Appendix B
Job Description
Job title:
Department/School:
Grade:
Location:
Head of Communications
Marketing and Communications
9
Claverton Down, Bath
Job purpose
To increase the effectiveness and quality of external and internal communications, raising
the University’s regional, national and international profile, enhancing its reputation for
research and teaching excellence and contributing to increased levels of staff and student
engagement.
The post-holder will play a lead role in helping to shape and implement our messaging to
communicate our positioning in the global Higher Education sector, influence decisionmakers and funders, enhance our relationships with the community in and around Bath
and mobilise our colleagues and our students in support of the University strategy
S/he post-holder will manage The University’s media relations, PR and internal
communications functions.
As a key spokesperson for the institution, the Head of Communications will need to be
accessible out of hours, particularly if the University needs to invoke its emergency
management procedures and plan
Source and nature of management provided
The Head of Communications reports to the Director of Marketing & Communications
Staff management responsibility
The post holder will have responsibility for management of University Press team (4 Direct
reports) and will line manage the Internal Communications team.
Special conditions
As a key spokesperson for the institution, the Head of Communications will need to be
accessible out of hours, particularly if the University needs to invoke its emergency
management procedures and plan
Main duties and responsibilities
1
Lead the development and implementation of strategic and operational corporate
communications priorities (including internal communications priorities) in line with
University strategies to generate income, enhance reputation, and strengthen
engagement with staff and students
2
Act as the University’s senior media spokesperson, promoting the University to a
wide range of audiences through a variety of media including social channels
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Appendix B
Main duties and responsibilities
3
Act as the key point of contact for communications in the event of an emergency.
4
Provide specialist advice and consultancy to the University community to inform
implementation of communications activities targeted externally and internally and
promote best practice
5
Lead innovation in communications practice to better meet the needs of the
University community, its external stakeholders, staff and students, for targeted,
timely information.
6
Supervise the operational activities of the University Press team and Internal
communications team with overall responsibility to:
- Align resource allocation and priority setting with business need
- Quality assure the output across external and internal communications
activities
- Monitor and report on operational activities addressing issues as required
7
Specify and plan initiatives which aim to deliver improved communications
effectiveness
8
Communicate to senior stakeholders data relating to effectiveness of communications
activities thus informing and helping to shape future strategic planning
9
Contribute to the development and delivery of institutional marketing and
communications strategy acting as a subject matter expert on opportunities and
issues relating to effective communications strategy and implementation
10
Maintain a thorough awareness of relevant developments and trends in
communications both within and without the Higher Education sector nationally and
internationally and respond to them as appropriate
11
Initiate, develop and maintain trust based working relationships with colleagues
across the University which enhance the reputation of the Department of Marketing &
Communications amongst internal stakeholders for the quality and effectiveness of its
strategic planning, creativity and implementation
12
Initiate, develop and maintain flexible and effective working relationships with a
network of external communications channels and where relevant service providers
to ensure agreed communications activities can be implemented on time, to quality,
to scope, to budget
15
Act as a member of the Marketing and Communications Executive working closely
with colleagues to ensure effective implementation of an effective, integrated, multimedia marketing and communications activity plan
You will from time to time be required to undertake other duties of a similar nature as
reasonably required by your line manager commensurate with the nature and level of the
post
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Appendix B
Person Specification
Criteria
Qualifications
Education to degree level or equivalent with substantial
experience or a graduate with proven relevant experience
and equivalent experiential learning/work experience
Experience/Knowledge
An excellent track record of achievement in a senior
communications role
Experience of leading, managing and building an effective
communications team with responsibility for external and
internal communications
A successful track record of planning and implementing
major initiatives
Proven ability to manage a diverse portfolio of work in a
multi-stakeholder environment
Significant experience of working in a communications and
influencing role in Higher Education
Knowledge and understanding of the effective
communications needs to play in the Higher Education sector
Knowledge and understanding of the latest trends in
communications across all media channels (including digital
and social) sufficient to engage with colleagues from a
position of mutual understanding and respect
Comprehensive knowledge of the working characteristics of
national and international media, preferably with a good
network of existing contacts
Experience as acting as a key corporate spokesperson on a
range of topics
Experience of crisis management from an implementation or
scenario planning perspective
Experience of preparing formal written reports and
presentations for a range of audiences including Senior
Management
Experience of managing priorities, processes and procedures
in a complex service-delivery environment
Skills
Ability to think strategically and develop and implement policy
specifically in the area external relations and internal
communications
Outstanding written and oral communication skills
Excellent presentation and interpersonal skills with the ability
to persuade and influence a variety of audiences
Ability to analyse and present complex data and concepts
clearly and concisely
Able to develop and maintain good working relationships
across and outside the University.
IT literate including proficient use of MS Office
Attributes
Proven personal leadership qualities including selfmotivation, the ability to motivate high performance in others
and to develop staff
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Essential
Desirable
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Appendix B
Criteria
Adaptable and flexible
Ability to develop networks and manage conflicting priorities
for self and others
Ability to think creatively with originality and insight
Decisive and responsive
Customer focused
Empathy with the values and culture of the University of Bath
Resilient under pressure
Flexible and able to cope with competing demands
Diplomatic and willing and able to negotiate to achieve winwin / mutually-desired outcomes
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Essential
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Desirable
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