Regional Communications Officer & Clerk to Governors in London

Based at Hylands School, Chelmsford, Essex, while working in the region’s primary schools with hybrid working options. The expectation is to travel to the Essex primary schools in line with business requirements (travel cost will be remunerated in line with the Trust’s travel policy).

Role: Part‑time, 39 weeks per year, term time plus inset days, must have availability for a flexible working pattern. 32.5 hours per week. Monday to Friday 8.30am‑3.30pm, with flexibility to accommodate late afternoon meetings.

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced professional to join our team in the Essex region. This unique, part‑time position combines two critical functions: promoting the professional image of our academies in the public domain and providing indispensable procedural guidance to our Local Governing Bodies.

The Opportunity:

As an experienced professional in communications, copywriting or PR, you will be pivotal in ensuring our Essex group of primary schools stays connected and thrives. You will step in as the expert in communication for our academies, supporting the creation, ownership and execution of the internal comms strategy across our group of Essex primary schools. Teaming up with our trust’s People & Culture colleagues, you’ll foster a culture of sharing and recognition through fresh, varied communications for a diverse community and workforce. You will report to our Regional Business Manager, with links to our people & culture team and to the Director of Opportunity and the academies’ Senior Leadership Team (SLT).

Key Responsibilities:

• Public Relations, Marketing & Communications
• Brand Gatekeeper: Act as the brand gatekeeper for all public‑facing documents and ensure the academies’ brand standards are adhered to in all communication media.
• Strategy & Delivery: Map out and deliver the academies’ marketing strategy across the academic year, including events, admissions and open days.
• Digital Leadership: Manage the academies’ social media platforms, promote news and events in line with safeguarding and branding requirements whilst ensuring the schools adhere to statutory requirements through their websites.
• Community Cohesion: Work collaboratively to increase community cohesion with communities local to the academies.
• Fundraising: Work with the Director of Opportunity and the academies’ SLT to identify funding sources and prepare and submit timely bids.
• Lettings Management: Manage and oversee lettings at each academy, acting as the day‑to‑day point of contact.
• Governance and Clerking
• Advisory Guidance: Advise the Local Governing Body (LGB) on its core functions, regulatory framework, governance legislation and procedural matters before, during and after meetings.
• Meeting Administration: Work with the Chair and Headteacher to prepare focused agendas, liaise for papers, ensure meetings are quorate and draft/circulate accurate minutes.
• Compliance: Ensure statutory policies are in place and revised when necessary, and update GIAS websites to accurately reflect the structure of the LGB.
• Membership: Advise on the expiry of a governor’s term of office and maintain up‑to‑date records of governors (e.g. pecuniary interests and training).

Essential Experience & Skills:

• Strong experience in communications, copywriting or Public Relations.
• Experience in carrying out complex administrative tasks.
• Working knowledge of marketing procedures and practices.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, with strong listening skills.
• High level of ICT experience, including design packages, Google Suite and/or MS Office/Word processing, as well as the ability to update our websites.
• Ability to plan, organise and prioritise workloads under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail, aligned with brand standards.
• English and Maths to GCSE/Standard Grade or equivalent (at least Grade 4/C).

Equal Opportunity: TKAT is committed to inclusion, diversity and equality of opportunity. We welcome applications from all suitable candidates, regardless of any protected characteristic.