At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead external communications and marketing to strengthen our community-focused reputation.
- Company: Join Connexus, a passionate rural housing association dedicated to building inclusive communities.
- Benefits: Enjoy up to 30 days annual leave, flexible working, and a generous pension scheme.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with continuous learning and development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in rural communities through engaging campaigns and effective communication.
- Qualifications: Experience in communications, marketing, or PR with strong leadership and storytelling skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
At Connexus, we’re committed to championing rural communities and creating places where people can build a life in their home. As our new External Communications Manager, you will lead the delivery of all external communications and marketing activity, helping to strengthen our reputation and support organisational priorities. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced communications professional to lead a multi-channel team, ensuring our messaging, campaigns and digital channels are effective, consistent and engaging.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading external communications across PR, media, website, social media and customer channels.
- Managing the external communications team and coordinating workflow, planning and delivery.
- Delivering multi-channel campaigns that build reputation and support services.
- Ensuring brand consistency, quality and effective risk management across all external communications.
- Monitoring performance, engagement and campaign effectiveness using data and insight.
- Acting as a key contact for services, providing expert advice and communications support.
About you
We’re looking for a strong leader who can manage teams, deliver at pace and drive high-quality communications. You will have:
- Significant experience in communications, marketing or PR.
- Proven experience leading teams and managing high-volume delivery.
- Strong campaign, digital and media experience across multiple channels.
- Excellent writing, editing and storytelling skills.
- Confidence working with data and analytics to improve performance.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, including influencing senior leaders.
Qualifications
Degree in communications, marketing, journalism or related field (or equivalent experience). Professional qualifications or membership (e.g. CIPR/CIM) desirable but not essential.
If you’re passionate about leading impactful communications and delivering great campaigns, we’d love to hear from you. This role is based in Craven Arms with a mix of office, remote working and travel as required.
About Connexus
Connexus is a rural housing association with its heritage in Shropshire and Herefordshire, providing good quality, affordable and safe homes that customers are proud to live in. We create inclusive neighbourhoods, sustainable rural communities, and provide services that support our customers to build a life in their home. The work our teams do is varied, and no two days are the same. We provide an excellent offer for colleagues which includes flexible working options combined with some fantastic benefits. We’re here to support colleagues at every step of the way with training and development opportunities, helping you make the most of your career. If you want to work with like-minded people and would like to make a difference to the lives of our customers, Connexus could be the right fit for you.
Connexus is committed to equality of opportunity for all employees and is keen to address areas of under representation in its workforce, this is because we really understand the importance of different voices, experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds within our workforce. We strongly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups.
Some of the benefits:
- Up to 30 days annual leave & Bank Holidays
- Continual learning and development opportunities
- Generous pension scheme
- Westfield Health healthcare plan
- Paid sickness leave (upon successful completion of probationary period)
- Enhanced maternity/ paternity pay
Interviewing isn’t easy and believe us when we say “we’re rooting for you”; we want everyone to be able to do their best. We know it can be daunting to put yourself out there and sometimes the unknown interview processes make things even scarier!
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land External Communications Manager in Craven Arms
✨Get Involved in PR Events
Dive into local PR meetups and workshops. Events like these are perfect for getting your face out there, chatting with industry pros, and spotting potential job openings at companies like Connexus. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to learn about trends and make lasting connections.
✨Showcase Your PR Skills
Start building your personal brand as a PR ace. Use platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn to share your thoughts on current events or PR campaigns you admire. Tagging companies you want to work for, like Connexus, can catch their eye—especially if your insights resonate!
✨Leverage Your Network
Reach out to friends, family, or connections in the PR field. Even a casual chat can lead to opportunities. If you've got mutual contacts, ask for introductions when applying. Personal recommendations can give your application a nice little boost!
✨Tailor Your Approach
When applying for a full-time PR role, make sure to research Connexus inside and out. Understanding their campaigns, values, and style allows us to directly align our application and impress during interviews. Don't hesitate to apply through our website—going direct can make a real difference!
We think you need these skills to ace External Communications Manager in Craven Arms
Some tips for your application 🫡
Get Your Story Straight:In public relations, storytelling is everything! Make sure your CV highlights your experience in crafting compelling narratives and managing media relations. Share specific examples of campaigns you've worked on, and don’t forget to include any press coverage you've generated—it's impressive proof of your skills!
Show Off Your Communication Skills:Since PR is all about communication, we want to see your best writing samples. Include pieces like press releases, blog posts, or social media content that you've created. This gives us a taste of your voice and your ability to convey messages clearly and effectively, which is crucial for a role in this field.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter should be more than just a recap of your CV; it’s your chance to shine! Emphasise why PR excites you and how your background fits with the mission of Connexus. Show us that you’ve done your homework and speak to why you’re passionate about the work we do.
Connect the Dots:When you’re writing your application, think about how your past experiences link to the responsibilities of the role. Mention any internships, volunteer work, or projects that involved public speaking, event planning, or strategic communication. This will help us see how you can seamlessly bring your skills into a full-time position at Connexus.
How to prepare for a job interview at Connexus
✨Master the Art of Storytelling
In public relations, storytelling is key. We should prepare compelling narratives about past campaigns or projects we’ve worked on. Think about how we can illustrate our impact and creativity in those stories—be ready to discuss specific examples that showcase our skills in managing media relationships and crafting messages.
✨Know Your PR Tools Inside Out
Familiarity with PR tools like Cision or Meltwater is crucial. We need to be able to discuss how we’ve used these tools in past roles or projects. If we've worked on media lists, press releases, or analytics reports, let’s have those experiences ready to share along with metrics we’ve achieved to back up our claims.
✨Stay Current with Industry Trends
We’ve got to stay sharp on the latest trends and events impacting the public relations field. Having a few insights ready about recent campaigns or shifts in media landscapes can show that we’re engaged and knowledgeable. This will also help us make connections between our experiences and the current state of the industry.
✨Showcase Our Versatility
As full-time PR professionals, we need to demonstrate our adaptability. Be ready to talk about how we've handled challenging situations, managed crises, or adapted strategies on the fly. Employers will appreciate our ability to pivot and find solutions under pressure, so let’s have those scenarios at our fingertips to discuss.
