Interim Director of Communications and Reputation - External Relations - 42744 - Grade 9

Position Details

External Relations

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £57,422 to £66,537 with potential progression once in post to £86,760

Grade: 9

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to June 2026

Closing date: 11th May 2025

UK and International travel may be required for this role

Please note: Applications must be submitted through our recruiting partner Perrett Laver, not via the button at the bottom of the page.Please click here to apply .

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do.

The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.

We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.

Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high-quality subsidised day nurseries.

The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.

Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham

Role Summary

As a Global top 100 university, the University of Birmingham has an ambitious global strategy and growth aspiration across research, education, reputation and engagement, which is set out in its Strategic Framework to 2030. The Director of Communications and Reputation will make a significant contribution to ensuring the University successfully delivers key strategic reputation targets set out in the Framework including its bold ambition to become a top 50 global university. This is an exciting time to join the University as it celebrates its 125th anniversary with a diverse, year-long programme of activities and engagements.

The role will be based in External Relations; a division of 350 staff with a core budget of £26m. The Director of Communications and Reputation will lead a team of 25 people responsible for Media Relations, Public Affairs, Research Communications, Brand, Campaigns and International Reputation, Social Media and Web Content, Stakeholder Engagement, and Internal Communications. The Director will also provide line management to the two Deputy Directors responsible for these areas as well as to the Heads of Marketing and Communications based in the University’s five Colleges, to ensure cohesive, collaborative, effective and efficient delivery of University strategic priorities across these areas.

The post holder will also play a central role in the development of the next phase of our brand and global reputation work, contributing to the University’s bold ambition to become recognised among the top 50 universities in the world. They will have strategic oversight of a diverse portfolio and will be a senior champion to drive our communications and reputation activity to help ensure long-term strategic success.

The post holder will operate at a senior level within the University, reporting to the Director of External Relations to develop and deliver the strategic vision across Communications and Reputation to support the University Strategic Framework and its ambition to become a Global Top 50 university. They will also work alongside the Directors of Student Recruitment, Admissions, Birmingham Global, Public Engagement and Marketing Services as well as the Deputy Director of External Relations to ensure there is alignment across shared agendas around recruitment, research, reputation and engagement. The post holder will be a member of the senior management team in External Relations, and the role will require close liaison and relationship building with all External Relations functions, and across wider University divisions to ensure work is aligned, planned at a strategic level and maximises the use of resource.

The role will work closely with the Vice-Chancellor and members of the University Executive Board including thematic Pro-Vice-Chancellors and Heads of Colleges. The post-holder will also work closely with Senior Officers who lead across the other professional services divisions including the Vice-Chancellor's Office, Academic Services, Legal Services, Estates, Campus Services, HR, IT, Development and Alumni Relations and Research Strategy and Support.

Main Duties

Strategy:

• Support the Director of External Relations in developing and delivering communications and reputation strategies and Key Performance Targets and Indicators that contribute to the University’s wider Strategic Framework 2030 and Global top 50 ambition.
• Lead and develop innovative communications and marketing strategies, developing our digital presence, proposition and international reputation campaign to increase brand profile and awareness of the University and its research to support the Global top 50 ambition. Work in conjunction with the five Colleges and other professional services divisions to ensure successful implementation.
• Work closely with the other Directors in External Relations to ensure alignment of strategies and approach and ensure campaign development is aligned across audiences and geographies.
• Ensure that the University’s new brand continues to be adopted in a consistent, high-quality way in order to support global reputation, attract the best students and staff and build pride among our own community.
• Successfully implement a University Research Communications strategy and ensure teams across the University are equipped to effectively deliver the priorities and build the global reputation for the University based on its academic strengths. Respond to and influence academic needs and priorities in research and reputation; including providing insight and direction on risks and rewards associated with activities.
• In conjunction with the Director of Insight Channels and Educational Enterprise, lead the strategic development and optimisation of University’s website and social media channels with a particular focus on content, tone of voice and brand.
• Ensure there is a strategic and integrated approach to managing stakeholder relationships regionally and nationally, for example with politicians and other external senior leaders, in order to build influence and advocacy for the University. Work closely with the Vice-Chancellor and members of the Executive Board to identify and agree areas of focus for public affairs and policy engagement. As part of this, ensure delivery of an annual programme of high-quality stakeholder events that grow engagement and advocacy for the University.

Leadership and Management:

• Provide strategic leadership on all areas of communications, campaigns, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, crisis communications, internal communications, events, digital content and brand, and role model and embed the External Relations values and behaviours.
• Build extensive external networks including with the media, policy makers and sector bodies, ensuring the University is informed, engaged and influencing on key matters that may affect it.
• Work in partnership with the Director of People and Culture and colleagues across the University to drive forward an approach to internal communications that builds pride in the University among staff, builds advocacy internally, and ensures staff are engaged, involved and informed about organisational strategy, relevant issues and initiatives and developments.
• Play a key leadership role within External Relations and institutionally by representing External Relations more widely across a number of University committees including Sustainability, 125th Anniversary and Global Reputation.
• Lead a team of marketing and communications professionals, developing and supporting them to continually develop their knowledge and expertise and co-ordinate resources and ensure proportionate allocation aligned to priorities. As part of this, provide matrix management to the Heads of Marketing and Communications and their teams based in the University’s five Colleges ensuring effective support across the breadth of External Relations agendas.
• Use extensive knowledge and networks to support delivery of the Communications and Reputation priorities aligned to the Strategic Framework.
• Ensure the Communications and Reputation function is effective and efficient and works collaboratively across the University community and continues to build strong relationships with the academic community.
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with senior academic and professional services colleagues, as well as partners locally, regionally and internationally.
• Ensure effective development of annual plans and budgets and drive performance through regular insight and analytics, ensuring there are clear objectives and KPIs in place.

Communications and Crisis Management

• Lead on managing the reputation of the University including crisis communications, working closely with and advising the senior leadership of the University on incidents and reputational issues.
• Deliver a proactive and effective 24/7 media relations function geared appropriately to protect our reputation and raise our profile in the region, nationally and internationally.
• Develop a sector-leading brand and campaign function and provide leadership to ensure that the University brand is protected, utilised and leveraged in a consistent way to enhance the reputation of the University. As part of this work closely with the in-house agency, Creative Media and external suppliers to ensure that their work continues to reinforce the University’s brand.
• Contribute to strategic projects and major events, bringing together internal and external stakeholders to ensure profile raising opportunities are leveraged effectively. Take an active role in leading or contributing to cross-University projects.
• To be a member of, or support, communications and reputation related committees and steering/working groups.

Other:

• Demonstrate the External Relations Values and Behaviours and ensure that the Communications and Reputation team has a culture of innovation, delivery and high performance.
• Play an active role in the External Relations senior leadership group contributing to delivery of the External Relations Five-year strategy and monitoring and evaluating progress against agreed KPIs and milestones. As part of this contributing to the leadership of External Relations beyond core Communications and Reputation activity.
• To provide leadership, inspiration, clarity and direction to staff about University-wide priorities and proactively and continuously coach and develop self and others.
• To lead by example in setting the highest possible standards and demonstrating the qualities of the ‘Birmingham Professional’.
• To effectively and professionally deputise for the Director of External Relations as required.
• Represent the University on national sector groups.
• Occasional evening and weekend work and some travel as required both in the UK and internationally.

Person Specification

• Experience of operating at a senior level, preferably in a global context.
• Ability to develop and deliver a vision for Communications and Reputation across the University through thought leadership and a partnership approach.
• Understanding/experience of working for a complex organisation and/or leading multiple teams across a range of functions.
• Ability to exercise a substantial degree of independent professional responsibility, discretion, tact and diplomacy.
• An appreciation of and interest in UK and global Higher Education and research.

Skills and Experience

• Educated to degree level or equivalent, preferably with an additional professional or postgraduate qualification.
• Senior leadership experience in a communications, public affairs or marketing role and significant experience of developing strategies and integrated marketing and communications plans.
• Senior leadership experience of crisis communications and issues management and of advising senior leaders on reputation management.
• Experience of engaging with policy makers and other senior stakeholders.
• Creative thinker with track record of delivering large scale, multi-channel reputation and/or branding building campaigns, ideally internationally.
• Ability to operate at a strategic level whilst ensuring translation of the strategy into clear deliverables including through leadership of complex projects.
• Experience of working internationally/with international stakeholders would be advantageous.

Communications

• Outstanding communications skills, experience of presenting to senior audiences.
• Ability to communicate effectively and regularly at senior levels, including at Board level, to persuade and influence, and to keep the University abreast of developments.
• Demonstrable ability to develop strong relationships with journalists, opinion formers and other stakeholders in order to raise profile and build positive reputation for the organisation.
• Demonstrable relationship building skills across multiple audiences and stakeholder groups and competence in representing the University externally to partners, industry and other bodies, in the UK and internationally.
• Ability to work across the academic community with credibility responding to academic needs and priorities whilst proactively identifying opportunities aligned to the University’s Strategic Framework.
• Ability to think creatively about opportunities and threats, to face conflict and look for common ground.
• Competence in evaluating departmental activity and ability to recommend and implement innovative solutions to improve service quality, efficiency and effectiveness.
• Strategic thinking skills and the ability to demonstrate sound judgement and confidentiality.

Organisational Skills

• Aptitude to shape strategic direction and develop and implement operational plans in order to deliver the University’s objectives.
• Ability to develop long-term plans and chart a path towards their achievement whilst balancing short term issues, pressures, and challenges.
• Ability to understand priorities and adapt to changes with strong time management.
• Able to operate flexibly within a busy work environment, shifting focus when required. Practical, with an aptitude to work under pressure, handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and meet deadlines.

Leadership and Management Skills

• Ability to provide leadership, for a team of professional staff and create a motivating environment where people are challenged, developed, encouraged and supported to achieve outstanding results.
• Track record of developing individuals and teams of people from diverse professional backgrounds.
• Experience of managing budgets and resources, and of setting, monitoring and measuring outcomes and providing high quality Management Information.
• Able to demonstrate evidence of working collaboratively within their team and across the organisation to achieve goals in a respectful manner in a busy working environment and fostering a collegiate environment.
• Experience of being a role model reflecting External Relations values and behaviours demonstrating resilience and positive response to change and a strong understanding of University culture.

Please note: Applications must be submitted through our recruiting partner Perrett Laver, not via the button at the bottom of the page.Please click here to apply .

Informal enquiries to Jo Kite, email: j.r.kite@bham.ac.uk

View our staff values and behaviours here

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website .