Communications and Engagement Manager

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust; York and North Yorkshire; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is seeking a skilled Communications and Engagement Manager (Maternity Cover) to lead our Marine Programme’s communications strategy from York or Spurn. You will turn technical updates into compelling stories, oversee media activity, social content and campaigns, and shape audience engagement across our seas and coast for Yorkshire’s nature recovery.

The role requires excellent writing, editorial judgement and the ability to work collaboratively with partners, contractors

Qualifications

• Experience in developing and delivering communications strategies and campaigns.
• Ability to write clearly and edit content for diverse audiences.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience commissioning communications suppliers or working in environmental/charitable sector is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead marine communications and engagement for the programme.
• Write press releases and handle media enquiries.
• Plan social media, campaigns, websites, newsletters and publications.
• Evaluate impact and provide editorial guidance.
• Coordinate events and manage contractors such as filmmakers.

Job description

Communications and Engagement Manager: Marine (Maternity Cover)

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is one of the UK’s fastest growing nature conservation organisations and seeks to appoint a Communications and Engagement Manager (Maternity Cover).

This maternity cover role sits within our Marine Programme, reporting to the Marine Programme Manager and based in either York or Spurn, with hybrid working. Our mission is to drive nature’s recovery in Yorkshire across our land and at sea, and you will play a central part in telling the story of our marine work. Leading the Marine Programme’s communications and engagement, you will turn the technical updates, stories and images from our project teams into accurate, engaging content that inspires people to care about Yorkshire’s seas and coast, while making sure our marine activity supports the Trust’s wider priorities.

You will develop and deliver the Marine Programme’s communications and engagement strategy, annual plan and campaign plans, agreeing priorities project by project with programme managers. You will lead our marine social media, press and media activity, writing press releases, handling media enquiries and producing content for websites, newsletters and publications. Working closely with project teams, partners, The Wildlife Trusts and our central Communications and Engagement teams, you will plan our contribution to campaigns such as National Marine Week, support a programme of priority events, coordinate partnership communications and manage contractors such as filmmakers and photographers. You will also provide editorial advice to colleagues and evaluate the impact of our communications to shape future plans.

You will bring experience of developing and delivering communications strategies and campaigns, managing proactive and reactive media activity, and planning social media output for different audiences. You will be an excellent writer and editor, able to translate technical or complex information into clear, compelling stories, with sound judgement when handling sensitive issues. Strong organisational skills and attention to detail will help you manage competing priorities, approvals and deadlines, and you will be confident working collaboratively and influencing colleagues, partners and the public. Experience of commissioning communications suppliers, working in the environmental or charitable sector, or knowledge of marine conservation would be an advantage. A full UK driving licence and willingness to work occasional weekends and irregular hours are essential.

We want our people to flourish, just like nature, and so we are committed to creating a movement that recognises and truly values individual differences and identities. We value diversity and creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential.

We are also a member of the Disability Confident Scheme. This means we are committed to offering an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the post. Where a post is oversubscribed (i.e. there are more candidates meeting the minimum criteria than we can offer interviews to), we will carefully balance inviting a mix of the highest scoring disabled and non-disabled applicants.