Head of Communications

The University of Sheffield; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 71,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

41 days annual leave

Hybrid working

Generous pension scheme

Staff discounts and rewards

Development opportunities

Job summary

The University of Sheffield is seeking a high‑impact Head of Communications to lead internal and student communications across a large, research‑intensive university. You will inspire and direct a team of communications professionals, providing strategic guidance to the Vice-Chancellor and senior leadership on engagement and reputation.

You will drive initiatives across complex projects, manage budgets and external partners, and ensure excellent evaluation and continuous improvement in service

Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead strategic staff and student communications within a large organisation.
• Strong knowledge of staff and student audiences and their needs.
• Experience leading and evaluating large cross-university communications projects.
• Ability to provide specialist guidance during crises/incidents and change.
• Proven budgeting and resource management across complex programmes.

Responsibilities

• Develop the strategic approach for internal and student communications with measurable outcomes.
• Provide strategic leadership to Internal and Student Communications teams.
• Lead engagement for large cross-university projects and change programmes.
• Oversee campaigns to drive staff and student engagement, pride and advocacy.
• Lead crisis and incident communications with trained staff and protocols.
• Build relationships with Vice-Chancellor, Executive Board and senior leaders.
• Collaborate with peers and sector bodies to lead engagement across the sector.
• Ensure robust reporting, evaluation and continuous improvement.
• Represent the University on internal and external project teams and committees.
• Manage resources, budget, external agencies and suppliers for value and impact.
• Align CER activities with wider departmental and organisational aims.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Crisis communications

Policy development

Team leadership

Communication strategy

Education

Honours degree in Communications or related subject

Job description

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. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

An experienced and strategic communications leader, the Head of Communications oversees all aspects of the University's internal communications, ensuring meaningful and impactful engagement with staff and student audiences.

They provide inspiration and direction to a high-performing team of communications professionals, leading them to meet and exceed objectives.

A confident and influential communicator, the role builds and maintains strong and positive working relationships with colleagues across the university and provides strategic advice, guidance and support to the Vice-Chancellor, the University Executive Board and senior leadership on communications and engagement.

A strategic thinker with sound judgement, they lead communications and engagement for large, complex cross-university projects, strategic change programmes, integrated campaigns, and in times of crisis and incidents. They are able to formulate plans and proposals and implement them with speed and pace and effectively use evaluation, evidence and insight to identify and implement improvements to service delivery.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Develop the strategic approach and have accountability for internal and student communications - defining objectives, priorities and measurable outcomes, ensuring meaningful and impactful engagement with staff and student audiences.
• Provide strategic leadership to the Internal Communications and Student Communications teams, building a high performing team culture, motivating and supporting them to thrive and successfully deliver against agreed objectives, and helping resolve complex issues and acting as a point of escalation
• Lead communications and engagement for large, complex cross-university projects, strategic change programmes, and initiatives which may have potential or actual negative and/or sensitive impacts
• Oversee the development and implementation of strategic communications and engagement projects, campaigns and initiatives that achieve impact, targets and objectives to drive high levels of staff and student engagement, pride and advocacy
• Lead the approach to crisis and incident communications, ensuring plans, processes and protocols are in place and staff have the relevant training and support, and lead communications response during incidents
• Build and manage relationships with key stakeholders at all levels, including providing strategic advice, guidance and support to the Vice-Chancellor, the University Executive Board and senior leadership on communications and engagement
• Collaborate, network and use effective professional relationships with peers and sector bodies in order to establish a leading role in staff and student engagement across the sector
• Ensure robust reporting mechanisms, evaluation and continual improvement plans are in place and use evidence, insight and feedback to identify and implement new opportunities for communications and improve service delivery
• Represent the University and Communications and External Relations (CER) on internal and external project teams, working groups and committees
• Manage resources, budget, external agencies and suppliers, using an evidenced based and evaluative approach, in order to maximise value for money for the University and impact in achieving against goals, targets and objectives
• As part of the Communications and External Relations (CER) senior management team, ensure that the delivery of activities are aligned to the wider departmental and organisational strategic aims and objectives.
• Deputise for the Deputy Director Communications and External Relations (Communications and Stakeholder Engagement) as required
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

• Have a good honours degree in Communications or a related subject or equivalent experience
• Demonstrable experience of leading strategic staff and/or student communications and engagement within a large, complex organisation
• Significant knowledge of communications and engagement, including an in-depth understanding of staff and student audiences and their needs
• Experience in leading, implementing and evaluating communications and engagement for large, complex cross-university projects, strategic change programmes and integrated communications campaigns
• Demonstrable experience leading and managing individuals and teams, with the required strengths, motivation and engagement to thrive and perform to the highest standard
• Ability to provide specialist knowledge, guidance and support to colleagues relating to communications, engagement and reputation including in times of crisis/incidents and change
• A confident and influential communicator, able to develop relationships and build trust and credibility, including at the most senior level
• Be able to work with a high level of autonomy and think and act strategically and with sound judgement to formulate plans and proposals and implement with speed and pace
• Demonstrate the highest levels of integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality at all times
• Ability to independently propose and implement improvements to processes and tasks and service delivery, using evidence and insight
• Proven ability to manage budgets and resources accurately and effectively, ensuring that progress achieves targets and deadlines
• Knowledge and experience of the Higher Education sector, including its culture, priorities, areas of strength and future challenges.

Essential or desirable

• Essential
• Essential
• Essential
• Essential
• Essential
• Essential
• Essential
• Essential
• Essential
• Essential
• Essential
• Desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

• Application
• Application
• Application / interview
• Application / interview
• Application / interview
• Application / interview
• Interview
• Interview
• Interview
• Application / interview
• Application
• Application / interview

Further Information

• Grade 9
• Salary £62,994 to £70,878 per annum. Potential to Progress to £82,134 per annum through sustained exceptional contribution.
• Work arrangement Full-time
• Duration Permanent
• Line manager Deputy Director of CER (Communications)
• Direct reports Head of Internal Communications, Head of Student Communications
• Right to work in the UK If you do not currently hold the right to work in the UK, you can find more information here to help determine your visa eligibility. Additional guidance is also available on the UK Visa & Immigration website.
• The University of Sheffield
• For informal enquiries about this job contact Claire Hamilton, Deputy Director of CER (Marketing and External Relations): [e-mail]

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place in December 2026. This will consist of a formal interview, a discussion with key stakeholders and a presentation. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage in early December 2026. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact [e-mail].

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; Professional Services Shared Skills Framework
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • access to menopause support in the workplace
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates (opens in a new window).

Closing Date :22/11/2026

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. Our vision ( www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision ) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.