Communications Manager (England)

Job Description

We’re looking for a communications professional who is passionate about environmental issues and can help to drive forward the RSPB mission by raising awareness and support of our work and inspiring action among a range of audiences to help save nature.

Nature is in crisis and we need to broaden the reach of our communications among public, specialist, business and political audiences to encourage more people to join our cause, creating a stronger force for nature.

We are looking for an experienced, creative, organised communications manager who understands how to develop and deliver good quality communications for a range of audiences and channels, while working across a large and complex organisation.

You’ll get to work on a variety of subjects, campaigns and issues across England, showcasing the wide range of impactful work we deliver. This could include leading the communications in support of the Big Garden Birdwatch campaign, developing and delivering communications plans to support species conservation efforts, or inspiring people to connect with, or take action for, nature.

No two days are the same in this large, friendly and supportive team.

The role involves:

• Planning and leading the regional communications for some of the RSPB’s major UK-wide campaigns such as Big Garden Birdwatch
• Contributing to the development and delivery of the RSPB communications plan in England, and co-ordinate priorities and objectives for our work in liaison with UKHQ, to ensure our content is on-brand, relevant to key audiences and that we are deploying resources to maximise impact.
• Working alongside and acting as the main point of contact for key colleagues across the RSPB to identify communications needs and opportunities.
• Co-ordinating RSPB England’s responses to regional media enquiries, guiding communications officers to provide timely quotes that are consistent with our official policies
• Identifying, understanding, and managing issues that may give rise to reputational damage to the RSPB, both over the long term and as unexpected issues emerge, and ensuring relevant internal staff are informed and briefed
• Working across a variety of external and owned communication channels
• Developing external relationships with a variety of media professionals and partner organisations
• Copywriting and content creation for digital channels (including video, images, graphics, paid advertising and blogs)
• Monitoring, evaluation and reporting of communications activities
• Building good internal working relationships with regional, country and UK teams
• Working alongside three other communications managers and one visitor experience marketing manager, to support the head of communications in the management of the England Communications and Marketing Team.
• Line management of Communications Officers and volunteers.

What we need from you:

Essential

• Experience working in communications, public relations, media, marketing or related fields. This could include:
  • Experience of media relations, reputation management and using a range of tactics to achieve print, broadcast, and online coverage
  • Experience in communications planning, and leading, delivering and evaluating multi-channel communications campaigns
  • Experience of managing digital communication channels and content creation
• Leadership skills, ability to think strategically and inspire others, including ability to motivate and develop employees and volunteers
• Managing projects across dispersed geographic areas
• Able to communicate complex topics in a clear manner to a range of audiences
• A friendly and collaborative approach, alongside strong negotiation and problem-solving skills. The ability to advise and support others and resolve conflicting priorities across diverse teams
• Excellent communications (written and verbal)
• Highly organised, with strong prioritisation skills combined with the ability to meet tight deadlines
• Ability to work effectively under your own initiative and an ability to guide and develop others
• Working understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion, and its application within communications delivery
• Knowledge of and interest in nature, nature conservation and environmental issues.

You can work from home, be based in one of our offices or be a hybrid worker for this role. Please note occasional travel across England will be required, and occasional out of hours work by prior arrangement, for which time off in lieu is applicable.

This is a permanent, full-time role, however we are open to discussing flexible working arrangements. We are looking to conduct interviews for this position in early May. For further information please contact dorothy.moore@rspb.org.uk.

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

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

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

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