Head of Communications

University of Sheffield; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Sheffield seeks a Head of Communications to shape the strategic direction of internal and student communications. You will lead a talented team, advise senior executives, and elevate staff and student engagement across the university community.

Reporting to the Vice-Chancellor and Executive Board, you’ll oversee the Internal and Student Communications teams, drive engaging campaigns, crisis and change communications, and use feedback and data insights to improve service

Qualifications

• Proven leadership of strategic communications in large organisations.
• Ability to translate strategic goals into audience-focused campaigns.
• Strong relationship-building with senior stakeholders.
• Experience handling crisis communications and change programmes.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic communications for internal and student audiences.
• Oversee Internal and Student Communications teams and standard of delivery.
• Advise senior executives including the Vice-Chancellor and Executive Board.
• Create impactful campaigns and use data insights to improve service delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Influential communication

Strategic expertise

Crisis & change management

Job description

Are you an inspiring, strategic communications leader looking to drive meaningful engagement across a vibrant university community?

At the University of Sheffield, we have an exciting opportunity for a Head of Communications to shape the strategic direction of our internal and student communications. In this pivotal role, you will lead a talented team, advise senior executives, and elevate staff and student engagement.

As Head of Communications, you will provide strategic direction to the Internal Communications and Student Communications teams, empowering them to thrive and deliver to the highest standard. You will oversee all aspects of internal and student communications, creating impactful campaigns that foster a strong culture of pride, belonging, and advocacy. Working closely with senior leadership, the post holder serves as a trusted advisor to the Vice-Chancellor and Executive Board, providing strategic guidance on complex change initiatives, major university projects, and crisis management. Continual enhancement of service delivery is driven through the active use of feedback, evaluation, and data insight.

We are looking for a confident, collaborative, and influential communications professional who excels at building trust and managing complex stakeholder relationships at all levels.

To thrive in this role, you will have:

• Proven Leadership: Experience leading strategic communications and high-performing teams within a large, complex organisation.
• Influential communication skills: Ability to develop relationships and build trust and credibility, including at the most senior level.
• Strategic Expertise: Exceptional ability to translate complex strategic goals into engaging, audience-focused campaigns.
• Crisis and Change Management Skills: Sound judgement and speed in navigating change programmes and handling crisis communications.

You will be part of the University’s Department of Communications and External Relations (CER), which is collectively responsible for external and internal engagement, reputation and branding, marketing, market insight and research, corporate communications, admissions, events, student recruitment and access strategies for the University.

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities,a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

We build teams of people from different heritages and lifestyles from across the world, whose talent and contributions complement each other to greatest effect. We believe diversity in all its forms delivers greater impact through research, teaching and student experience.

We are committed to exploring flexible working opportunities which benefit the individual and University.

Find out more at sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits and join us to become part of something special.