PERSON SPECIFICATION

• Experience of working with a range of stakeholders including government, the media and academia with an understanding of the political and policy environment we operate in. (I)
• A good understanding of the issues around communicating science and research and how these need to be managed to ensure they do not create reputational risks for UKRI. This combined with an ability to absorb, evaluate and communicate complex information appropriate to the audience (I)
• Be able to demonstrate credibility with relevant communities, based on experience from government, industry, education or the third sector. (S)
• Strong understanding of the latest developments in communications best practice including campaign methodologies, modern media relations, and digital technologies and tactics needed to reach a wide range of target audiences. (S&I)
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams, UKRI’s component Councils, communities and stakeholders. (S)
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NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop, and ‘own’ relationships with journalists at national, sector and regional media outlets to develop understanding of UKRI
• Maintain close working and strategic relationships with communications and policy colleagues in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and other government departments such as DHSC, DCMS as necessary.
• Maintain excellent links and contacts within senior management and programme managers across UKRI’s councils.
• Work closely with the UKRI planning team (gridding and delivering on short term activities), and content team to support interactions with the press.
• Support effective and responsive media relations across UKRI, to protect the organisation’s reputation and respond flexibly to issues and incidents.