Communications Executive

Oxitec; Abingdon; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A biotechnology company in the UK is seeking a Communications Executive to manage global communications, draft materials, and coordinate campaigns. The role involves vendor management, content creation, and ensuring consistent messaging across channels. Ideal candidates will possess excellent writing skills and experience in corporate communications. The position requires flexibility and the ability to work across various time zones, with a hybrid work model expected in Milton Park.

Qualifications

• Experience in corporate or program communications, delivering multichannel content.
• Outstanding writing skills to turn complex topics into clear content.
• Demonstrated vendor coordination experience in a multi-stakeholder environment.

Responsibilities

• Draft and edit corporate materials including press releases and blogs.
• Coordinate global product/program launch communications.
• Manage vendor relations and content calendars across various channels.

Skills

Corporate communications

Writing and editing

Vendor coordination

Administrative skills

Time management

Digital media familiarity

Job description

About Us

We are a team of passionate individuals, developing ground‑breaking biological technologies designed to sustainably, and safely control pests that transmit disease, destroy crops and harm livestock. We do this work to improve lives and livelihoods around the world in the face of the growing threats that pests pose to human health and the global food supply. One of our aims is to revolutionize how growers manage pests — moving away from blanket pesticide applications to precise, actionable insights powered by IoT sensors and advanced analytics.

Whilst what we do relates to developing pest control technologies, Oxitec is about people and is in service to people.

We are strongly committed to a set of values, principles, and behaviours, and foster a culture of trust, respect, creativity, and accountability. Click here to learn more, and here to read our CEO’s blog about trust and our culture.

Purpose of the Job

The Communications Executive is an organised, hands‑on operator who keeps our global communications engine running day to day. You’ll draft high‑quality content, manage vendors and freelancers, and coordinate campaigns and deliverables across corporate and program teams. You’ll support reputation‑building, product/program launches, and issues/crisis readiness - helping to translate strategy into timely, well‑executed outputs.

This role is pivotal in ensuring Oxitec’s voice is clear, consistent, and impactful across global audiences.

Key Responsibilities

Corporate Communications Execution

• Draft and edit corporate materials (press releases, media statements, executive blogs, op‑eds, Q&A, fact sheets, talking points, boilerplates).
• Maintain our messaging house and narrative documents; ensure consistency across channels and geographies.
• Coordinate global product/program launch communications, working with program leads and vendors on milestones, assets, and timelines.
• Support issues/crisis readiness: keep media engagement materials and stakeholder Q&A up to date; track potential risks and coordinate responses.

Program Level Communications

• Work with country/program teams to localise materials and secure approvals; ensure community‑engagement alignment and culturally appropriate messaging.
• Coordinate translations.

Vendor, Agency & Freelancer Management

• Draft briefs/SOWs, manage timelines and deliverables, track budgets, and organise onboarding.
• Maintain a roster of specialist vendors and partners (PR, creative, social, design, events, translation); run light RFPs as needed.

Content & Channel Operations

• Own the content calendar across web, social, media, and thought leadership; drive asset production (copy, visuals, short videos, decks) with designers/editors.
• Publish and QA updates to the website/newsroom and campaign pages; coordinate SEO/meta, and ensure brand consistency.
• Build and maintain our central asset library (logos, templates, imagery, b‑roll, consented field photos) with clear version control.

Media, Digital & Reporting

• Monitor media and social channels; track coverage, sentiment, and share of voice; produce regular dashboards and campaign reports.
• Maintain journalist, influencer, and partner lists; support basic press office tasks (inbound inquiries triage, interview prep, briefing docs).

Governance & Ways of Working

• Champion best practice use of brand guidelines across content and campaigns.

Required Skills & Experience

• Experience in corporate or program communications (agency and/or inhouse), delivering multichannel content and campaigns. (E)
• Outstanding writing and editing skills; able to turn complex technical or policy topics into clear, compelling copy. (E)
• Demonstrated vendor/agency coordination experience (briefs, timelines, budgets, QA) in a multi‑stakeholder environment. (E)
• Strong coordination: content calendars, approval workflows, asset tracking, and cross timezone coordination. (E)
• Practical familiarity with: website platforms, social platforms, basic design/editing tools, and media monitoring. (E)
• Excellent administrative, time management, and organisation skills. (E)
• Comfort working across scientific, regulatory, or public health contexts (D)

Behavioural Requirements

• Organised and detail‑oriented; able to keep multiple projects aligned without dropping balls.
• A self-starter who spots gaps, proposes solutions, and delivers results with minimal oversight.
• Strong interpersonal skills; builds trust with program teams, vendors, and leadership.
• Thrives while juggling multiple tasks and deadlines; calm under pressure.
• Committed to and passionate about Oxitec’s mission and values.
• Positive, humble, cooperative, and professional always.
• Responsive to the needs of an international business working across different time zones.
• Resilient and persistent in an innovative and constantly changing environment.

Please note that this role is hybrid, with the expectation to work from our Milton Park offices at least one day a week.

Oxitec is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.