NGI Communications Manager

Contract:     2 years, part-time (30 hours)

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Communications Manager to join the John Innes Centre Communications and Engagement Department, to support the delivery of the Next Generation Infrastructure programme. 

About the John Innes Centre:

The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant and microbial sciences. We nurture a creative, curiosity-led approach to answering fundamental questions in bioscience, and translate that knowledge into societal benefits. Our strategic vision, Healthy Plants, Healthy People, Healthy Planet, sets out our ambitious long-term goals for the game changing impact of our science globally.  

Our employees enjoy access to state-of-the-art technology and a diverse range of specialist training opportunities, including support for leadership and management. Click here to find out more about working at the John Innes Centre.

The role:

The NGI Communications Manager will lead on the development and support the delivery of the communications activities for a large capital infrastructure programme, Next Generation Infrastructure (NGI). 

NGI is a programme of significant capital investment and business change to improve and evolve the research capabilities of the John Innes Centre (JIC) and The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL) at the Norwich Research Park. The proposed investment would transform the existing capabilities of both centres via new and shared interdisciplinary research facilities with a goal for the facility to be near net-zero. 

The Communications Manager role will raise awareness of the programme and demonstrate the potential benefits that this investment will facilitate. In doing so, the post holder will promote the Healthy Plants, Healthy People, Healthy Planet (HP3) vision as an ambitious Norwich Research Park wide plan for the future to attract new collaborators, partners and funding to enable the full delivery of the NGI programme.

The post holder will provide strategic communications expertise, particularly in relation to large infrastructure investment programmes, and ensure our communication activities remain aligned across our diverse portfolio of research and innovation. 

Key responsibilities include supporting the development and delivery of the NGI communications and stakeholder engagement strategy through developing and embedding clear narratives, thus ensuring a compelling case for fundraising and strategic engagement activities.

The ideal candidate:

The ideal candidate will be educated to degree level with a thorough working knowledge of research communications, and have the skills required to lead the development and delivery of a communications strategy for a large capital infrastructure programme.  

They will have proven ability to manage communication channels appropriately and effectively and evidence of delivering a communications strategy in a complex system facing competing short- and long-term challenges and priorities.

Additional information:

We welcome applications from candidates seeking job-share, part-time or other flexible working arrangements.

Interviews will be held on 23 April 2023. 

Please note, this post does not meet UKVI requirements to provide visa sponsorship. 

For further information and details of how to apply, please visit our website http://jobs.jic.ac.uk or contact the Human Resources team on 01603 450814 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk quoting reference 1004417.

We are an equal opportunities employer, actively supporting inclusivity and diversity.  As a Disability Confident organisation, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy. We are proud to hold a prestigious Gold Athena SWAN award in recognition of our inclusive culture, commitment and good practices towards advancing of gender equality. We offer an exciting, stimulating, diverse research environment and actively promote a family friendly workplace. The Institute is also a member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme.

The John Innes Centre is a registered charity (No. 223852) grant-aided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.