Job Title: Student Communications Officer

UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
Recruitment Role Profile Form

Job Title: Student Communications Officer

School/ Department: Communications, External Relations

Salary: £22,029 - £26,274 per annum, depending on skills and experience. Salary progress beyond this scale is subject to performance

Contract Status: Permanent, full-time

Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week

Location: University Park Campus, Nottingham

Reporting to: Internal Communications Manager

Purpose of the Role:

Based within External Relations and reporting to the Internal Communications Manager, the person appointed will be responsible for developing and delivering a programme of communications with current University of Nottingham students (ca 43,000) and promoting University messages to this key stakeholder group. The person appointed will represent the team at University-wide meetings focused on communications with current students and will act as a co-ordinating link between students and the University. It is expected that the role holder will also contribute more widely to the overall brand, image and reputation work led by the External Relations team.

Main Responsibilities / % time per year
1. / Communications and Marketing planning
Under the guidance of the Internal Communications Manager, to devise and deliver a student communications plan on behalf of the team. The plan will aim to improve the overall student experience and will include a programme of communications to University students.
To analyse and integrate the findings of the annual National Student Survey (NSS) into the communications plan. To share these findings with Faculties to best support and guide school-level plans.
To run regular focus groups and surveys with current students to update the plan, feeding back to service department and faculties where appropriate. / 15%
2. / Student communications management and development
To be responsible for the delivery of efficient and timely student communications (planned campaigns and ad-hoc messages) via a range of channels – both electronic and hardcopy. Act as a main point of contact for requests and as gatekeeper for all communications with students. Ensure that all communications are delivered on time and within the agreed budget.
To develop stories for distribution to the wider University community and for external media as appropriate.
To proactively develop innovative methods of communicating with the student body, making use of plasma screens, regular e-newsletters, videos and a range of social media tools and channels to ensure the message is delivered to the right people at the right time, and that message objectives are met.
To keep up-to-date with key issues for University students across higher education, and producing relevant personalised content relating to these issues for students at The University of Nottingham
To proactively source stories and news to communicate to the student body from a wide variety of contacts across the University, working closely with Schools, Faculties, Student Services and the Students’ Union. Stories should promote student achievement both inside and outside the University.
To write copy and organise appropriate imagery for promotional materials and publications. Liaise with design and print agencies to produce promotional literature or the digital/web team to produce e-communications.
With the Communications Officer, to actively monitor and maintain any web or electronic-based communications with current students, taking responsibility for accuracy of content and ensuring that information is regularly updated, including student content on internal news channels and social media channels. / 40%
3. / Collaboration with, and support and guidance for, Student Services, other service departments and Faculties
To work closely with the Student Services department in promoting services and support to targeted student audiences.
To collaborate closely with other departments across the University with regards to matters for current students – including, Faculties, External Relations, the International Office, Strategy, Planning and Performance, IT services, Libraries and Learning Resources, Sports, the Graduate School, the Students’ Union, the PVC for Education and Student Experience, and the Campaign and Alumni Relations team.
To offer support and guidance to academic Schools within the University with regards to communications with current students.
To ensure colleagues across the University understand the requirements and pressures of student life and consider these in their approach to student communications.
To represent the Marketing and Communications team at current student-focused University meetings, such as the Arrivals and Welcome group, transforming Teaching Programme and the Students’ Union Liaison Group.
To maintain a close relationship with colleagues on the China and Malaysia campuses, ensuring that appropriate content is shared and promoted, and to advise on channel and messaging where appropriate. / 25%
4. / Events planning and support
To work closely with departments across the University to support events targeted at current students. Such events may include Welcome Week, the annual Freshers’ Fair, events within Halls of Residence with regards to security and ad hoc events aimed at improving the overall student experience, such as HealthyU.
To support the Off-Campus Student Affairs Assistant with promoting annual campaigns to promote awareness regarding crime, student housing and living in the community to new and returning current students. / 10%
5. / Administrative management
To undertake all general administration duties with regards to student communication projects.
To support the wider External Relations team by undertaking ad hoc project work with teams across Marketing — including corporate, undergraduate and postgraduate — and the Internal Communications Manager. For example, working with the recruitment team to evaluate the success of recruitment campaigns and testing new concepts or design ideas for future student recruitment marketing materials with current University students.
Contribute to the effective running of External Relations, and represent the University by attending Higher Education or Postgraduate Fairs, and working out of office hours on corporate or student recruitment events such as open days. / 5%
6. / Other
To undertake any other duties as required, relevant to the scope and scale of the role to support the wider External Relations team, Student Services and the University. / 5%

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience:

Essential / Desirable
Qualifications/
Education / HND/HNC or equivalent. / Bachelor degree or equivalent.
Knowledge/Skills/ Training / Copywriting and proof reading skills.
Excellent interpersonal and communication (verbal and written) skills.
Ability to communicate at different levels.
Advanced organisational and administrative skills.
Knowledge of the web and different types of media, including social media.
Sound judgment in relation to communication issues.
Initiative – a self-starter able to work to deadlines.
Excellent attention to detail and spelling.
Knowledge and experience of Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word and Excel.
Good time management and an ability to work methodically to meet tight deadlines and prioritise between competing work demands.
Excellent knowledge of digital/social media channels and an understanding of how these might be harnessed to improve student communications. / Project management skills
Advanced knowledge of Outlook e.g. incorporating HTML templates, managing multiple mailboxes and forming bespoke distribution lists.
Experience / Experience of producing, writing and editing online and published materials to strict deadlines.
Experience of working with content management systems.
Ability to communicate with a range of people on different levels.
Ability to work effectively under pressure and as part of a team. / Experience of working within higher education or working closely with students.
Experience of liaising with design and print agencies.
Experience of designing communications and marketing materials to brand guidelines.
Other / Willingness to support the wider team by attending occasional recruitment events.
Dedication, determination and a dynamic outlook.
Understanding the importance of addressing and responding to the needs of different audiences.
Understanding the importance of confidentiality.
Ability to be diplomatic in sensitive situations. / Familiarity with large and complex organisations and/or the Higher Education sector.

Decision Making

i) taken independently by the role holder

The role holder will source stories, carry out research to inform communications and write copy for online and published publications, appropriate to a range of target audiences to agreed deadlines. The person appointed will be responsible for the content and tone of voice used in all communications and would provide advice to internal departments on writing copy for both digital and print materials.

The person appointed will be responsible for developing and delivering a range of integrated campaigns. This will include sourcing, copy writing, and editing student orientated copy about the University, producing online and more traditional marketing materials and project managing both campaign delivery.

The person appointed will be responsible for delivering and monitoring a communications and marketing plan covering media types, which will need to be agreed by the Internal Communications Manager and the Chief Student Management Officer, and reviewed termly.

The person appointed will also be responsible for ensuring quality standards are adhered to (including legislative compliance e.g. accessibility standards). The person appointed will be responsible for resolving any problems relating to content of copy – i.e. in liaising with academic schools, or in responding to any complaints by readers. The person appointed will be responsible for planning and organising their own workload, all proof reading and accuracy of copy.

ii) taken in collaboration with others

Developing the communications and marketing plan.
Links with departments across the University with regards to student communication matters.
Planning and running events targeted at current students.

iii) referred to the appropriate line manager by the person appointed

Final drafts of copy for print or web will be referred to the Internal Communications Manager where appropriate.

Budget spend and bids for new budget/resource.

5