JOB DESCRIPTION
Section:Communications
Post:Digital Communications Officer
Line managed by:Communications & Social Media Manager
PURPOSE OF POST / MAJOR TASKS & ACTIVITIES
The Communications team at Edinburgh College is responsible for engaging with staff, students and stakeholders through a range of communications activity including PR & media relations, stakeholder relations, events and digital communications including social media. The team works closely with other teams across the College’s Academic and Corporate areas to provide an excellent experience for students, staff and stakeholders.
The post-holder will support the Communications & Social Media Manager in the work of the college Communications team. Key tasks/activities will include:
- Developing the college’s social media presence fully across different platforms, both new and existing.
- Identifying, researching, writing and producing stories for social media, which should include film and photography.
- Building engagement with followers on social media by writing appropriate content and responding quickly.
- Monitoring the college’s social media presence for any issues, positive or negative, and reacting to these immediately.
- Monitoring usage and trends in the college’s social media and intranet, including use of appropriate monitoring tools.
- Advising on new developments in digital communications, and ensuring the college is embracing all appropriate opportunities in this area.
- Responsible for writing and maintaining up to date content on the communications areas of the website.
- Building engagement with staff through the intranet and other digital channels by writing engaging copy, posting appropriately and monitoring engagement. Writing engaging content for the communications-owned sections of the intranet and ensuring this is up to date.
- Identifying and writing up key messages for different target markets across our digital platforms.
- Liaising with colleagues at all levels across the college to generate positive stories for social media and intranet. Writing these stories using appropriate tone of voice for each audience.
- Publicising a range of events both internally and externally.
- Contributing to the communications plan for Edinburgh College.
- Carrying out administrative tasks as required, such as maintaining databases; raising purchase orders; managing the photo library etc.
RESPONSIBLE FOR
The post-holder has no staffing responsibilities, but may be required to supervise the work of the Communications intern on different projects.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
The post-holder will be in regular contact with the Communications & Social Media Manager and the Head of Communications, but will be expected to organise and prioritise their own work to the requirements of the post and in line with changing deadlines & priorities.
DECISIONS MADE IN THE COURSE OF THE JOB & COMPLEXITY
- Prioritising workloads to meet deadlines.
- Recognising potentially negative issues on social media and knowing when to act to ensure these are managed appropriately.
- Identifying issues of concern and reporting to line manager.
- Solving problems.
- Writing well and using the appropriate tone of voice.
- Using and interpreting analytics.
- Finding the social media angle in a story and communicating this appropriately.
- Making decisions with best use of budget in mind.
- Devising different approaches to communications campaigns.
CONTACTS
Internal:Staff at various levels within the College, current students, former students, Students’ Association
External:Agency and partner organisations, former students
EDUCATIONAL/VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- HND level qualification (or equivalent) in a relevant subject.
Desirable
- Degree qualification or equivalent in a relevant subject
SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
Essential
- Thorough knowledge of digital communications
- A high standard of literacy.
- Good, clear writing skills, with an ability to select tone of voice for different audiences
- Ability to convey messages in social media friendly formats
- Well organised and efficient.
- Confident communication skills.
- Excellent attention to detail and able to proofread own work
- Organised, professional, customer focused, a team player and a good communicator who can work well under pressure to meet tight deadlines and ensure all projects are delivered in a timely and effective manner.
- Knowledge of MS Office packages
Desirable
- Previous experience in a busy communications team
CREATIVITY
Ability to bring a creative approach to communications projects
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
The post may include activities which lie out-with ‘normal’ opening hours, including evenings and weekends. Accordingly, a degree of flexibility in working hours may be required.