Communications Officer in Liverpool

The Communications Officer will play a key role in effectively positioning the university and helping LJMU communicate effectively to staff, students and various key stakeholders. The Communications Officer will be responsible for creating engaging content and delivering communications across a range of channels to enhance and protect the university's reputation, as well as supporting the wider team on campaigns and projects. The role combines strategic thinking with hands on delivery, including writing news stories, supporting internal communications, identifying compelling stories from across the LJMU community and connecting with colleagues from across the university to align communications with LJMU's three key strategy pillars: Student Experience; Research and Knowledge Exchange; and Place and Partnership activity. The post holder will be able to hit the ground running, have proven excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and be able to transform complex information into compelling and engaging narrative.

Duties Internal Communications

• Research, write and publish content for the LJMU internal webpages (for staff and students) and for a range of internal communications outlets, such as the weekly staff newsletter, the university's digital signage network, helping to deliver key messages and updates to staff and students.
• Maintain close contact with academic and professional services colleagues to find stories of interest to tell internally on behalf of the university.
• The development of ideas and content to support key staff and student initiatives
• Represent the communications team at internal meetings and events, capturing interviews, footage and photography where necessary.
• Respond to email and MS Teams contact (including via the 'press' inbox) from staff and students - under the supervision of the Communications and Content Manager/ Corporate Communications Manager.
• Develop briefings and reports for senior staff.
• The development of email updates for senior staff for use with internal stakeholders.
• Research internal communications best practice from across higher education and other fields, including how to utilise AI and sector best practice.

External Communications

• Research, write and publish content for the university's website and for a range of corporate publications, in line with LJMU tone of voice and brand.
• Write and pitch content for the media, including working alongside academics on articles for 'The Conversation'.
• Respond to press inbox enquiries from media outlets and partner organisations under the supervision of the Communications and Content Manager/Corporate Communications Manager.
• Under the guidance of the Communications and Content Manager, support the Social Media Content Coordinators in capturing images, video and digital content for use across LJMU channels.
• Maintain close contact with academic and professional services colleagues to find stories of interest to tell externally on behalf of the university.
• Research for speeches by the Vice-Chancellor and other members of the Executive Leadership Team.
• Research for key external communication materials, such as biographies of new honorary fellows or speeches for their appointment ceremonies.

Monitoring and evaluation

• Conduct regular horizon scanning to identify challenges and opportunities which may potentially impact the university and higher education more broadly.
• On an ongoing basis, review and evaluate the effectiveness of the university's internal and external communications activities and how the university is viewed by key stakeholders and use this insight to provide updates to the Communications and Content Manager, Corporate Communications Manager and Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations (as requested), including on university KPIs.
• Utilise different analytics tools to monitor engagement levels of communications and inform future activity and best practice.

Stakeholder relations

• Maintain up-to‑date knowledge of the higher education landscape to help identify opportunities for promoting the university's profile.
• Develop contacts with relevant partners and local and national organisations to ensure the university is represented and promoted in wider communications opportunities and campaigns, especially within the Liverpool City Region.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with organisations who support, represent and/or work with students.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with senior staff across the university and JMSU, including with the Vice-Chancellor's Office, the Executive Leadership Team, Pro-Vice-Chancellors, directors of schools and professional services colleagues.

Other duties

• Support colleagues across the wider CCSR team, providing them with communications advice and support.
• Work flexibly - including occasionally outside normally working hours - to support ongoing media handling work or the promotion of university events, research publication and launches.
• Attend all university graduation ceremonies to provide communications support and/or practical help to the events team who manage the ceremonies.
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade as deemed necessary by the Director of Corporate Communications and Stakeholder Relations.
• A commitment to LJMU's values and regulations and Diversity and Inclusion Policy.
• Commitment to adhere to and promote the ethos of Respect Always as set out in the Respect Always Charter.
• Liverpool John Moores University recognises and is aware of its Social, Economic and Environmental responsibilities. The post holder is required to minimise the environmental impact in the performance of the role, contribute to (and supervise if applicable) the implementation of environmental improvement measures and actively contribute to the delivery of LJMU's Environmental Management, Energy Management and Sustainability Policy Statement, and the Climate and Sustainability Plan.
• The post-holder's mandatory Health and Safety responsibilities, which have been agreed by the University's Executive Leadership Team, are contained in Section 2 of the University's Safety Management Code of Practice (MCP1) Organisation for the Implementation of the Health and Safety Policy.
• The post-holder's mandatory Environmental Management responsibilities are contained in Section 2 of the University's Environmental Management Code of Practice (ECP1) Organisation for the Implementation of the Environmental Management and Sustainability Policy.
• For some of your activity, from time to time, you may be required to contribute to externally funded projects such as research or EU projects.

The person specification describes the skills, experience, knowledge and aptitude required to perform the duties of this post effectively. The criteria order listed should not be taken to imply their relative importance. Both paid and unpaid experience may be relevant.

Essential Factors Evidence

• Educated to degree level or proven track record of relevant career A, Ibackground together with significant experience in a communications, Experience of creating engaging content for a variety of audiences andcommunication channels.
• Experience of identifying and developing strategic communications A, Iopportunities, with the ability to quickly absorb complex informationand translate it into clear, compelling and engaging content.
• Experience of writing for digital channels, including websites, A, Inewsletters and social media. With excellent writing, editing and proofreadingskills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to A, Ibuild effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage A, Imultiple priorities and work to tight deadlines.
• Experience of monitoring and evaluating communications activity using A, Ianalytics, insight or audience data.
• Proactive, adaptable and able to work effectively both independently A, Iand as part of a team.

Financial benefits: Competitive salaries based on a low contractual 35 hour working week. 7.1% employer pension contributions for non-academic staff enrolled in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). This is a temporary reduction from the previous rate of 17.5%, effective from April 2026, following the Fund's triennial review. The reduction reflects the Fund's current surplus and improved financial position. This does not affect your pension benefits, which are determined by LGPS scheme rules rather than the level of employer contributions. 28.68% employer contribution to pensions for teaching staff enrolled into the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS). Work life balance: Excellent annual leave provision. 30 days for support staff and 35 days for staff and senior managers grade 8 and above. 8 UK bank holidays and up to 5 university closure days between Christmas and New Year. Family friendly policies and a range of benefits to support including job-shares, flexible working hours and part-time roles where possible. Health and wellbeing: Regular wellbeing support initiatives throughout the year. Access to a trained counsellor via Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). Plus a programme of activities and range of support and resources to help look after your mental and physical wellbeing. Career Benefits: Continuous development opportunities to enhance your knowledge and meet your career ambitions, including LinkedIn Learning. Making a difference: LJMU Climate Action - be at the forefront of initiatives to tackle climate change. Share experiences and challenge unfair practices with our Diversity and Inclusion Staff Networks. Opportunity to volunteer at graduation ceremonies, clearing and open days. Discounts and other benefits: A reward and benefits platform, giving savings on day-today purchases across a range of retail outlets. Interest free loans repayable across twelve monthly instalments, including loans for annual travel season tickets and cycle to work scheme. Massively discounted gym and fitness classes at the University Sport Building.

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