Job role: Head of Communications & Strategic Content
Location: Truro / Trelonk, Cornwall TR2, minimum four days per week on site and up to one day working remotely
Employment Type: Permanent, full time
Salary: £40,000
Reporting to: CEO
The Opportunity
Parnall is entering an important period of transition. Across the Group and its associated businesses, we have an unusual combination of scientific research, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, professional services, aviation, food and consumer brands, property and infrastructure, alongside a developing enterprise intelligence and AI capability.
We are seeking a Head of Communications & Strategic Content to help us explain that story clearly, intelligently and responsibly.
This is not primarily a traditional PR or press-relations role. It is a hands-on communications position for someone capable of understanding complex businesses and subjects, developing the narrative around them, and personally creating high-quality communications for different audiences and channels.
You will work closely with the Chairman, Group leadership and the CEOs and senior teams of our businesses, becoming deeply embedded in what we do.
The Role
You will take responsibility for developing and executing the communications strategy across the Parnall enterprise and its constituent businesses.
A central part of the role will be communicating the Group’s evolution from a collection of founder-led businesses and assets towards a more integrated, institutionally managed enterprise.
Our audiences include employees, approximately 250 shareholders, investors, scientists, pharmaceutical and commercial partners, professional advisers, government and institutional stakeholders and our wider community.
The objective is not indiscriminate publicity. It is intelligent, audience-specific communication that builds understanding, reputation and confidence.
This is an unusual role combining:
strategy + writing + content creation + interviewing + visual storytelling + scientific communication + internal communications + AI-enabled working.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and manage the overarching Parnall narrative while preserving the individual identities of our businesses.
- Build a stronger internal communications programme, helping employees understand the Group’s direction and how its businesses fit together.
- Develop professional shareholder and stakeholder communications.
- Support communications around investment, scientific developments, partnerships and major corporate initiatives.
- Take strategic responsibility for LinkedIn, YouTube, podcasts, Instagram, websites, newsletters and other appropriate channels.
- Establish a high-quality Parnall podcast and long-form interview programme.
- Personally create written, photographic, video and digital content.
- Identify compelling stories among our scientists, executives, engineers, lawyers, entrepreneurs, employees, collaborators and visitors.
- Develop our photographic, video and historical archives into valuable communications assets.
- Work with scientific teams to explain complex research accurately and intelligently.
- Help communicate the Group’s adoption of AI and the development of Sentinel CIA.
- Build selective relationships with serious business, financial, scientific and specialist media.
- Develop focused communications campaigns around investment, recruitment, scientific milestones, partnerships and other strategic objectives.
You will be supported by external specialists where appropriate, but this role is for somebody who creates as well as commissions.
About You
We expect you to have relevant experience in communications, strategic content, corporate affairs, journalism, scientific communications or a related field.
You should be an excellent writer, intellectually curious, visually creative, commercially aware and technologically confident.
Scientific literacy is particularly important. You need to be comfortable sitting with scientists and pharmaceutical executives, understanding what they are discussing and communicating it accurately without oversimplifying or exaggerating its significance.
You should also:
- Be credible working directly with senior executives while equally comfortable talking to employees and technical specialists.
- Understand how communications differ across employees, shareholders, investors and external audiences.
- Be capable of turning complex subjects into compelling, accessible content.
- Be comfortable personally conducting interviews and creating photography, video, written and digital content.
- Understand the importance of confidentiality, regulatory considerations and disciplined corporate communications.
- Be a sophisticated user of contemporary AI tools for research, writing, analysis, planning and content production.
- Have the judgement to recognise when a story should be communicated—and when it should not.
- Be energetic, discreet and willing to become genuinely embedded in the organisation.
Experience in life sciences, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, scientific communications, investor/shareholder communications, corporate transformation, podcasting or digital content would be particularly valuable.
Experience in legal services, aviation or consumer brands would also be useful, but is not essential.
https://parnall.net
Other Requirements
- All successful applicants will be subject to a Standard DBS Check. Please Note: A criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining a position.
- Direct applicants only.
We’re creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organisations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, and perspective are proven to be better places to work and are more successful. Importantly, we are creating an environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best work. In short we see this as the right thing to do for the best of reasons.
We look forward to receiving your application.
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