The Dickson Poon School of Law seeks to appoint a Senior Communications Manager to lead and oversee the School’s internal and external communications activity, as well as its programme of external events. Reporting to the Head of External Engagement, the postholder will provide strategic communications advice and support to the School’s Executive Leadership Team, ensuring the delivery of effective communications, engagement and public relations activity that supports the School’s mission, vision and strategic priorities.

The successful candidate will lead the development and implementation of integrated communications and engagement strategies for staff, students and external audiences. They will ensure the effective dissemination of university-wide messaging on key strategic priorities, while identifying and promoting opportunities to raise the profile and reputation of the Law School. The role will lead on the creation and delivery of compelling content across a broad range of channels, including social media, website, podcasts, and videos. The postholder will identify and promote impactful research, student and staff success stories, ensuring communications are engaging, consistent, and audience focused.

As a member of the faculty’s External Engagement team, the postholder will line manage communications and events staff, fostering collaboration, professional development and best practice across both functions. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced communications professional with a strong track record of developing and delivering coordinated communications strategies, managing a team, and building stakeholder engagement. The successful candidate will combine strategic thinking with excellent operational delivery and a passion for communicating the impact of one of the world’s leading law schools.

This is a full time (35 hours per week), and you will be offered an indefinite contract. This is a hybrid working role and the post-holder will be expected to be on campus for a minimum of 2 days per week, in line with King’s hybrid working policy.

About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1.      First degree or equivalent, significant relevant experience within communications and/or media relations

2.      Excellent verbal and written communication skills including editing, proof-reading and managing content for a variety of formats such as the website, news stories, announcements, newsletters and social media

3.      Digital proficiency; experience of using a range of digital tools and platforms to support communications and event activity, including CRM systems, collaboration tools, content management systems and design software (e.g. Microsoft Dynamics, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Contensis CMS and Canva)

4.      Experience of absorbing and evaluating complex information from various sources to create clear and engaging content of delivering internal and external communications preferably within an academic, legal, or public sector environment

5.      Experience of influencing stakeholders, applying judgement, and identifying solutions to complex situations

6.      Self-motivated, and results oriented; with ability to use and interpret data to inform future activities and areas for improvement

7.      Demonstrable ability to work under pressure with strong time management and proven ability to deliver to tight and sometimes conflicting deadlines

8.      Demonstrable experience of line managing a high performing team; including developing staff, setting objectives, supporting performance and fostering a collaborative team culture and promoting professional standards.

Desirable criteria

1.      Experience of working in the higher education sector

2.      Experience of event management and event promotion

3.      Experience of creating and managing web content using content management systems, basic knowledge of HTML.

4.      Experience of brand/design development