Senior Communications Manager

Job Description

Join us at Thomas Pocklington Trust

Thomas Pocklington Trust is a national charity dedicated to delivering positive change for people with sight loss.

Our values
  • Making a difference: The lives of people with visual impairments are better because of what we do.
  • Working in partnership: We work collaboratively together and with all our partners and stakeholders.
  • Respect: We treat people the way we would like to be treated.
  • Quality: We set clear goals and high standards and work efficiently and effectively to achieve them.
  • Participation: We place the participation of blind and partially sighted people at the heart of everything we do.

Thomas Pocklington Trust aims to be a fulfilling and enjoyable place to work; we know this enthusiasm plays a key role in delivering high quality services to our service users, we also recognise the crucial role each and every one of us plays in helping to achieve our goals

Role: Senior Communications Manager

Reporting to: Chief Operating Officer

Location: London Euston but the role will be expected to travel as required.

Salary: Competitive

Contract type: Permanent

Job overview: To manage the work of our communications team and oversee activities across various communication channels and functions.

Key responsibilities:

Strategic leadership

  • Work with Chief Operating Officer to develop and deliver a communication strategy across the entire spectrum of communication disciplines including: media and public relations, brand marketing, advertising, marketing, digital and social media and production of materials
  • Report on and analyse all aspects of communications
  • Develop key messages, lead on creating and maintaining appropriate and consistent language and terminology across all media
  • Act as a ‘brand guardian’ ensuring consistency across all internal and external communications
  • Identify issues that could potentially damage the organisation’s reputation and recommend actions to mitigate this risk
  • Keep up to date on best practice within the charity sector generally and particularly changes to communications innovation, legislation and codes of practice

Publications

  • Lead on copy-writing and production of marketing materials and key publications including Annual Review
  • Design, copy-write and distribute regular e-bulletins to promote publications, programme activities, events and other key information
  • Oversee the management of a case study database

Website

  • Work with other departments on the development and management of the website and blog, including generating content, making improvements to functionality, maximising its potential, working with communication champion’s and monitoring performance.

Social media

  • Manage and expand social media presence, sourcing and sharing newsworthy information from across the charity. Produce regular reports detailing social media activity to share with staff.

Publicity and media

  • Increase the organisation’s profile across media, and with influencers and organisations
  • Act as a spokesperson when necessary
  • Develop relationships with target media representatives
  • Write releases, articles and statements
  • Respond to requests from the press for comments, views and supporting information and maximise opportunities for further engagement on relevant topics
  • Supervise and advise other team members in their drafting of communications plans and statements

Internal communications

  • Work with the people development team to ensure communications with colleagues is developed and there is an understanding of the charity's work and needs of its users
  • Provide training to staff on branding where necessary and ensure staff are well briefed on key communications issues
  • Analyse all aspects of communications on a quarterly basis and prepare a report to present

Staff and supplier management

  • Manage staff, volunteers and interns within the communications team.
  • Manage relationships with suppliers of services essential to communication work

Finances

  • Oversee the budget for the communications department.

Other

  • Take an active part in the charity’s external events
  • Participate in cross-functional projects

Special Requirements

The post will involve lone working and some working out of normal office hours. A willingness to work in an environment with Guide Dogs is essential. The post will also involve extensive local, and some national travel.

Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) is a charity established to provide services for visually impaired people: our mission is to improve the lives of people living with sight loss.

TPT is registered with the Disability Confident Scheme as a Disability Confident Committed employer. Therefore we believe in treating all employees fairly and we are committed to recruiting equally. TPT’s charitable objective and aim is to support visually impaired individuals back into work. For this reason we are actively seeking applications from all backgrounds including disabled/visually impaired individuals and people who have lived experience of sight loss. We also guarantee all disabled applicants that reach the minimum appointment criteria an interview. We are happy to accept applications from all suitably qualified persons who have the appropriate skills and talent regardless of their age, gender, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or marital status.

Person specification

Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) is a charity established to provide services for visually impaired people: our mission is to improve the lives of people living with sight loss.

This role has been created with visually impaired persons in mind, in furtherance of TPT’s charitable objectives, and aims to support visually impaired individuals back into work. For this reason we are actively seeking applications from visually impaired individuals and people who have lived experience of sight loss. We strongly encourage applicants to detail such experience in the written applications and at interview. We also guarantee all disabled applicants that reach the minimum appointment criteria an interview.

Criteria / Standard / Essential / Desirable
Experience / Communication and marketing experience in the charity sector / Desirable
Media management experience and competency / Essential
Excellent communication skills, proven in both writing and verbally. / Essential
Experience of managing people / Essential
Campaign management experience / Essential
Experience of working in partnership with other organisations / Essential
Possess an understanding of the needs of blind and partially sighted people / Essential
Effective organisational skills / Essential
Ability to work independently and as part of a small team / Essential
An ability to deliver effective presentations / Essential
Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage own workload, work independently and achieve results without close supervision / Essential
Experience of strategic and operational decision – making / Essential
Ability to write copy and press releases / Essential
Experience of pulling together case studies through different mediums: radio etc. / Essential
A commitment to work in accordance with the principles of equality and diversity / Essential
A flexible approach and willingness to learn and develop / Essential

How to apply

Step 1: Complete an Application form and Equal Opportunities monitoring form.

Step 2: Email to:

(Please ensure you include the Job title within the subject heading)

Closing date: 9 March 2018

Interview date: TBC

All relevant forms can be found on the Pocklington vacancies page.

1