About The Job. Department of Corporate Affairs Professional Services Interim Head of Internal Communications (Fixed Term) Pursue the extraordinary
Overview About the Department Corporate Affairs is a key professional service department of the University, supporting the delivery of its strategic priorities by producing quality marketing and communications that help to share the story of research excellence and a distinctive student experience. The department helps to ensure that the University has a clear and focused marketing and communications strategy that celebrates achievements, drives reputation and plays a key role in helping the University meet its ambitious aspirations to be a global leader. The Corporate Affairs aim is to develop marketing and communications that are relevant, engaging, focused and impactful locally, nationally and globally to build a positive reputation with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders. The team seeks to continually lead the way through innovation and creativity, to drive differentiation and produce communications with impact. Corporate Affairs comprises Marketing & Communications and Corporate Communications. The Marketing and Communications team coordinates fully integrated multi-channel marketing and communications both internally and externally to ensure key messages are articulated in line with the University s vision. The team encompasses Marketing Campaigns, Internal Communications, Media & PR and Digital Engagement. Job Role Transparent, timely and engaging internal communications are fundamental for any organisation, and imperative for one which believes in being extraordinary. At the University of Sheffield we want to do even more to support strong two-way internal communications, building on our credentials as a great place to work that nurtures and develops exceptional talent. The Interim Head of Internal Communications is responsible for developing and implementing internal communications plans for the University to support our strong culture and high levels of staff engagement. You will be passionate about using the effective delivery of informative, engaging and inspiring communications to help staff want to become strong advocates of its vision and values. You will work in close collaboration with academic and Professional Services colleagues, particularly Human Resources, to ensure that colleagues have the opportunity to be actively and positively engaged with the University s strategy, plans and activities. You will provide leadership to the Internal Communications team, managing, motivating and developing them to meet and exceed communication goals and objectives. You will also develop effective working
relationships with other senior colleagues and internal communicators across the University to help co-ordinate and deliver a coherent and consistent approach. Working within the rest of the Marketing & Communications team, you will champion new and creative ways of reaching and engaging colleagues and will use these effectively alongside traditional forms of communication such as face-to-face engagement. You will provide professional and informed advice and guidance on all aspects of internal communications, and support the dissemination of strategic priority campaigns and stories to our internal audience. This is an exciting opportunity to develop and implement exciting and impactful internal communications at the University of Sheffield during a six-month interim period. Reporting to the Head of Marketing & Communications, and responsible for the Internal Communications team, the Interim Head of Internal Communications will: Plan, lead, execute and measure internal communications plans and support a wide range of integrated marketing initiatives and projects to contribute to the effective implementation of the University s communications strategy that enhances reputation and engagement. Contribute to the delivery of the Corporate Affairs plans and objectives by ensuring the successful delivery of internal communications and activities, using appropriate channels and platforms and ensuring frequent and ongoing measurement and evaluation. Work with senior management and colleagues in Human Resources, to support the development of an open, honest and transparent culture to drive staff advocacy. Job Description Main Duties and Responsibilities Assist the Head of Marketing & Communications in the strategic planning of an integrated marketing and communications plan to help deliver the defined objectives and support the communication of key strategic priorities. Develop a set of measurable and relevant metrics and KPIs against the marketing and communications plan and work towards their successful achievement. Communicate progress regularly with key stakeholder groups. Lead the planning and implementation of the Internal Communications plan, managing the team to successfully deliver against agreed objectives, within budget and on time. Ensure appropriate team working across the wider Marketing & Communications Team to support key strategic campaigns, identifying the required input from the Internal Communications team, managing resources effectively
and in harmony, to deliver successful integrated campaigns. Build and maintain strong and proactive relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders as appropriate, including members of UEB, PSE, Faculty Directors, Heads of Departments, key city contacts and other relevant stakeholders. Create a strong network of contacts to stay informed of key priorities and activities across all departments. Support the Vice-Chancellor s Office in activities relating to Vice-Chancellor and University Executive Board communications. Be influential in proactively ensuring marketing and communications are seen as an important aspect in support of the University s overall strategy. Lead on developing a mechanism for two-way internal communication to encourage staff engagement and an informed employee voice, ensuring that communication is effective, timely and joined-up across the University. Develop a clear set of internal communications guidelines and develop ways of sharing and promoting best practice in internal communications to colleagues across the University. Develop, manage and monitor the University s internal communications channels, including the staff e-newsletter, staff webpages and social media platforms. Manage and provide direction to the staff who update these channels. Write, edit and proofread material for use across a wide-range of internal communication channels. Working with relevant senior managers and Heads of Departments to implement change management communications. Provide strategic advice about internal communications for University-wide projects which may have potential or actual negative and/or sensitive impacts. Lead on internal communications matters for crisis communication situations. Advise and provide hands-on support for incident management teams as required as part of the Incident Communications process. Be innovative and creative in identifying new opportunities for internal communications, making recommendations based on evidence and insight, and ensuring successful implementation of any new initiatives. Manage and monitor the Internal Communications budget ensuring sufficient funding and resources to achieve objectives. Communicate and report on progress against objectives, including producing presentations, reports and communications plans. Produce regular briefing materials for the Head of Marketing & Communications. Lead, manage or contribute to strategic projects, for Corporate Affairs, across other Faculties and/or departments or University-wide, as required, working closely with the Head of Marketing & Communications, Head of Media & PR, Head of Marketing Campaigns & Insight and Head of Digital Engagement.
Be the University s brand ambassador and custodian, driving appropriate usage by ensuring accurate and consistent representation, to create a professional and powerful image for all marketing and communications. Lead and attend all required meetings across the department, University and externally as necessary, representing Corporate Affairs in a professional manner. Some involvement in customer/staff facing activity and events, occasionally outside of usual office hours. Manage external agencies and suppliers, including any contracts and review processes, ensuring best value. Plan and manage any external or interim resource requirements in advance to ensure successful delivery of objectives, if required. Manage and develop the Internal Communications team. Ensure tasks and activities are appropriately planned and allocated to ensure successful implementation. Provide guidance and direction when needed, set objectives and regularly monitor progress and undertake formal appraisals. Work closely with the Head of Marketing & Communications, Head of Media & PR, Head of Marketing Campaigns & Insight and Head of Digital Engagement to ensure effective resource allocation for integrated marketing and communications activity. Any other duties, commensurate with the grade of the post Person Specification Applicants should provide evidence in their applications that they meet the following criteria. We will use a range of selection methods to measure candidates abilities in these areas including reviewing your on-line application, seeking references, inviting shortlisted candidates to interview and other forms of assessment action relevant to the post. Criteria Essential Desirable Qualifications and experience 1. Have a good honours degree in Communications/Marketing/Business/Journalism or a related subject or equivalent experience 2. Chartered status or postgraduate qualification in a related subject (or equivalent experience, or be studying towards it) 3. Demonstrate a detailed understanding and knowledge of external and internal communications techniques 4. Proven experience in planning and implementing communications, demonstrating the use of the most appropriate and relevant channels for the audience (including digital), and developing and trialing
innovative new techniques in a timely and effective way 5. Knowledge and experience of marketing and communications within the HE sector and/or a consumer/commercial environment 6. Experience of undertaking analysis and evaluation of projects, campaigns and activity to measure performance against agreed objectives and identify areas for improvement or change 7. Ability to provide specialist knowledge, guidance and support to colleagues relating to internal communications, including crisis/incident and change management communications 8. Demonstrate a flair for creativity and innovation, alongside excellent attention to detail (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and written skills 9. Appreciate wider issues or developments affecting the HE sector, that could impact upon the product and service offer Communication skills 10. Be a confident and influential communicator, able to develop relationships at any level both internally and externally with a wide range of stakeholder groups 11. Demonstrate confidence in presenting information to others through various written and verbal communications methods, including at external events and chairing meetings 12. Have excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate at all levels and provide a positive and proactive attitude to interacting with others 13. Have the ability to influence others, including those at a senior level, demonstrating trust, reliability and expertise in marketing and communications 14. Be able to challenge constructively, demonstrating knowledge, reason and sound rationale, considering the opinions of others but being confident in own ability Team working 15. Ability to build, develop and maintain effective team working and relationships at all levels using a collaborative approach, identifying and seeking key relationships to enable the successful achievement of the department s goals Supporting staff performance 16. Experience of reviewing individual/team progress and performance and embedding organisational strategy into individual performance planning
17. Ability to motivate high performance in others 18. Ability to provide effective line management to a team, including coaching and mentoring, objective setting, support and guidance as required Problem solving and decision making 19. Be confident, proactive and adaptive in problem solving and decision-making across a wide range of situations, not just relating to marketing and communications 20. Be able to think strategically across the department and for wider University initiatives, to formulate plans and proposals for development and improvement, and implement with speed and pace 21. Ability to independently propose and implement improvements to processes and tasks, using evidence and without supervision or senior input, where necessary Project management 22. Ability to plan and organise long term team budgets, tasks and responsibilities, setting appropriate and relevant objectives and measures 23. Ability to develop, implement and monitor processes for the successful delivery of plans and projects, including supporting others outside of the department 24. Ability to plan and organise own time and work independently, and manage team and external resource as required, within budget and in advance 25. Ability to prioritise own and team workload independently according to size and complexity of project or task and manage conflicting deadlines as required, providing support for team when necessary 26. Ability to manage complex projects, often with wider cross-functional responsibility 27. Experience of leading, planning and organising internal and external meetings and events 28. Proven extensive experience of a range of project management approaches Resource management 29. Ability to plan and organise appropriate resources for the successful implementation and delivery of tasks and projects 30. Extensive experience of planning and managing a budget, contributing to the planning of larger departmental budgets 31. Experience in managing supplier relationships (e.g. agencies) to ensure
best-value terms and outcome, including long-term and high value contracts Personal effectiveness 32. Experience of developing and maintaining a network of contacts throughout own work area 33. Experience of adapting own skills to new circumstances Further Information This post is fixed-term with a start date of 20 July 2015 and an end date of 18 December 2015. This post is full-time: This role has been identified as a full-time post, but we are committed to exploring flexible working opportunities with our staff which benefit both the individual and the University (See http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/hr/guidance/flexible/arrangements). Therefore, we would consider flexible delivery of the role subject to meeting the business needs of the post. If you wish to explore flexible working opportunities in relation to this post, please contact the recruiting department via the contact details provided below. Benefits Terms and conditions of employment: Will be those for Grade 8 staff. Salary for this grade: 38,511 per annum pro-rata. More details on salaries, terms and conditions and our wide range of benefits for staff are available at www.sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/staffbenefits. Closing date: Monday 22 June 2015 Informal enquiries: For informal enquiries about this job and department, contact: Jacqui Robinson, Head of Marketing & Communications on jacqui.robinson@sheffield.ac.uk or on 0114 222 8903. Health assessment: Please note that due to the duties of this post, the final appointment will be subject to the completion of a satisfactory health assessment from the University Staff Occupational Health Service. For all online application system queries and support, visit: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/applying Selection-Next Step
Following the closing date, you will be informed by email whether or not you have been shortlisted to be invited to participate in the next stage of the selection process. Please note that due to the large number of applications that we receive, it may take up to two working weeks following the closing date before the recruiting department will be able to contact you. It is anticipated that interviews will be held during week commencing 29 June 2015. Full details will be provided to invited candidates. The University of Sheffield is committed to achieving excellence through inclusion. The University of Sheffield is proud to be a Two Ticks employer www.sheffield.ac.uk/hr/equality/support/twoticks Professional Services have achieved the Investors in People Standard