Senior Media and Communications Manager

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Senior Media and Communications Manager

Salary: £45,272 per annum

Contract type: Open-ended

Location: Polaris House, Swindon (Hybrid working available)

Hours: Full time

Closing date Sunday 9th February 2025

About us

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the largest public funder of research and innovation in the UK, investing £8 billion annually spanning all disciplines and all sectors. We are nine councils, drawing on our unique breadth and depth of expertise to work with government and other stakeholders to enrich lives, by increasing our understanding of ourselves and the world around us, supporting innovative businesses and public services, and creating high-quality jobs throughout the UK.

Job summary

As a senior media and communications manager at UKRI you will deliver on our news and media engagement strategy, positioning the organisation as a key driver of innovation and research excellence. You will be part of a team responsible for generating high-quality media coverage, managing UKRI's reputation and shaping how our ground-breaking research and innovation efforts are communicated to the public, media and key stakeholders.

You will work closely with colleagues in our external communications team, as well as our Head of News, the Executive team, senior researchers and partners across a wide range of sectors, to ensure consistent and compelling narratives that enhance the visibility of UKRI's contributions to science, technology and societal advancement.

You will be an experienced media operator and professional communicator, ambitious to find new and proactive ways to connect UKRI with our audiences and to create impact through storytelling .

Key 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.
• Key relationships:

  - In UKRI: UKRI CEO office, ExCo, Board and UKRI's component Councils and senior leadership team

  - Elsewhere: DSIT, UKRI research community, UK press

• Support effective and responsive media relations across UKRI, to protect the organisation's reputation and respond flexibly to issues and incidents.

Key skills and experience

(S) - Assessed at shortlisting

(I) - Assessed at interview

(S&I) - Assessed at both shortlisting and interview

Essential

• 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)
• Demonstrate ability to prioritise, multi-task, work to deadlines and have the flexibility and resilience to adapt to change. (I)
• Demonstrable emotional intelligence and tolerance of ambiguity and uncertainty. (I)
• Ability to discern and distinguish between what is the right and wrong form of action and advise accordingly. (I)

Desirable

• A strong understanding of the strategic needs and priorities of UKRI, Councils or Cross-cutting themes, and wider stakeholders. (S&I)
• Previous experience of working in a life sciences-based media communications role. (S&I)

About UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK's innovation agency, Innovate UK. Together we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found at www.ukri.org .

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit Benefits of working for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ' How we support EDI in the workforce '.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.