Job Description
Job title: Communications Manager
Location: Brighton, with significant travel to London and occasional international travel
Salary: £32,000 p/a
Contract: Permanent
Responsible to: Marketing Director, Melanie Matthews
Responsible for: Interns as appointed by postholder
Overall purpose: To deliver a communications strategy through a range of channels including digital
media, ensuring appropriate use of branding and messages across the organisation. To
strengthen the external profile of Renewable World and its activities to key
stakeholders.
Background to the organisation
More than 1.3 billion people worldwide cannot access electricity. Indoor air pollution from paraffin, wood or animal dung used for lighting and heating kills nearly 2 million people every year – mainly women and children. Lack of energy access is a major barrier to economic development.
Renewable World (RW), a registered charity, tackles poverty by leveraging funds, expertise and resources from the Renewable Energy industry to support the provision of renewable energy services in remote, off-grid communities in Africa, Asia and Central America. Our work transforms lives. Access to energy stimulates trade and enterprise, increases opportunities for income generation and improves health and education.
For more information please see our website www.renewable-world.org
Main duties and responsibilities
Strategy and Planning
· Produce, update and monitor progress of communications strategy, and create annual budgets and operational plans for the Communications function.
· To work with the Marketing Director, Senior Management Team and CEO to define the organisation’s positioning, key messages, voice and visual identity, to ensure consistent, compelling and effective messaging and communications which are appropriate to their target audiences. To liaise closely with colleagues to ensure appropriate use of branding and messages across the organisation.
· Help establish a profile for RW as a leading organisation on issues of access to energy for economic initialisation and enhancement and delivery models which promote access to energy in areas of market failure.
· In close coordination with the CEO and SMT draft and develop core and reactive organisational position statements and messaging on key issues.
· Ensure all members of RW are aware of deadlines and input required to communications activities, and are given enough time to provide feedback or approval
· Recruit and manage interns/volunteers to assist with communications work.
Digital Marketing
· Oversee the day to day management of the website, ensuring that appropriate, timely, accessible and compelling new content is added and that the website reflects the brand values of the organisation.
· Manage relationships with web developers and oversee the design and development of projects for the website to keep the “look and feel” fresh and to incorporate new features.
· Manage our website blogs to promote the work of RW through more personal voices, encouraging staff and volunteers to contribute and promoting these through our social media channels.
· Edit and distribute a monthly e-newsletter to keep supporters up to date with our work.
· Ensure that brand values, messages, activities and appeals are reflected well through social media channels including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, and manage content posted on these channels.
· Provide guidance to staff for the use of Linkedin as a business development and communications tool, and contribute to Linkedin groups.
· Be aware of emerging trends in social media, and how these might be used effectively for RW.
· Use google analytics and other sources to monitor website and other online activity and use this analysis to make relevant developments to increase visitor engagement.
Media monitoring
· Monitoring trade, business and public media for stories about RW, our corporate supporters or other collaborators or partners, and where relevant drafting appropriate responses.
· Collate and archive press cuttings .
· Keep up to date with development in the energy access and climate change debates. Share this information with the rest of the organisation where relevant to further enhance the work of the organisation.
Media relationships
· Build relationships with editors of all Renewable Energy trade press, and generate opportunities for pro-bono advertising and preferential editorials.
· Build relationships with editors of non-Renewable Energy press – seeking to understand where and how RW can provide useful insight or expertise.
· Manage a database of media contacts in the fields of Renewable Energy trade, broadsheets, business press and relevant consumer magazines.
· Write and distribute RW press releases to relevant publications, and provide appropriate source material and statements where requested by those approaching RW. Provide editorial content where requested.
· Draft articles for publication for the CEO and other members of the Senior Management Team in industry and non-industry press.
· Lead on the copy and design of adverts for Renewable Energy and non-Renewable Energy publications
Publications
· Co-ordinate the production of RW external communications materials (including fundraising and policy publications), ensuring they are of high quality and achieve maximum impact, reflecting the brand values and approach of the organisation.
· Manage relationships with designers and printers ensuring that they are delivering high quality work within agreed timescales and budgets.
· Working closely with CEO and other members of SMT co-ordinate the production of RW Policy Position papers to promote and enhance RW’s profile and influence international debates on relevant energy access issues
Communications Resources
· Set up and maintain RW photo and video library
· Co-ordinate communications gathering on visits to RW programme activities (by self and others).
· Train non-communications members of staff who will either be visiting or working in the field on story gathering.
· Keep a full archive of all past RW communications materials and activities.
Exhibitions and conferences
· Co-ordinate RW’s attendance at exhibitions and conferences, attending on behalf of RW (along with other colleagues)
· Lead on relationship with conference organisers, responsible for the organisation, administrative, logistical and promotional aspects of RW’s participation in industry conferences.
· Proactively seeking opportunities for RW staff and trustees to speak at events
· Working with conference providers to promote carbon compensation and work on ways in which scheme could be integrated into their conferences.
Input into Fundraising campaigns and activities
· Support for specific appeals such as the RW Christmas Card Appeal, and BBC Lifeline Appeal in early 2013.
· Help produce fundraising messaging, case studies and background information to communicate the impact and effectiveness of RW programmes.
· Produce profile pages of our corporate supporters for the RW website and in other RW publications to communicate how they support and enhance the work of RW.
· Work with Corporate Supporters and other partners to maximise their internal and external publicity relating to their support of RW and ensure that information about RW contained in third party publications and websites is accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date.
· Support the Marketing Director to liaise, respond to and enhance relationships with existing corporate supporters.
· Support the Marketing Director on the recruitment and development and upgrading of new corporate funding relationships.
Other
· Manage our external “info@” email account and respond in a timely manner to queries.
· Other duties as directed.
Person Specification
Experience, skills and competences
Essential
· Degree educated and/or has a relevant Marketing qualification.
· At least 4 years’ experience in a related role.
· Experience of working with corporate clients in a business, non-profit or other role.
· A broad experience of working with a variety of media channels and an ability to choose channels which are appropriate to specific target audiences.
· Proven track record of producing print communications and publications, including managing successful and productive supplier relationships with designers, photographers and printers.
· Strong oral communication skills. An ability to communicate with people at all levels and from a wide variety of backgrounds.
· Excellent writing, editing and proof reading experience for print and online, including an excellent command of written English with very strong attention to detail. The ability to write concise, engaging and persuasive copy in a range of styles and for a variety of audiences.
· Experience of securing positive media coverage for the organisation. Demonstrable success of building and maintaining excellent relationships with media.
· Experience of developing and managing websites and up-to-date knowledge of, and experience in the use of digital and social media to raise the profile of the organisation and brand.
· Experience of producing fundraising communications and/or communications designed to generate external income.
· Exceptional project management skills with proven ability to prioritize and control a demanding workload and work effectively under pressure to meet tight deadlines.
· Track record of operational planning, budget setting, monitoring and reporting.
· Excellent IT skills across Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and Powerpoint), for self-administration.
Desirable
· Proficiency in HTML.
· Experience of using photo manipulation and/or design software.
· Experience of using Content Management Systems to publish material on websites.
· Understanding of search engine optimisation (SEO) and Google analytics reports.
· Experience of public speaking/presentation skills.
· Experience in the voluntary sector.
· Experience of communicating the issues in Emerging Markets and/or International Development.
· Experience of the Renewable Energy sector.
Attitude and approach
Essential
· Ability to work on your own initiative to tight deadlines
· Resilient with the ability to develop and implement creative solutions to complex challenges, and effectively engage with new situations.
· Flexible, positive and responsive, keen to learn, willing to work hard and out of hours if needed and travel where necessary for the role (including occasional international travel).
· Ambitious, “can-do” attitude with an entrepreneurial nature, but highly collaborative in nature.
· An analytical and methodical approach.
· A strong commitment to tackling poverty in developing countries.
Terms and Conditions
Salary: £32,000 p/a
Hours of Work: Full time, 40 hours per week over 5 days
Annual Leave: Leave year runs January to December. Full time staff are entitled to 24 days holiday per annum plus all bank holidays. In addition the office is closed between Christmas and New Year and staff are awarded these three days as additional holiday.
Benefits: After successful completion of the probationary period, staff are entitled to join the RW Pension Scheme. RW will contribute 3% of salary, with no contribution from the employee. RW will also contribute an additional 2% (total 5%), as long as this is matched by an employee contribution of 2%.
Place of work: Brighton. However the office is likely to relocate at some point in the next two years to central London. Some office capacity may remain in Brighton.
Term: Permanent, with a 6 month probationary period.
Application Procedure
To apply, please send us:
1. An application letter which should include (amongst other things) a summary of why you are applying for this role, how you meet the person specification requirements and what attributes you feel you would bring to RW;
2. A copy of your current CV;
3. The names, positions and contact details of two referees including your current or most recent employer. No contact will be made with any referee in advance of an offer being made, or without your prior approval.
Please send applications to for the attention of Melanie Matthews, Marketing Director.
If you would like an informal conversation about this position in advance of your application, please contact Melanie Matthews, Marketing Director on 01273 234801 (RW main line).
Closing Date: 24th June
Interviews: 6th July