POSITION DETAILS

External Relations
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £57,422 to £66,537 with potential progression once in post to £86,760
Grade: 9
Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to June 2026
Closing date: 11th May 2025
UK and International travel may be required for this role
Please note : Applications must be submitted through our recruiting partner Perrett Laver, not via the button at the bottom of the page . Please click here to apply .

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Educated to degree level or equivalent, preferably with an additional professional or postgraduate qualification.
• Senior leadership experience in a communications, public affairs or marketing role and significant experience of developing strategies and integrated marketing and communications plans.
• Senior leadership experience of crisis communications and issues management and of advising senior leaders on reputation management.
• Experience of engaging with policy makers and other senior stakeholders.
• Creative thinker with track record of delivering large scale, multi-channel reputation and/or branding building campaigns, ideally internationally.
• Ability to operate at a strategic level whilst ensuring translation of the strategy into clear deliverables including through leadership of complex projects.
• Experience of working internationally/with international stakeholders would be advantageous.

ORGANISATIONAL SKILLS

• Aptitude to shape strategic direction and develop and implement operational plans in order to deliver the University’s objectives.
• Ability to develop long-term plans and chart a path towards their achievement whilst balancing short term issues, pressures, and challenges.
• Ability to understand priorities and adapt to changes with strong time management.
• Able to operate flexibly within a busy work environment, shifting focus when required. Practical, with an aptitude to work under pressure, handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and meet deadlines.

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT SKILLS

• Ability to provide leadership, for a team of professional staff and create a motivating environment where people are challenged, developed, encouraged and supported to achieve outstanding results.
• Track record of developing individuals and teams of people from diverse professional backgrounds.
• Experience of managing budgets and resources, and of setting, monitoring and measuring outcomes and providing high quality Management Information.
• Able to demonstrate evidence of working collaboratively within their team and across the organisation to achieve goals in a respectful manner in a busy working environment and fostering a collegiate environment.Experience of being a role model reflecting External Relations values and behaviours demonstrating resilience and positive response to change and a strong understanding of University culture.
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  Please note : Applications must be submitted through our recruiting partner Perrett Laver, not via the button at the bottom of the page . Please click here to apply .
  Informal enquiries to Jo Kite, email: j.r.kite@bham.ac.uk
  View our staff values and behaviours here
  We believe there is no such thing as a ‘typical’ member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy . You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website

ROLE SUMMARY

As a Global top 100 university, the University of Birmingham has an ambitious global strategy and growth aspiration across research, education, reputation and engagement, which is set out in its Strategic Framework to 2030. The Director of Communications and Reputation will make a significant contribution to ensuring the University successfully delivers key strategic reputation targets set out in the Framework including its bold ambition to become a top 50 global university. This is an exciting time to join the University as it celebrates its 125 th anniversary with a diverse, year-long programme of activities and engagements.
The role will be based in External Relations; a division of 350 staff with a core budget of £26m. The Director of Communications and Reputation will lead a team of 25 people responsible for Media Relations, Public Affairs, Research Communications, Brand, Campaigns and International Reputation, Social Media and Web Content, Stakeholder Engagement, and Internal Communications. The Director will also provide line management to the two Deputy Directors responsible for these areas as well as to the Heads of Marketing and Communications based in the University’s five Colleges, to ensure cohesive, collaborative, effective and efficient delivery of University strategic priorities across these areas.
The post holder will also play a central role in the development of the next phase of our brand and global reputation work, contributing to the University’s bold ambition to become recognised among the top 50 universities in the world. They will have strategic oversight of a diverse portfolio, and will be a senior champion to drive our communications and reputation activity to help ensure long-term strategic success.
The post holder will operate at a senior level within the University, reporting to the Director of External Relations to develop and deliver the strategic vision across Communications and Reputation to support the University Strategic Framework and its ambition to become a Global Top 50 university. They will also work alongside the Directors of Student Recruitment, Admissions, Birmingham Global, Public Engagement and Marketing Services as well as the Deputy Director of External Relations to ensure there is alignment across shared agendas around recruitment, research, reputation and engagement. The post holder will be a member of the senior management team in External Relations, and the role will require close liaison and relationship building with all External Relations functions, and across wider University divisions to ensure work is aligned, planned at a strategic level and maximises the use of resource.
The role will work closely with the Vice-Chancellor and members of the University Executive Board including thematic Pro-Vice-Chancellors and Heads of Colleges. The post-holder will also work closely with Senior Officers who lead across the other professional services divisions include the Vice-Chancellors Office, Academic Services, Legal Services, Estates, Campus Services, HR, IT, Development and Alumni Relations and Research Strategy and Support.