Communications Officer

University Grade 6 (currently £33,832 – 39,705 p.a.)
Full-time and Permanent
Closing date: Monday 7 October 2024 at 12:00
Reporting to: Database and Development Operations Manager

Development and Alumni Engagement Overview

Green Templeton College is entering an exciting period, with ambitions to raise £120 million over the next decade to:

• Deliver an Environment of Excellence by transforming our built estate
• Provide Opportunities for All by broadening access and providing support and opportunities to our students
• Foster Innovation, through the development of centres of excellence and academic hubs

The work of the development and alumni engagement team will be pivotal in helping the college realise these ambitions. Over the past five years the college has significantly increased its alumni engagement, expanded its networks and its emerging case for support is close to completion.

As evidence of the progress the college has made, it has been successful in a bid for external funding to increase and enhance the capability in development and alumni engagement and is now seeking to recruit the first of several new specialist roles, including a dedicated Communications Officer.

Role overview

Green Templeton is seeking a dynamic Communications Officer to join its Development and Alumni Engagement team. They will be an enthusiastic self-starter, excited to work in a fast-paced environment with a varied workload.

The Communications Officer will report to the Database and Development Operations Manager and will work closely with the college’s Communications team. They will be responsible for developing and delivering a comprehensive and effective communication plan to engage alumni, and prospective donors and supporters.

The Communications Officer will be responsible for creating alumni- and supporter- related content for email communications, the college website and social media as well as helping to create marketing materials for campaigns and other projects.

Key roles and responsibilities

1. Email

• Write and edit monthly alumni newsletter, termly stewardship newsletter and a range of fundraising and event-related communications.
• Work with the Director of Communications to review, develop and maintain a range of email templates.
• Work with Database and Development Operations Manager to increase engagement using segmented email communications to identified audiences.
• Use the Development and Alumni Relations System (DARS, the university-wide database) to send bulk emails.

2. Website and Social Media

• Review, develop plans for, and then implement changes to the alumni, legacy and giving pages on the college website.
• Ensure that the alumni and giving pages on the college website are regularly updated.
• Work alongside the Digital Communications Officer in the Communications team in support of social media, specifically around graduations and alumni and supporter engagement activities.

3. Content Production

• Source, write and edit lively news and updates for Green Templeton’s global network of alumni and supporters.
• Support the Director of Communications with the production of the college’s annual flagship Observatory magazine.
• Support the development and production of fundraising marketing materials, including around campaigns and regular giving activities.
• Take and solicit photographs of and from alumni and supporters.

4. Administration

• Maintain accurate records of communications activities.
• Monitor and analyse the effectiveness of alumni and supporter communications, providing regular reports and recommendations for improvement.

5. General

• Regular working outside of normal hours is required, in support of departmental and college events. This will include graduations, alumni socials, formal dinners and fundraising events. Time off in lieu will be given.
• Take an active role in the development and alumni engagement team by contributing to wider departmental plans and strategy as appropriate.
• Build strong working relationships with the Director of Communications, Digital Communications Officer and other colleagues across the college staff.
• Participate actively in relevant networks, both within the university and externally, and be alert to new developments in alumni and supporter communications.
• Undertake relevant professional development activities as required to enhance skills and understanding.
• Undertake any other duties that may reasonably be requested by the Database and Development Operations Manager or the Director of Development and Alumni Engagement, appropriate to the level of the post.

Person Specification

Essential

• Educated to degree level, or equivalent professional experience.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills to produce material for a range of audiences and purposes.
• Ability to remain calm and maintain a high level of attention to detail, including when working under pressure.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including an ability to navigate competing priorities across departments.
• Bright with inquiring mind and interested in profile of college and its related activities.
• Highly motivated and able to work independently with an inquisitive, logical, pro-active approach to problem solving, and as part of a multi-functional team.
• Strong IT skills across the Microsoft Office suite.
• Organised and able to prioritise.
• Comfortable with shifting priorities, a need to be flexible, and ‘mucking in’ with a range of activities.
• Able to deal with confidential matters and act with discretion.
• Experience of and/or confidence taking and editing photos
• Willing and able to attend events and to work outside standard office hours.

Desirable

• Experience editing websites.
• Understanding and experience of bulk email production and distribution
• Knowledge of data protection, copyright and website accessibility issues
• Experience of working in a fundraising environment or team.

Terms and Conditions of Employment

Reporting

Database and Development Operations Manager

Hours

Working hours are 37.5 hours per week, worked over Monday to Friday with occasional Saturdays.

Salary

Salary Scale 6, within the range £33,832 p.a. – £39,705 p.a. for 37.5 hours per week. Appointment salary will be dependent on experience. Pay award pending.

Location

The successful candidate will be based on the site at Green Templeton College, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6HG. The post may require travel to and work at other College and University sites.

Duration

This is a permanent post subject to a six-month probationary period.

Holiday

30 days per annum plus Bank Holidays.

Pension

The post is pensionable and the post holder eligible for membership of the Universities’ USS contributory pension scheme.

Other benefits

• Eligibility for Oxford Colleges Healthcare Scheme (paid by employee through salary deduction)
• Enhanced maternity pay
• Sick pay, related to length of service, rising to six months full pay and six months half pay after five years
• Interest-free travel to work loan
• Parking is currently available on a first-come first-served basis (this is not a contractual right for staff and it may be removed at any time)
• Free lunches are provided when the kitchens are open
• Use of college sports facilities including tennis, squash, punt and gym
• University Card giving free access to the Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum, libraries and other college gardens (by appointment)

Green Templeton College is an independent employer and does not automatically apply University of Oxford employment terms and conditions or policies.

Green Templeton welcomes applications from people from all sections of the community and are particularly encouraging those from diverse groups, such as LGBTQ+ and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, who currently are under-represented in the college staff team.

Green Templeton recognises that the actions and choices of our community have a huge impact on the college’s environmental footprint, and are committed to embedding sustainable thinking throughout its operations.

How to apply

Please submit the following to hr@gtc.ox.ac.uk by Monday 7 October 2024 at 12:00:

• CV providing details of relevant achievements as well as your professional and educational history.
• Covering letter summarising your interest in this post and providing evidence of your ability to match the criteria outlined in the Person Specification.
• Details of your latest salary, notice period and names and contact details of two referees. Green Templeton will assume that it is free to approach referees at any stage of the application process unless the applicant states otherwise.
• A Diversity Monitoring Form, which will assist us with monitoring equal opportunities in recruitment. We can assure you that the information given is kept separately from the information used in recruitment decisions; that all information is strictly confidential, used purely for statistical purposes and to ensure that policies are being applied fairly

Recruitment Timetable

The closing date is Monday 7 October 2024. Interviews will be held on Friday 25 October 2024.

Data Protection

All data supplied by applicants will be used only for the purposes of determining their suitability for the post, and will be held in accordance with the principles of the Data Protection Act 2018 and the college’s Data Protection Policy.

Travel Expenses

The college will reimburse receipted travel expenses to interview at the rate of a second class rail fare, within the UK.