Part 1: Job Description s1

PART 1: JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Internal Communications Officer

DEPARTMENT: External Affairs

TEAM: Internal Communications

LOCATION: Samaritans’ Central Office, Ewell, Surrey

1.  POSITION IN ORGANISATION

·  Reports to: Internal Communications Manager

·  Line manages: n/a

·  Contacts within and outside the organisation: works directly with all Central Office departments, in particular the There for Everyone, Volunteering, Operations, Media and OD/HR teams, and volunteers including the Chair of Trustees, Regional Directors and Branch Directors.

2.  MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB

Supports the delivery of Samaritans' internal communications strategy by producing high quality, effective and targeted internal communications including newsletters, online content and face to face communications, which inform and engage volunteers and staff.

3.  KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Plan, write and distribute volunteer staff communications (approx. 40% of role)

·  Plan content for a range of communications including a fortnightly staff newsletter, monthly volunteer newsletter, quarterly printed magazine, intranet and internal posters

·  Write clear, consistent and engaging copy and coordinate contributions from volunteers and staff, giving them a clear brief, editing their copy and managing the sign-off process

·  Design and distribute newsletters using MailChimp software, working with the HR and Volunteering teams to manage mailing lists, and monitoring open rates and click through rates

·  Work with the Brand and Design team and an appointed creative agency to coordinate the production of the quarterly magazine and distribute it to branches

·  Design posters for Central Office, the Nations offices and Regional Directors, using InDesign

·  Increase readership of, and engagement with volunteer and staff communications through cross-promotion and providing opportunities to contribute, get involved and provide feedback.

Support intranet overhaul project (approx. 50% of role)

·  Work with the There for Everyone team to overhaul the intranet by reviewing and rewriting existing content

·  Support teams across the organisation to streamline, update and reformat their intranet content.

Other internal communications support (approx. 10% of role)

·  Work with the Events Officer to collate and review slides/ content for six staff meetings each year, ensuring it is in line with Samaritans' brand guidelines

·  Provide ad hoc copywriting and editorial support to staff teams and senior volunteers

·  Support the development and delivery of new internal communications channels or resources

·  Act as a guardian for the Samaritans brand and champion it whenever and wherever possible.

General duties of a Samaritans’ staff member

·  Contribute to the effective and efficient running of Central Office

·  Participate, as appropriate, in staff forums and meetings

·  Adhere to Samaritans’ policies and procedures

·  Represent Central Office appropriately across the organisation and represent Samaritans appropriately to the wider community

·  Treat all colleagues, volunteers and members of the public with dignity and work within and adhere to Samaritans’ equal opportunities statement and policies

·  Carry out reasonable requests made within the broad remit of the role.

PART 2: PERSON SPECIFICATION

4.  SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

·  Experience of planning and writing internal communications or marketing communications

·  Confident communicator with excellent written and verbal communication skills

·  Strong copywriter and editor, with an eye for detail and the ability to communicate key messages in a clear and engaging way, particularly online content

·  Proven ability to work in a fast-paced environment and deliver content for multiple channels and projects concurrently

·  Well-organised and able to manage and prioritise own workload to meet deadlines

·  Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with staff and volunteers at all levels

·  IT literate and fully conversant with all basic Microsoft packages.

Desirable

·  Previous experience of working for a charity or not for profit organisation and/or with volunteers would be an advantage

·  Previous experience of writing for intranets or websites preferable

·  Experience of using MailChimp and InDesign.

5.  QUALIFICATIONS

·  Educated to degree level or equivalent in a communications or marketing discipline is preferable, but equivalent experience will be considered.

6.  PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

·  Able to deal with people in a diplomatic and sensitive manner

·  Emotionally resilient and able to work with sensitive subject material

·  Empathises with Samaritans’ values

·  Flexible approach to scope of work, able to pitch in and support the team when required

·  Willing and able to undertake occasional out of hours working when required.

Signed by employee:______Date: ______

LAST UPDATED: January 2018

This job description is a statement of requirements at the time of writing and is not contractual. It should not be seen as precluding future changes after appointment to this role.