External Communications Manager

THIS JOB HAS NOW CLOSED

The opportunity

University of the Arts London (UAL) is seeking a motivated and talented External Communications Manager to join our dynamic communications team. Reporting to the Head of External Communications you will play a crucial role in enhancing UAL’s reputation through press and our social media channels.  

You will use your proactive media skills to create relationships with journalists and influencers, source, develop and sell in stories to raise the profile of our impactful research, innovative practice and thought leadership, and build social purpose partnerships that can deliver on our strategic objectives.   

The post sits within the University’s recently formed Social Purpose Group. The group brings together communications, the new Social Purpose Lab, fundraising and UAL’s recently launched Storytelling Institute. Together, the group will enable UAL to change and shape the world for the better. 

The communications department is a collaborative, creative and inclusive team who understand the role of communications in championing the transformative power of creative education. We speak on behalf of the creative industries across all platforms and cultivate relationships with some of the country’s leading experts and opinion formers. 

The communications team has a vital role to play. We want to bring high quality education to more students than ever before and give our students the education they need to flourish in a changing world.  

This role is based at High Holborn, but is part of the wider Communications community at UAL. As a community, we are embarking on a transformation programme to become a single university-wide team which will improve the reach and impact of our communications.

About you

As an experienced communications professional, you will be able to demonstrate:

• Experience of success in similar management roles, fostering relationships with both internal and external stakeholders while consistently delivering impactful communication materials.
• A track record leading campaigns, crafting effective communication messages, and collaborating with journalists to secure media coverage.
• Skill in writing compelling copy, simplifying complex concepts, and nurturing a passion for our organisation’s purpose and values. 

Additionally, you will have exceptional organisational, planning, and project management skills, adept at forward-thinking, prioritisation, flexible and accurate execution even in high-pressure situations. 

Supporting colleagues across the University, you must be able to collaborate effectively with various teams across diverse professional disciplines.

If you have any queries about this role or need any reasonable adjustments for your application, please contact Hazel Bailey, Resourcing Adviser via email at Socialpurposestaffrecruitment@arts.ac.uk.

We are UAL

University of the Arts London (UAL) generates and inspires the creativity the world needs for a better future. Since 1842, our colleges have been defining creative education. With curiosity, imagination and intent we make work which creates lasting change for people and our planet. London is core to who we are, a place where we meet and share ideas with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Our creative network influences learning, culture, industry and society on a global scale. Our academics and practitioners deliver creative education and inspire new ways of thinking through research and innovation. We work with students at every level from pre-degree and short courses to postgraduate and online learning, enabling them to build the careers they want. Together, we are a community of makers, thinkers, pioneers and storytellers redesigning the future.

Our culture

We are a global University, welcoming over 22,000 students and 6,000 staff from 130 countries. We aim to be a university where people can be themselves and feel supported to reach their full potential. That’s why we are proud to be members of the Race Equality Charter (REC) and Business Disability Forum, are a Disability Confident Scheme Committed and Living Wage employer and maintain our status as a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

Application process

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Thus, you will need to create an account and submit an application through our job board. As part of this, you will need to provide a supporting statement/answer some competency questions to demonstrate your suitability. Our recruitment process involves: Application, Shortlisting, Interview and Assessment, Offer, Onboarding.

We understand the benefits of using AI in work. But, if you are thinking of using it to submit an application, we ask you to think about what value it adds. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

If we receive a high volume of applications, the closing day date might close early. We aim to communicate any changes to the closing date with at least 24 hours’ notice. If you have any general questions or have accessibility needs, please refer to our Contact us page.

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