Marketing and Communications Manager (11-2022)

Hours per week: Part Time, 28.000 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Grade: Grade 7
Salary: £37362 to £49384  per annum pro rata
Closing Date: 23.59 hours BST on Monday 06 June 2022
Interview Date: 22/06/2022

Who We Are

The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) is a global leading institution for research, teaching and learning, and impact and communications, based at the University of Sussex.  We are ranked first in the world for development studies by the QS University Rankings, together with the University of Sussex. We are also ranked best international development policy think tank.

Our Vision

Our vision is of equal and sustainable societies, locally and globally, where people everywhere can live their lives free from poverty and injustice. We contribute to this by transforming the knowledge, action and leadership needed through our world-class research, learning and teaching.

Our Values

We aim to ensure that our core values based on respect, resourcefulness, excellence and inclusivity are reflected in the environment we work in. 

Our Commitments 

•           Upholding climate and environmental justice 

•           Reducing extreme inequities 

•           Fostering healthy and fulfilling lives 

•           Nurturing inclusive, democratic and accountable societies 

Our Priorities

•           Collaborate across sciences, sectors and communities to do research that brings about progressive change

•           Build future leadership for development

•           Champion the use of evidence for social and environmental justice

•           Work with partners to expand international research and mutual learning networks for development

•           Create a sustainable, resilient and equitable institution.


For more information go to: www.ids.ac.uk


 

Job Description

Job Title: Marketing and Communications Manager
Responsible to: Head of Communications and Engagement
Line management responsibility for: Communications Support Officer – Events and Digital content

This role is within the IDS Communications and Engagement Team (CET) which exists to build awareness, consideration and engagement with the institute, its research, publications, and partnerships. The CET has a pivotal role to play in supporting the institute to achieve its strategic objectives, above all in delivering world class marketing and communications campaigns that increases the impact of the institute and contributes to its sustainability and financial resilience.

The CET’s key activities include maintaining the IDS website and social media presence; delivering the IDS event programme; teaching marketing campaigns; policy engagement; research communications; and, overall, managing IDS' reputation with key audiences from students to partners, policy makers to the media. The team works closely with IDS senior leadership, researchers, the IDS Knowledge and Impact Cluster (KIP), IDS Fundraising and Development Office (FDO), external stakeholders and partners to produce a wide range of content from the IDS Bulletin to IDS Policy Briefings, IDS website to IDS social media. The team is highly effective with, each quarter on average, CET activity contributing to more than 300,000 views, interactions, downloads or click throughs with IDS content contributing to the financial sustainability of the institute by encouraging student applications, partnerships, and direct fundraising.

Marketing and Communications Manager
This is a senior role within the CET with responsibility to lead implementation and development of IDS marketing strategy, including digital marketing in support of fundraising, student recruitment, professional development learning and short course propositions. They will be the overall editor for the IDS website and social media channels with responsibility to implement strategies that improve reach and impact of these digital channels over time. In addition, the post holder will work closely with the Head of Communications and Engagement to deliver IDS corporate communications including leading on the Annual Review.

The postholder will be expected to grow the direct response generated by integrated marketing campaigns, the IDS website and social media, using data analytics and reporting metrics to evaluate, identify audience trends and market opportunities to improve effectiveness. Results will be evaluated in terms of awareness (audience reach, interaction and policy reference) alongside direct response (student applications, fundraising income and partnership expansion). The success of this role is fundamental to IDS’ financial resilience and positioning in the competitive international development teaching and learning marketplace.

The post holder will be the Institute’s specialist in marketing communications and champion knowledge sharing for innovation across IDS. They will work closely with colleagues at all levels of the Institute and with external stakeholders.

They will line manage the Communications Support Officer (Digital and Events), and matrix manage the Digital Marketing Officer and two Communications Assistants. This role will also require management of third-party suppliers such as digital marketing and website development agencies.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Marketing activities (50%)


•Champion the application of marketing strategy in the development of marketing and communications activities across IDS.
•Be the IDS brand ambassador ensuring the IDS brand is applied consistently and in line with evolving best practise guidelines including around accessibility.
•Manage the IDS website including monitoring performance, identifying opportunities to improve engagement and managing the third-party web development agency.
•Oversee the IDS social media channels including Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin and Facebook ensuring a regular content programme and applying a strategic approach to improve audience engagement.
•Lead the maintenance and development of the IDS Google Data Studio working with CET, KIP and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) colleagues to share insights and improve reporting of communications impact (within IDS and with partners)
•Lead on dedicated marketing campaigns to increase student applications to IDS including Masters, PhD, accompanied learning with organisations, and specialist short courses.
•Work closely with the IDS teaching, fundraising and development office to identify opportunities for marketing promotion
•Lead our work with the University of Sussex marketing team to identify, develop and deliver joint student campaigns.
•Lead on the production of marketing collateral as required – including brochures, prospectus, case studies and presentation templates.

Communications activities (35%)


•Manage IDS corporate communications output including development of the IDS Annual Review and Annual Report for the Charities Commission.
•Write and copyedit content for key publications and outputs such as IDS Opinions and Policy Briefings to improve quality and impact.
•Input to the quarterly CET Profile Report improving the awareness and understanding of marketing and communications strategy across the institute.

General responsibilities (15%)


•Line management of the Communications Support Officer – Events and Digital Content. To include organising weekly 121 to review progress against set objectives and supporting their career progression.
•Matrix management of the Digital Marketing Officer (with the Senior Health Convenor).
•Matrix management of the PT Communications Assistant (with the Hub Manager).
•Attend and contribute regular insight sessions at the IDS Strategic Communications Group
•Attend and contribute insights at the IDS Professional Development and Learning Steering Committee to help shape IDS learning services and maximise their potential for revenue generation.
•Contribute new ideas and innovations based on marketing sector change to the CET marketing and communications planning process supporting the ongoing evolution of activity.

 

Person Specification


Skills and experience
Selection Criteria Description Essential [E] or
Desirable [D]		 Assessed
by *
Education
A degree or relevant professional qualification; 8+ years’ experience in communications and marketing. E A
A professional qualification in marketing D A
Knowledge
Highly proficient in marketing strategy including using specialist market research to apply audience segmentation and trends analysis.

Understanding of brand management including brand implementation and development.

Highly proficient in using Microsoft applications (Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook); experience in website content management systems; and understanding of social media channel publishing tools.		 E A/I
Skills
Exceptional all-round communication skills, including verbal and written skills.

Strong stakeholder management skills – including working with senior leadership teams.

Strong organisational skills

Exceptional copy editing and proofreading skills		 E A/I
Experience
Marketing and communications experience

Experience of managing third party agencies

Line management experience		 E A/I
Attributes
A passionate, creative and data led marketing professional with a determination to make a difference – to IDS and to the development sector more broadly.

Ability to work well in a team and share ideas as well as take own initiative to identify then realise opportunities for marketing impact.
Highly organised with an ability to work to deadlines by setting priorities and managing work loads		 E A/I
*A - Application I - Interview
 

Information to Candidates

Benefits At IDS we offer a number of additional benefits to staff. These include:

Location
The successful candidate will be based at the Institute of Development Studies on the University of Sussex campus. The University of Sussex is located 10 minutes away from the lively and cosmopolitan seaside city of Brighton on the UK South Coast, 60 minutes away from central London, 30 minutes away from London Gatwick Airport and is surrounded by the beautiful countryside of the Sussex South Downs. Situated between the sea and the South Downs, Brighton is one of the most vibrant and unique cities on the South Coast, for more information please go to http://www.visitbrighton.com/

How to apply

Please apply using the online application form.