This is a wonderful opportunity to join a great team saving nature and inspiring people in one of the most beautiful landscapes in the UK. 

We are looking for a PR expert to lead our local communications, working with counterparts across the UK, to develop communications plans to engage and empower, adapting approaches to suit the context of Northern Ireland. This post is for someone who enjoys creating strategies, developing people, teams and partnerships, and who wants to build support for nature’s recovery.

What's the role about?

The Head of Communications and Marketing creates communications strategies to support our vision that people understand, support and engage with the work of RSPB NI. This role leads our communications development and delivery in Northern Ireland, in line with the RSPB communications strategy.

The role sits within the Fundraising and Communications team, leads a team of four and reports to the Head of Fundraising and Communications. With experience of communications planning and using audience insights, the post holder will be responsible for the development of work plans and providing specialist expertise to support operational teams.

This role creates the strategy and conditions to achieve conservation objectives as part of our strategic communications. The post holder will communicate our work with responsibility for:

• Communications planning across Northern Ireland, including for projects delivered with partners
• Multi-channel communication delivery
• Providing leadership on campaigns
• Management of reputational risk
• Relationship building with opinion formers 
• Ensuring communications products are written in a clear, compelling and on-brand and accessible style  

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

1. Sound knowledge and experience of communications strategy and planning, communications regulation and compliance, reputation risk management
2. Understanding of brand strategy and how this should be implemented in country context
3. Excellent leadership and people management skills – experience of leading and developing teams to develop team embers for high performance and build a positive culture
4. Excellent written and verbal communication skills to present, influence and represent the organisation
5. Experience of providing professional expertise and advice relating to communications
6. Project management skills to successfully plan and manage projects, manage risks, costs, time and project teams (often with external partners)
7. Creativity to identify and respond to emerging trends and techniques in communications
8. Awareness of political, economic and social context and implications for communications delivery
9. A degree level qualification in a relevant subject or able to show equivalent ability through work experience

This is a Fixed-Term / Full-Time role for nine months, to cover a maternity leave contract commencing on or around July 2022.  This role is flexible and could potentially be based in any of the 4 countries of the UK.

The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position w/c 13 June. For further information please contact sara.mccracken@rspb.org.uk

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As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

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The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.