Marine Protected Areas

Marine Protected Areas

Campaign Team

Recruitment Information Pack

Campaign Communicator

“UK seas have been under increasing pressure for years, leading to loss of wildlife, food to eat and other great things that the sea provides. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are one of the most important means to reverse this loss, so that wildlife and fisheries can thrive.

The window of influence is now. MCS is stepping up by appointing a dedicated campaigns team, taking the unique once in a lifetime opportunity to influence the management of our seas forever

MCS has effectively lobbied with passion for the establishment and wise management of marine protected areas. We are committed to ensuring the designation of a UK network of effectively managed MPAs by 2020, which will secure a world class network of sites. But we need to ensure these MPAs are plentiful and fit for purpose, and that their effective management ensures they become more meaningful than just lines on maps.

Out of sight and out of mind to many, we want the benefits of MPAs to be better understood and supported by those that depend on them. We want people to feel ownership of our seas as they do of our woods and forests.

We want to ensure the MCS presence, influence and efficacy in public and political spheres makes our proposals for MPAs represent obvious win-win scenarios.

The campaigns team will work alongside the highly professional expertise and knowledge of our established wildlife, policy and communications teams. The team is tasked with inspiring and mobilising action from the public, communities, political and other stakeholders in support of our cause. Innovative communications and compelling messages are key to engaging our audiences in this exciting venture.

It’s an exciting time to join MCS so to join me in this team you will need to be an excellent, innovative communicator, experienced campaigner, be enterprising and fundamentally a great team player.

If you would like to talk to me about any of the roles, please telephone 01989 561574 and we’ll set up a time to speak.

Carrie Hume

Director of Conservation & Campaigns

Job Description

1. Post:

Job title / Campaign Communications Officer
Start date / January 2016
Period of contract / 2 Year Fixed Term

2. Reporting structure

Responsible to: / Senior Campaigner
Responsible for: / 0

3. Overall purpose and objectives

To create, develop and implement a compelling and innovative communications plan to mobilise mass support for MCS campaigns to establish a world class network of Marine Protected Areas in UK seas.

4. Key responsibilities

·  Under the leadership of the Senior Campaigner assist in the development, refinement and execution of MCS MPA campaign plans.
·  Lead on the development of an integrated MPA communications plan which reflects our ambitions for MPAs across the UK and takes account of diverse ways of working and audiences, acting as an advocate when needed.
·  Identify and deliver outcomes that better communicate why MPAs are important, their history, the role MCS has played in securing them and the importance of effective management into the future.
·  Work with the Senior Campaigner, and others in MCS and external agencies and partners, to shape and develop MPA related material.
·  Investigate, recommend and subsequently develop new online platforms and toolkits for housing our MPA information to reach both existing and new audiences.

5. Main duties

Under the leadership of the Senior Campaigner Marine Protected Areas assist in the development, refinement and execution of MCS MPA campaign plans.

·  Contribute to team and campaign planning at all levels as requested by the Senior Campaigner.

Write an integrated MPA communications plan which reflects MCS ambitions for MPAs across the UK and takes account of diverse ways of working and audiences, acting as an advocate when needed.

·  Guide how the communication possibilities of different campaign options could work to the advantage or disadvantage of that campaign, using supporter insight knowledge.

·  Take the agreed portfolio of campaigns activities and lead, in consultation with MCS Communication Team, on the crafting and delivery of supporting communications materials.

·  Be an active and public advocate through various media in relation to MCS MPA campaigns as and when required.

·  Develop an internal communications plan and lead on ensuring internal communications are timely and inspiring.

·  Utilise and grow our existing MPA activist and other supporter bases to develop their contribution to MPA campaigns using insights and knowledge from our activities.

Identify and work towards outcomes that better communicate why MPAs are important, their history, the role MCS has played in securing them and the importance of effective management into the future.

·  Undertake ongoing assessment of how MCS communicates about ‘the MPA story’, the tools used and their relative success.

·  Undertake ongoing assessment of the tools and techniques that a range of other organisations have used to communicate complex stories and gain buy-in to their cause.

·  Lead an analysis of how to make marine matter to a wider supporter base, for the purpose of delivering our MPA campaigns.

·  Investigate what kind of language appeals to different audiences and their value base, tapping into public interests in marine life.

·  Make recommendations on how to frame MCS general communications about MPAs and embed these within our campaign approach.

·  Assist with the sell-in of MPA stories, being prepared to brief journalists, colleagues and others as needed.

Work with the Senior Campaigner, others in MCS and external agencies and partners, to shape and develop MPA related material.

·  As detailed in the MPA campaign portfolio and associated communications plan, lead on the development of specific outputs identifying exploring and securing potential partners and service providers in this purpose.

·  Establish and service an internal working group that ensures creativity from within MCS and partners where appropriate is captured and capitalized on.

Investigate, recommend and subsequently develop new online platforms and toolkits for housing our MPA information to reach both existing and new audiences.

·  Lead on the development of new websites and other online and offline techniques to secure exposure and buy-in to our MPA campaigns asks as campaigns unfold.

·  Utilize and if need be instigate the generation of supporter insight material to guide how to reach out to new audiences.

·  Produce a new platform/website that can be readily utilized by MCS beyond the lifespan of our MPA campaigns, if need be training MCS staff in how to do this.

·  Ensure that the range of existing MCS MPA related communications material (including but not limited to Seasearch) is morphed into and updated through this mechanism.

·  Ensure that all of our communications material as it relates to MPAs is well presented, and good quality.

6. Additional tasks

·  Ensure MCS is tapped into and actively learning from campaigning and campaigners forums

·  Explore avenues for funds generation associated with MPA campaigns and work with the Fundraising Team to this end.

7. Internal reporting

·  Inform the Senior Campaigner of developments and activities on an ongoing basis;

·  Produce an annual work plan

·  Maintain a detailed advance quarterly Work Plan or Online Calendar;

·  Input to a quarterly written report on activities and progress against targets for submission to the Board of Trustees;

·  Attend regular meetings with the Senior Campaigner as required under MCS Performance Management Policy;

·  Attend Departmental programme/team meetings and full team meetings as required;

8. General duties

·  Abide by the core values of MCS in all aspects of their work.

·  Support MCS’ strategies and initiatives to expand the organisation’s membership, raise funds and communicate the wider aims of MCS throughout their work.

·  Maintain the highest professional standards at all times, ensuring that all outputs are produced within agreed budgets, time scales and specifications.

·  Represent MCS externally, attending meetings, conferences and events as and when appropriate.

·  Assist with general enquiries on information and resources from MCS, when necessary.

·  Act responsibly in terms of the health, safety and welfare of yourself and colleagues, acting in accordance with our Health & Safety Policy and Procedures, and the policies as set out in the Employee Handbook.

The duties and responsibilities highlighted in this Job Description are indicative and may vary over time. Post holders are expected to undertake other reasonable duties and responsibilities relevant to the nature, level and scope of the post as advised by the Senior Campaigner Marine Protected Areas.

9. Working relationships

Internal
Internal / Work effectively with MCS Communications Team and other staff as required
Volunteers / Work with the Head of Volunteer and Community Engagement to explore utilization of our volunteer base for campaigning ends. Communicate directly with volunteers when required.
External
External consultants / Manage contracts with marketing consultants and PR agencies when required.
External stakeholders / Work effectively with a range of stakeholders as defined through campaign engagement plans and agreed with the Senior Campaigner.

10. Working environment

Travel / Required to travel occasionally, with overnight stays, spending around 20-30 days away from the office each year to attend meetings including some weekends.
Other / Dependent on location, role will involve communications within the local and wider MCS team via video/telephone conferencing

11. Dimensions and Limits of Authority

Budget / Can authorise expenditure up to £50 without pre-approval.
Management / N/A
Strategy / Responsible for leading communications aspects of MCS MPA Campaigns
Policy / N/A
Outputs / Responsible for the production of all communications material that relates to MCS MPA campaigns

12. Person specification

Essential / Desirable
Proven ability and competencies / Proven ability to write compelling and persuasive narrative drawn from a diverse range of source material that can be effectively tailored for various audiences.
Experience of working on campaigns within the charitable sector.
Proven ability to develop and deliver communications plans.
Proven project management skills.
Detailed insight into the utilisation of social media tools for the purposes of campaigning, including knowledge of emerging platforms.
Proven ability to creatively work with a diverse range of highly professional individuals in a cross cutting team environment.
Experience of working with consultants and contractors to develop communications material, concepts and other material. / Experience of or working understanding of marine issues.
Experience in using project management and campaign development tools and an understanding of the efficacy of different campaign tactics.
Other skills and abilities / Experience of developing or designing websites, or working with others to achieve this.
Proven ability to develop impactful communications material and to have been an effective public advocate
Communication skills that are adaptable to different audiences and guided by insights into motivational language for key audiences and their values.
An adaptable and positive outlook which enthuses at all levels.
A decisive and quick thinker / Knowledge of fundraising to support charitable work.
Qualifications, training and Knowledge / Qualified to a degree level in any relevant discipline.
At least 2 years experience of leading the communications work of a project or organization. / Holds a relevant certificate that demonstrates ability to design and develop websites and/or associated online material and platforms.
Personal Qualities / Good team player, who is approachable and can problem solve and help others to do so.
An adaptable individual who is innovative, receptive to and respectful of others ideas and thinks quickly on their feet.

How to apply

You are invited to complete the application form which you can download from our Jobs webpage http://www.mcsuk.org/information/Jobs

The application form is in two parts – part 1 collects your personal information and part 2 asks for your relevant work history, your qualifications and a supporting statement where you can outline your background and experience for the role.

Part 1 is separated and does not form part of the shortlisting process so please return the application form to us in a format that we can edit (so not a pdf).

Along with the rest of your experience, we are particularly interested in your supporting statement. Here we are looking for information which relates to the job description and person specification, so please refer closely to both when completing this section. Your statement should include examples of your work or experience to evidence how you meet the job criteria and person specification and what skills you bring which would make you successful in the role.

Please return your completed application forms by email to and ensure the role you are applying for is in the subject line.

Interviews are usually held at our offices in Ross-on-Wye and you may be requested to prepare a task in advance, or take part in an activity as part of the assessment process – full details will be provided to you in the invitation to interview. If you required any reasonable adjustments to allow you to take part fully in the interview process, do let us know on the application form.

All offers of employment are conditional, subject to the following:

·  candidates are required to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK and will be required to present original documents if invited for interview. Information will be provided as part of the invitation to attend an interview – you can read more on the Home Office UK Border Agency website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration

·  two references which are satisfactory to MCS.

If you would like to speak to us please call the HR team on 01989 561574

Working with our core values

We consistently define ourselves and are defined by others as:

·  Credible & influential

·  High achieving & dynamic

·  Honest (spin-free) & approachable

·  Passionate & committed.

Our values underpin everything that we do, motivate and sharpen our actions and form the basis from which our Vision and Mission are derived.

MCS - Our vision, our mission, our aims

Our vision

Seas Fit for Life – clean seas and coasts that support abundant marine wildlife, sustainable livelihoods and enjoyment for all.

Our mission

To drive change in government policy, industry practice and individual behaviour that results in measurable improvements in the state of our seas - improved biodiversity, healthier fish stocks and less pollution on beaches and in the sea.