Marketing & Communications Manager - Universitas 21 - 107084 - Grade 7 at University of Birmingham

Birmingham, England, United Kingdom -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

07 Jun, 26

Salary

46049.0

Posted On

09 Mar, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Digital Communications, Communications Strategy, Content Creation, Website Management, Content Management Systems, Social Media Management, Analytics, Copywriting, Video Production, Multimedia Content, Storytelling, Reputation Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Interpersonal Skills, Project Management, Design Tools

Industry

Higher Education

Description

Position Details Universitas 21 Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £48,822 Grade: 7 Full Time, but can be adapted to 0.8 FTE to accommodate flexible working requirements. Permanent Closing date: 23rd March 2026 Interviews: Week commencing 13th April 2026 UK and International travel may be required for this role This role is employed by the University of Birmingham but dedicated exclusively to Universitas 21 (U21), a global network of 31 research-intensive universities spanning six continents. Our offer to you People are at the heart of what we are and do. The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success. We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University. We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work. Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries. The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens. Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham [https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/jobs/staff-benefits] Background Since its founding in 1997, U21 has championed knowledge sharing and partnership among its members. Through a diverse portfolio of initiatives, the network advances global education, enables impactful research, and strengthens leadership in higher education. By fostering trusted collaborations and innovative programs, U21 helps institutions and individuals co-create solutions to global challenges, enrich student and staff experiences, and develop culturally informed perspectives that transcend borders. This role is full time, but can be adapted to 0.8 FTE to accommodate flexible working requirements. Role Summary Working under the direction of the Head of Communications and Reputation, the Marketing and Communications Manager will play a pivotal role in amplifying the global reputation of Universitas 21, a leading international network of 31 research-intensive universities. As Marketing and Communications Manager, you will bring creativity and strategy together to raise the profile of U21’s reputation worldwide, co-creating compelling stories and campaigns with U21 members and external partners. You will help inspire a global community of advocates across the network to help showcase the power of international collaboration and higher education. With a strong background in digital communications, the post holder will work with the Head of Communications and Reputation to support the development and delivery of U21’s communications strategy, creating engaging, innovative, and people-centred content that celebrates collaboration, global impact, and the human stories behind the network. Working closely with colleagues across the U21 Secretariat, communications teams across the network, and partner organisations, you will strengthen visibility, engagement, and advocacy for U21’s mission and activities. Main Duties * Support the development and delivery of U21’s global communications and reputation strategy, aligning all messaging with organisational priorities including key themes such as global education, global research, leadership, and social impact. * Champion innovative, people-centred storytelling across all channels by curating member voices and producing impactful digital content across multiple platforms that showcases U21’s global impact. Manage and strategically enhance U21’s digital presence, including the website, social media channels, and emerging platforms, ensuring engaging and accessible content. * Develop, deliver and co-create innovative integrated campaigns in collaboration with members and partner organisations to promote U21’s mission and global impact. * Produce and oversee high-quality multimedia content across editorial, digital, and print formats. * Strengthen engagement with communications colleagues across the U21 network, enabling shared storytelling and consistent messaging. * Contribute to U21’s member account management model to strengthen relationships, champion member needs internally, and ensure their priorities inform strategic activity. * Coordinate with colleagues within U21 and U21 members with regard to their internal and external communications, including newsletters, bulletins, toolkits and impact publications. * Provide strategic communications support for U21 events, initiatives, and global programmes, including supporting live and post-event coverage. * Monitor, analyse, and report on communications performance to inform decision-making, align with emerging trends and ensure continuous improvement. * Contribute to organisational initiatives and deputise for the Head of Communications and Reputation where required. * 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. 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. * Proven experience in developing and delivering communications or marketing strategies. * Experience managing and developing websites using content management systems (CMS). * Demonstrable social media management experience, including analytics and growth strategies. * Experience in creating engaging digital content, including copywriting, video, and multimedia. * Strong understanding of branding, storytelling, and reputation management. * Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into engaging, accessible narratives. * Creative, proactive, and innovative thinker with an eye for design and detail. * Experience in stakeholder engagement and maintaining strong, collaborative partnerships. * Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships across diverse international contexts. * Highly organised, able to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively. * Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, or other design tools. * Experience of monitoring and interpreting digital analytics to inform strategy. * Willingness to travel internationally and work flexibly, including occasional evenings or weekends. * 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. Desirable: * Experience working in higher education or with international networks/organisations. * Understanding of global collaboration and international education. * Experience producing or commissioning video and multimedia content. Informal enquiries to Chloe Brough, email: c.l.ainslie@bham.ac.uk [c.l.ainslie@bham.ac.uk] View our staff values and behaviours here [https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/about/our-strategy/our-values] Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview. 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 [https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/about/equality/index.aspx].

Responsibilities

The Marketing and Communications Manager will support the development and delivery of U21’s global communications and reputation strategy, focusing on creating engaging, innovative, and people-centered digital content that showcases global impact. This involves championing storytelling, managing the digital presence, developing integrated campaigns, and strengthening engagement with communications colleagues across the network.