Job Description

Job Title:Communications Assistant

Grade:Band 3, point 3- £17,458

Responsible to:Communications Team Leader

Key internal relationships:Assistant Director – Partnerships and Communications;Communications Team; Group & Venue Sales Team; Partnerships Co-ordinator; Remaking Beamish Team; all other teams across the museum.

Key external relationships:Stakeholders includinglocal authoritypartners;Arts Council England and Heritage Lottery Fund; media contacts; trusts and foundations and other funders;Business Friends of Beamish; Friends of Beamish; UK and EU-wide museum and cultural sector partners.

Purpose of role:Toprovide support for all functions of the Communications Team, including digital, marketing and publications. Provide additional support for the Group & Venue Sales Team and Partnerships Team projects, as required.

The Communications Team is responsible for external and internal communications, with wide-ranging functions including marketing, public relations, publications, social media, website, video and photography, and design.The Communications Assistant will contribute to the team’s work, assistingall team members, and will be responsible for administrative duties. They will also support specific projects for the Group & Venue Sales and Partnerships Teams, as required.

Duties and responsibilities

1.0 General – supporting the museum’s work and future development

  • Support the Communications Team’s work, including the delivery of the Remaking Beamish project, helping Beamish to successfully develop and grow as a living, working, open-air museum with a focus on putting visitors first and a commitment to delivering world-class customer service.

2.0 Communications

  • Support the monitoring of Beamish’s social networking profiles and website. Proactively develop creative, high-quality content to promote events, activities and exhibits at the museum, and engage with visitors, ensuring queries receive a timely and accurate response.Support seven day social media cover.
  • Provide content for thestaff and volunteer newsletter, the quarterly Beamish Magazine, Beamish website and other publications and platforms,where appropriate, including research, writing copy and providing images.
  • Respond to the design needs of the museum, as required, using software such as Photoshop and InDesign to produce materials including what’s on sheets, flyers, certificates, etc.
  • Support marketing and communications activity on site, including co-ordinating,designing and distributing posters and table-toppers, ensuring they are always current.
  • Upload Beamish’s events information and images to relevant external listings websites and other relevant platforms, ensuring all content is engaging, accurate and up to date. Research new websites, forums and other appropriate platforms to expand reach of information.
  • Work with colleagues to ensure all Beamish website content is relevant, up to date and fully optimised. Work with Group Venue Sales colleagues to maintain the Accommodation Providers’ page.
  • Create and send out e-newsletters, where required, including the Accommodation Providers’ e-newsletter, working with the Group & Venue Sales Team.
  • Monitor and collect feedback given on social media.
  • Produce photographs and video as required for all elements of the museum’s work.
  • Attend events on behalf of the museum, egBusiness Friends events, travel trade shows, community events, as required.
  • Accompany film crews, photographers, journalists, etc on site, as required.
  • Monitor media for mentions of Beamish and collate reports on coverage.
  • Fulfil requests for information, leaflets, photos, etc as and when required.

3.0 Partnerships and Group & Venue Sales

  • Undertake time-limited projects as directed by the Assistant Director – Partnerships &Communications and the Group & Venue Sales Team Leader as and when required.

4.0 Administration and general responsibilities

  • Act as an advocate of Beamish and the Remaking Beamish project.
  • Ensure compliance with copyright regulations, Data Protection, Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and all other policies in force at the museum.
  • Maintain databases to ensure all information is up to date and accurate, in line with relevant legislation and guidelines.
  • Provide support for an extensive range of meetings. This will include preparing agendas and meeting papers, noting action points and following them up.
  • Receive and manage telephone calls professionally, re-directing or taking messages and using initiative to deal with queries.
  • Provide administrative support for the team, including the maintenance of effective filing systems.
  • Carry out any other duties within the level of responsibility as may be determined from time to time.

This post is subject to the Scheme and Conditions of Service of the National Joint Council for Local Authority Services.

Person Specification

Factor / Essential / Method of
Assessment
1. Skills &
Knowledge /
  • An understanding and commitment to Beamish and its core purpose/mission.
  • Good organisational skills, ability to plan work using own initiative.
  • Ability to write fluently and accurately for a range of audiences and purposes.
  • Understanding of digital platforms and ability to produce creative and engaging content.
  • Able to work in a fast-paced environment and to tight deadlines.
  • Ability to use design software, egInDesign, Photoshop.
  • Must be able to work well within a team and independently.
  • A working knowledge of Health & Safety.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including ensuring effective communication with a wide range of staff, contacts and stakeholders.
  • Excellent attention to detail, including proof reading skills, with the ability to maintain a high level of accuracy.
  • A flexible, pro-active approach to work including the ability to prioritise and re-prioritise to achieve successful outcomes.
  • Excellent IT skills including working knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software packages, including Microsoft Office Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
/
  • Application form, interview

2. Experience &
Qualifications /
  • Relevant education and qualifications and/or equivalent work experience in a relevant area, eg. marketing and communications, digital communications.
  • Experience of working on a day-to-day basis directly with the public.
  • Experience of administration.
  • Experience of working in a busy, customer-focused business/organisation and to tight deadlines.
/
  • Application form and interview

3. Other
Requirements /
  • Enthusiastic ‘can do’ approach.
  • Flexible approach to hours and prepared to work weekends, bank holidays and evenings as required.
  • Able to meet the travel requirements.
/
  • Interview

Author:Julie Wilson

August 2017