Strategic Communications Senior Manager (Narrative and Brand)

To build awareness, understanding, engagement and trust in UK Research and Innovation and its activities and interests, both externally and with all employees, through brand development, positioning and implementation.

Key accountabilities

• Leads on implementation of UKRI brand strategy and governance, including its sub-brands, ensuring it is utilised effectively and appropriately across the organisation and by partners.
• Leads on brand development projects across UKRI.
• Leads on development of individual narratives and messages in alignment with overarching narrative and messaging for UKRI, ensuring they are easily accessible and encouraging adherence across the organisation.

Role responsibilities

• Develops and implements brand governance framework to develop and protect UKRI’s brand architecture, including visual identity guidelines.
• Leads brand negotiations with colleagues across UKRI (including councils and centres), and partners to ensure prominence and consistency.
• Owns accessibility, inclusion and diversity of UKRI’s brand.
• Advises colleagues and partners on brand implementation.
• Owns and develops UKRI’s brand systems and assets (including graphic assets, guidelines, tools, templates, resources).
• Works with internal communications to lead internal brand initiatives.
• Works with colleagues across EAC to understand UKRI brand recognition and perception, taking appropriate action where needed.
• Plans, manages and delivers a range of brand development projects.
• Manages external suppliers and teams across councils centres, units and institutes to deliver positive change.
• Manages the budget for brand development, ensuring best value for money and quality outcomes.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships across the organisation and with partner organisations to develop the brand and narrative.
• Develops individual narratives and messaging.
• Works with others to develop UKRI narrative, rolling script and messaging to reinforce brand positioning.
• Works with others to develop campaign identities in line with UKRI brand and narrative.

Key relationships

• UKRI external affairs and communications function.
• CEO office, Executive Committee and Board.
• UKRI colleagues across councils, centres, institutes and units.
• External partners and suppliers.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

• Qualifications: Degree or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge and experience: Some experience of brand development and management. Good experience of utilising multiple and integrated channels and an understanding of multichannel communication approaches in relation to brand. Good experience of managing external suppliers and agencies.
• Personal skills and qualities: Good project management skills. Demonstrated credibility with relevant communities, usually based on experience from government, industry, education or the third sector. Ability to work collaboratively across teams, councils and communities. Demonstrable emotional intelligence and tolerance of ambiguity and uncertainty. Resilience, multi-tasking and ability to work to deadlines. Ability to absorb, evaluate and communicate complex information appropriate to the audience. Ability to influence, persuade and negotiate. Strategic thinking. Flexibility to adapt to change.

About UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK. Together we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.