POSITION DETAILS

School of Social Policy and Society
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,130 to £45,413 with potential progression once in post to £48,149
Grade: 7
Part Time (30 hours per week)
Fixed Term contract up to September 2027
Closing date: 18th June 2025
’Open House’ Drop In Session: We will be holding an ‘open house’ drop in session at the University’s Exchange building, in Centenary Square, Birmingham, between 10am and 5pm on Friday 6th June 2025. If you’re interested in working at the University of Birmingham and perhaps have a few questions, this is an opportunity to meet colleagues in the Recruitment team. It will be a relaxed and informal event – you can drop in at any time.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE

• Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications) plus relevant practical experience - where no equivalent qualification is held significant practical relevant experience and expertise in a series of progressively more demanding roles will be required.
• Evidence of literacy and numeracy, with the ability to write clearly, and to produce and analyse information and data.
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.
• Initiative – you must be a self-starter who can drive a communications campaign with limited guidance.
• Experience and skills in creating digital outputs including podcasts and videos.
• Significant experience of creating and marketing compelling narratives. Narratives that articulate clear messages/arguments , supported by convincing evidence , with impact.
• Demonstrable experience of working with bespoke software for producing digital outputs of engaging high quality, including delivering digital marketing comms campaigns.
• Knowledge of website design and maintenance, and experience of keeping complex websites up to date.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to co-produce, edit and draft/re-draft material effectively. Including creation of marketing collateral and production of slide decks.
• Excellent interpersonal skills. The post holder will be expected to interact with a range of stakeholders including senior academic and non-academic managers; external enquirers; colleagues in other universities; and colleagues from across Professional Services.
• Effective negotiation and influencing skills at all levels, creating professional relationships with researchers, administrators and senior staff internally and externally.
• Working to agreed timelines, well-developed prioritising and organisational abilities, including the ability to manage projects, keep accurate records and produce status or progress reports.
• Absolute discretion and the ability to maintain confidentiality.

ROLE SUMMARY

We are looking for a proactive individual with a track record of successfully developing and delivering impactful communications and stakeholder engagement programmes. Using your skills and experience you will help us to achieve our mission of translating our research into policy and practice, by ensuring our communications are persuasive and impactful and that our messages are heard by our stakeholders. This includes Parliamentarians, regulators, businesses and civil society. This will require up-to-date knowledge of communications platforms and tools, as well as experience in providing a communications function for an organisation.
In addition, you will work closely with all CHASM members in the development, organisation and reporting of impact-related activity. This will include the identification of new opportunities to translate the centre’s research into impact – especially changes in policy and practice. As part of this you will be proactive in establishing and maintaining effective relationships with academic and Professional Services colleagues in the College of Social Sciences and across the University.

MAIN DUTIES

• Develop a detailed knowledge of the research, impact, and engagement landscape in the Centre and the research development needs and plans of individual academics in CHASM.
• Ensure that CHASM builds on its reputation as a centre for research excellence, taking an integrated approach across media (social and traditional). Including: Generating authoritative and engaging digital content, Developing and coordinating the production of key stakeholder communications, including reports and briefings, Securing media coverage, Working closely with the Centre Manager to develop and promote an impactful event programme, Developing high quality partnerships with external stakeholders.
• Undertake project management to ensure digital and communications projects run to time and cost.
• Work with external organisations, leveraging partnership working and collaborative approaches to communications campaigns, including events and public engagement.
• Provide hands-on support to CHASM members, for example in the form of co-producing policy briefs/blogs/media content; responding to calls for evidence and leading the collection and evaluation of impact-related metrics.
• The post holder will work closely with College and University Marketing, Communications and Public Affairs colleagues and will have a dotted line into the College based team and will work closely with academic colleagues and University Impact, Press teams, and the Public Engagement team to promote CHASM’s work.
• Keep up to date with key policy and media debates relevant to the project, and where necessary explain links to project research (to PI, partners, etc).
• Liaise with relevant external partners regarding joint initiatives, events and exhibitions leading to improved public engagement.
• Work with CHASM members to evidence and communicate their research impact for a variety of purposes including the Research Excellence Framework (REF)
• Develop and maintain databases to monitor and evaluate the centre’s impact and be able to articulate the impact of research undertaken in the centre, with support from the Centre Manager.
• Promotes equality and values diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
• Supports the University’s sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade.