Science Communications Manager (Maternity Cover)

Freelancingforgood; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 44,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent charity focused on dementia research is looking for a Science Communications Manager for a 12-month fixed-term role in Cambridge. The ideal candidate will lead a team, create engaging content, and develop communication strategies to inform various audiences about dementia research progress. Strong skills in multi-media communications and experience in the field are essential. Competitive salary offered.

Qualifications

• Experience of developing multi-media communications including film content and infographics.
• Line management and project management experience.
• Ability to communicate appropriately with people affected by dementia.

Responsibilities

• Lead an expert team on dementia research communications.
• Manage the 'News and Views' section of the ARUK website.
• Develop communications plans for ARUK-funded research stories.

Skills

Effective and inspiring communicator

Excellent organizational skills

First-rate editorial and writing skills

Ability to identify and develop creative communications opportunities

Interpersonal and negotiation skills

Education

Degree Level in life sciences or relevant experience

Tools

Multi-media communications tools

Job description

Alzheimer’s Research UK is looking for a Science Communications Manager (maternity cover).

Overview:

• Full-time role: fixed-term, 12-month contract
• Language: English
• Location: Cambridge, UK
• Salary: circa £44,000 per year
• Applications closing: 19th October

Job Description

The Science Communications Manager leads an expert team that inspires and informs the public, donors and researchers about dementia research, the progress being made, wider developments in the field and the impact of Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK) funding.

The postholder plays a vital role in helping tell the story and scientific narrative of ARUK to a variety of audiences, cementing the charity’s role as a leading authority on dementia research in the UK and globally. They also help to create a clear, creative, and compelling case for the need for research and the progress being made towards finding a cure.

With much of the charity’s fundraising propositions centring around our research portfolio, this role and the team it leads, are the keystone that unites our research output and fundraising approaches. This means working closely with our Philanthropy and Gifts in Wills teams to create impactful research content, as well as supporting engagement activities.

This means you will be an effective and inspiring communicator, creating and landing content covering ARUK research, impact and commentary across multiple communications channels and audiences. This includes: creating social media and digital content, such as blogs and website summaries; managing the progress reporting for a philanthropic audience and creating content for supporter and researcher newsletters.

You will also be expected to engage in broader communications and events work both within the team and beyond it. This is a challenging, creative and busy role, but one that oversees a function that is absolutely critical to ARUK and its mission.

This is a 12 month fixed term contract, or on return of the substantive postholder, to cover a period of maternity leave.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include finding and developing stories around ARUK research, managing our news and views website, and commissioning multi-media content that tells the story of ARUK and progress in dementia research. This role also includes line management of two science communication officers.

• Work with both the Senior Science Communications Manager and the Head of Communications, as well as colleagues in the Research team to plan and implement inspirational science communications programmes and initiatives that support the delivery of the charity’s 10-year strategy.
• Lead and develop a team of two Officers, working closely across the wider science communications team.
• Develop and maintain a first-rate working knowledge of the dementia research field, including ARUK’s portfolio, strategy, impact and history, and act as one of the go-to people for the latest information and insight in dementia research and able to communicate this effectively.
• Ensure the team develops and maintains relationships with a wide network of experts from across the dementia research field, including through attending research conferences and representing ARUK.
• Work closely with the Research team and wider Sci Comms team to develop and implement communications plans for dementia research stories – both ARUK-funded and responding to other stories in the news.
• Responsible for regular out-of-hours science sign off, alongside the wider science communications management team (organised through an on-call rota, and occasional ad hoc).
• Supporting the Philanthropy and Gifts in Wills teams by ensuring progress reports are delivered on time and have met the required brief, producing other engaging research content when needed
• Oversee the charity’s work to engage researchers, growing the field, sharing best practice, and coordinating events and development opportunities to ensure the UK remains a world-class place to conduct dementia research.
• Develop and maintain high-level narrative documents that make the case for research and the work of ARUK, and devise and develop innovative and creative communications products and campaigns based on this narrative.
• Manage and evolve the ‘News and Views’ sections of the ARUK website, ensuring engaging and up-to-date content, video and graphics, and monitoring the performance of digital content.
• Support the public-facing communications for our major research initiatives such as the Drug Discovery Alliance, Clinical Accelerator programme and other funding initiatives.
• Represent ARUK to a high level within key relationships and partnership projects.
• Manage multiple short- and long-term projects, working with teams within the charity and key external stakeholders.
• Ensure activities comply with ARUK’s branding and style guide.

Additional responsibilities

• Champion the principles equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the role.
• Continuously develop professional knowledge and skills by on-the-job learning, attending relevant network groups, meetings, and conferences.
• Undertake any other duties, initiatives, and projects delegated by the Senior Science Communications Manager/Head of Communications in line with the responsibilities of the role.

Role Requirements

• Educated to Degree Level in life sciences or relevant experience.
• Experience of working with the media at a national level.
• Experience of developing multi-media communications including film content, infographics for a variety of audiences.
• Line management experience.
• Project management experience.
• Creating social media and digital content, such as blogs and website summaries; managing the progress reporting for a philanthropic audience and creating content for supporter and researcher newsletters.
• Ability to identify and develop creative and engaging public communications opportunities emanating from scientific research.
• Can lead and manage a team, taking on responsibility of their performance and helping career development.
• An eye for creativity and innovation in communications.
• Excellent organisational skills; the ability to manage a large number of tasks to multiple deadlines.
• Ability to communicate appropriately with people affected by dementia and their families.
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills: can work collaboratively with and manage multiple stakeholders within and outside the organisation.
• First-rate editorial and writing skills, excellent journalistic and news sense.
• A confident and friendly manner; would feel at ease representing the charity to a range of audiences to a high level.
• Working with drive, flair, independence, intelligence and initiative.
• A passion for, and curiosity about, dementia research.
• Willingness and ability to travel in the UK and beyond, to work outside of regular office hours when needed.

How to apply?

To apply for this role, please fill in the application form.

We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business.