Job Profile
Section 1: Job Description
Job Title:
Communications Assistant - Crop
Wild Relatives Project
Band: C
Post No: 1423
Directorate: Conservation, Living Collections &
Estates
No. of Direct Reports: 0
Section/Dept: Collecting & Network Support/Seed
Conservation Department (SCD)
No. of Indirect Reports: 0
Job family: Science and Scientific Information
Reports to (Position): CWR Project co-ordinator
Job Purpose:
To deliver Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG) Kew’s mission by supporting the development and
implementation of RBG Kew’s Breathing Planet Programme through Seed Conservation Department’s
operational partnerships, networks and projects with a particular emphasis on those that deliver plant
conservation, sustainable utilisation of plant resources in the food and agriculture area, and habitat
restoration. The role enables RBG Kew to identify and create opportunities to form partnerships and
projects to contribute to RBG Kew’s Breathing Planet Programme, to gain access to plant diversity on
mutually agreed terms, and to strengthen the academic and technical networks that underpin RBG Kew’s
long term partnerships.
Job Context:
The Communications Assistant - Crop Wild Relatives post is line-managed by the CWR Project coordinator
within the Collecting & Network Support Section. Members of this team have responsibilities for negotiation
of partnership agreements, for management of externally funded projects to deliver conservation and
sustainable use outcomes, and for transfer of technology and achievement of international seed
conservation standards as part of the development of the international MSB Partnership across more than
50 countries. The Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change Project (Crop Wild Relatives Project) is
supported by the Government of Norway and managed by RBG Kew jointly with the Global Crop Diversity
Trust. Kew’s role in this project is to organise the collection of seeds from priority CWR currently underrepresented in existing gene bank collections; produce collecting guides to aid partners in the field, to
provide technical support including training to collecting partners; and to provide samples of material for
research and pre-breeding to partners.
Communication is of great importance for the Crop Wild Relatives Project. Food is a subject which many
people can relate to and through this the utility of plants can be explained. The project receives significant
interest from the media, which results in comprehensive media coverage. This coverage is important to
raise awareness of the project and the MSB Partnership collections, many of which are available for use.
The specific role of this post is to support the RBG Kew project team in all PR and Digital Media affairs in
close cooperation with MSB colleagues and the Global Crop Diversity Trust PR Manager. The role is
designed to promote the project and RBG Kew’s response to the need to adapt agriculture to climate
change. Communication methods include blogs, social media and videos alongside working with visiting
media teams.
Accountabilities:
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1.
ACTION VERB
OBJECT
END RESULT
Write, edit and proof reading communications documents, e.g. blogs, stories, species profiles and
posters, required to communicate the “Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change” project.
30%
2.
Contribute new and innovative material to the project and websites, including videos, to maintain
interest in the project.
25%
3.
Provide logistical support to facilitate journalist and external project partners visits’ to the MSB.
20%
4.
Source images for use in RBG Kew communications to aid understanding and attract interest.
10%
5.
Sourcing stories, images and film for sharing on social media.
10%
6.
Complete other project related tasks as required to ensure the project proceeds following the
workplan.
5%
Management of Resources
Financial Responsibilities: All staff are responsible for management of their own time and resources.
.
1.
Personal travel and subsistence expenditure.
Position within the Team – insert or attach a simple organogram of the position including line manager, work
colleagues and direct reports
Head of
CNS Section
International Projects
Co-ordinator
Crop Wild Relatives
Project Assistant
Crop Wild Relatives
Project Co-ordinator
Collecting Guide
Compiler
Communications Assistant Crop Wild Relatives Project
Job Description Agreed
Job Holder
................................................................
Date ............................................
Line Manager (F7) or above
................................................................
Date ............................................
(Signatures)
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Section 2: Person Specification
Education and Experience
Essential
BSc, BA, or equivalent, in Science.
Good knowledge and some experience of working in a media environment
An ability to inspire others through compelling written and verbal communication
Demonstrable desire to work in a role communicating science work to a non-specialist audience.
Experience prioritising a range of different tasks.
Experience facilitating media visits
Experience in writing web content.
Desirable
Some experience assisting in a press office or Communications department.
Experience using one or more social media channels regularly (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Linked In, Instagram),
and interest in researching best practice for all of these, and increasing interaction, building relationships and
increasing followers.
Knowledge and practical experience of conservation, preferable seed conservation.
Knowledge and practical experience of agriculture and or plant breeding.
UK driving licence
Job Specific Competencies – skills and abilities specific to the job
Essential
Excellent interpersonal and team-playing skills, and an ability to build effective working relationships with internal and
external contacts at all levels.
Excellent written communication skills in English.
Excellent oral communication including the ability to interact confidently and clearly with a wide range of colleagues as
well as external partners.
Strong computer skills (Microsoft Office applications, desktop publishing programs, databases and internet research).
Ability to assess, extract and verify biological or botanical information from a variety of digital and hard-copy sources
data.
Ability to undertake travel inside and outside of the UK.
Desirable
Ability to communicate effectively in one language in addition to English.
Kew Competency Framework: The Framework identifies behaviours required for roles at different levels. Which
are the key competencies for this job? Select up to four essential competencies
Competency
Essential ()
1.Leading and Influencing
2.Developing High Performance
3.Collaboration

4.Thinking with Vision

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5.Making Effective Decisions
6. Delivering Value for money
7. Making things happen
8. Delivering in Partnership

9. Changing with Pace

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