Communications Manager (Corporate) - External Relations - 107436 - Grade 7 in Birmingham

Position: Communications Manager (Corporate)

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Grade: 7. Full time, permanent. Starting salary normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression to £48,822.

Closing date: 31 May 2026. UK and international travel may be required.

Benefits include 40 days paid holiday per year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, a pension scheme, and subsidised day nurseries.

Background: The University of Birmingham is a global institution operating in a diverse city, delivering education and research across a wide range of disciplines.

Department Overview: External Relations delivers the University to the world, engaging with audiences worldwide and building relationships to enhance the University's profile and reputation.

Role Summary: As Communications Manager (Corporate), you will amplify the scale, visibility and impact of the University's corporate activities and strategic initiatives, shaping and delivering media engagement strategies across corporate, regional, innovation and education research initiatives.

Main Duties:

• Plan and deliver a range of creative, multi‑channel media engagement activities and campaigns that raise the profile and increase the impact of the University’s activities within specified audiences, reporting on performance against agreed targets.
• Work closely with Colleges, the Communications and Reputation team, the wider ER division and external partners to build knowledge, relationships and develop a comprehensive and unified approach to increase impact.
• Advise on and manage complex and often sensitive reputational risks, issues and crises, including as a member of the Emergency Communications team.
• Maintain understanding of policy areas and university developments, participating in horizon‑scanning to identify and mitigate potential reputational risks.
• Advise on the delivery of media training for academic and senior staff, organising delivery where appropriate.
• Carefully log activity within the editorial planning tool and participate in news gathering and assignment discussions.
• Work flexibly with a focus that may shift across different academic areas and audiences in response to strategic priorities.

Audience Insight and Evaluation:

• Conduct audience insight to shape communications planning by monitoring trends and understanding audience needs, using analytics.
• Monitor and evaluate performance against targets to inform planning and drive innovation.

Content and Copywriting:

• Work collaboratively with the Communications and Reputation team to identify, shape and maximise communications opportunities.
• Generate new ideas for content and copy, leading high‑quality creation across all channels, adapting content for diverse media outlets.
• Manage the development of communications collaterals, working with internal and external agencies and suppliers.
• Plan and place stories, features and media events in collaboration with relevant teams and agencies.

Relationship Management:

• Build relationships with third parties including media, policymakers, sector experts, research councils, journals, funding bodies, advocacy organisations and charities.
• Build relationships and mutual trust with colleagues at all levels, including senior leaders, professional services, academics, and partner organisations.
• Identify and develop potential institutional media spokespeople, providing training and securing media opportunities.
• Create media briefing materials for senior leaders.
• Use CRM systems to deliver targeted, timely communications.

Leadership and Management:

• Represent communications on university committees and meetings.
• Deputise in a leadership capacity as required.
• Hold line management responsibility for staff, ensuring effective workload planning, clear objectives and professional development to drive high performance.

General Duties:

• Act as a brand champion, representing and promoting the University’s values and identity.
• Be willing to work occasional evenings, weekends, and travel as needed.
• Provide additional support to a range of communications activities, including responding to press office inquiries, managing reactive media inquiries, supporting colleagues contacted by the press, contributing to crisis communications and participating in the on‑call duty rota.
• Promote a supportive and inclusive team culture, demonstrating diplomacy, maintaining confidentiality and complying with GDPR, accessibility and other regulations.
• Promote equality and valuing diversity, acting as a role model and fostering inclusive culture.
• Support the University’s sustainability agenda through resource‑efficiency working.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience:

• Educated to degree level (or holding equivalent vocational or professional qualifications). Where no qualification is held, significant practical relevant experience and expertise in a similar role will be required.
• Substantial experience in a Communications/Press/PR role working with the media.
• Proven news judgment and ability to weigh inputs about potential stories.
• Demonstrable experience devising and delivering multi‑channel strategic communications plans for a wide range of projects.
• Excellent writing, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience selling stories and proactive successes with media.
• Knowledge of, commitment to, and belief in the higher education sector.
• Experience with crisis communications.
• Project management skills managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Creative problem‑solver with a proactive and resilient approach.
• Digital literacy with experience of digital and social media channels.
• Experience building and managing relationships, influencing and collaborating at senior levels.
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity in engagement with various audiences.
• Professionalism, discretion and tact with sensitive information.
• Analytical ability to interpret data and market research, applying insights to strategies.
• Highly organised, meticulous, accurate under tight deadlines.
• Ability to work flexibly and independently, managing multiple priorities.

Other Requirements:

• Commitment to demonstrating behaviours aligned with the University and External Relations framework.
• Knowledge of Equality Act 2010 protected characteristics and ensuring equal treatment.

Contact: Informal enquiries to Danann Swanton, email: d.swanton@bham.ac.uk

Equality, Diversity, Inclusion: We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that drives innovation and debate. We are committed to proactively addressing barriers experienced by some groups and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We also commit to sustainability as part of our strategy.