Communications Officer

SRUC; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in agricultural and rural research seeks a Communications Officer to enhance its profile among stakeholders and students. The role involves promoting research and education through effective communication strategies and media engagement. Candidates should have a relevant degree and experience in PR or journalism, with a focus on strategic planning and media relations.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Enhanced pension contributions

Cycle to work scheme

Discounted RAC Membership

Generous family leave

Hybrid working solutions

Tailored investment in learning and development

Qualifications

• Proven skills in PR and/or journalism setting.
• Experience in strategic planning, target setting, evaluation, and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Write press releases and pitch stories to various media.
• Support SRUC’s strategic objectives in communications.
• Compile monthly and annual media coverage reports.

Skills

Strategic Planning

Communication

Media Relations

Education

SQCF level 9 (e.g. Bachelors/Ordinary Degree)

Job description

Please enter your search criteria below and select Search. To search for more than one item in a list, select the multiple criteria required using the keyboard keys 'Ctrl' or 'Shift'.

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications, experience, knowledge and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Based in Edinburgh, the Communications team promotes the wide range of exciting news at SRUC, from its groundbreaking research to its innovative courses and inspiring students. The Communications Officer will play a key role in raising SRUC's profile among key stakeholders and prospective students.

The Opportunity:

The main purpose of this role is to promote SRUC’s research, education and consultancy activities across a broad range of audiences, both internal and external; support and implement SRUC’s strategic objectives through communications, PR and knowledge exchange; and deal with reactive enquiries from journalists.

In this role you will also help improve student engagement, retention rates, internal conversion rates, recruitment, survey performance, student voice and student satisfaction through effective two-way communications with the student body.

In this role you will:

• Work with SRUC colleagues to identify stories, write press releases and pitch stories to a wide variety of media, including national and local newspapers, trade magazines, and television, radio and online news outlets.
• Support and implement SRUC’s strategic objectives in communications, PR and knowledge exchange, by including key SRUC messaging into press releases, blog posts, briefing documents and reactive quotes provided to the media.
• Promote SRUC’s research, education and consultancy activities across its broad range of audiences, including prospective students and Consulting clients, politicians, funders, and industry.
• Undertake internal communications activity with staff based across the organisation including writing for the internal website, including regular contributions to the weekly staff newsletter.
• Deal with reactive enquiries from journalists, which will entail providing them with information, drafting and finalising responses on behalf of colleagues or setting up interviews.
• Provide briefings where required for colleagues doing media interviews.
• Compile monthly and annual media coverage reports in order to update colleagues and Board members.
• Lead on communications around graduation ceremonies, including organising photography, sourcing student case studies, and working with the graphic designer to create and edit a souvenir graduation brochure.
• Create communication plans for research/other stories.
• Compile and issue regular student newsletter, which includes relevant updates and signposting them to essential services, competitions and job opportunities.
• Work with Learning and Teaching colleagues to promote student surveys and student elections.
• Post student stories on our student app (MySRUC).
• Write notes to Board, politicians and other stakeholders as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

To be considered for this role you should be qualified to at least SQCF level 9 (e.g. Bachelors/Ordinary Degree), in a relevant area. You should also possess proven skills and experience working in a busy PR and/or journalism setting along with experience of strategic planning, target setting, evaluation, and reporting.

Full details of the requirements of this role can be found in the Job Particulars document which you must read before applying for this role.

Eligibility for Sponsorship:

This role may be eligible for sponsorship depending on candidate circumstances.

Admin ref: CFPS/COM/023/25

Why work for SRUC?

• Generous annual leave
• Enhanced pension contributions (5% employee and 10% employer)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted RAC Membership
• Generous family leave
• Hybrid working solutions (in some areas)
• Tailored investment in and individuals' learning and development

How to Apply:

Please complete an online application form by pressing “apply”.

Please read the Job Particulars document before applying.

SRUC Leading the way in Agricultural and Rural Research, Education & Consultancy.

SRUC is committed to valuing Diversity, advancing Equality and respecting Human Rights throughout the organisation and encouraging applications from disabled people using the “Disability Confident Employer” symbol. SRUC is a member of the Athena SWAN charter.

SRUC. A Charitable company limited by guarantee, SC003712. Registered in Scotland No SC103046