially for the first six months, in the Cambridge office where all of the Communications team and most of the staff are based.

Key Skills/Experience:

• Degree in communications, science communications or equivalent relevant experience and/or relevant professional qualification.
• An exceptional track record of developing and implementing a high-performing communications function in a comparable organisation.
• A proven ability to successfully manage and develop people in both line and project/matrix-management situations, across multiple locations, preferably in a publishing or society-type environment.
• Demonstrable understanding and appreciation of the impact of science upon society and in communicating science to non-scientific audiences.
• Extensive experience of accurate forecasting and budget management across multiple communications projects.
• Extensive experience of effective crisis management communications that have successfully managed and protected organisational reputation.
• Expert knowledge and experience of using broadest range of communications channels and tactics effectively and efficiently.
• Evidence of highly-developed diplomacy, tact and persuasion skills and a reputation as an innovative and influential networker and leader with a positive, proactive approach to problem solving and decision-making.
• An excellent track record of developing and implementing cost-effective communications, internally and externally that have consistently met or exceeded planned objectives.
• Evidence of strong strategic planning and analysis skills in communications, corporate communications, news and media and digital communications and business planning.
• Evidence of success in thinking commercially while demonstrating sensitivity to non-commercial goals.
• Demonstrable evidence of knowledge and understanding of self-regulatory codes of practice in relation to news and media, fund-raising and data protection to ensure compliance.
• Exceptional verbal and written communications skills.
• Critical judgement, resilience, and composure under pressure.