Communications and Public Affairs Manager

Marketing and Student Recruitment

Communications and Public Affairs Manager – REQ002038

The Marketing and Student Recruitment team at University of the West of Scotland has an exciting opportunity for an experienced, proactive and enthusiastic Communications and Public Affairs Manager.

You will play a key role in leading and delivering effective, integrated external and internal communications, public affairs and events activities for UWS.

You will develop and drive integrated, omni-channel campaigns that raise UWS’s reputation with key stakeholders, including prospective and current students and staff, government, partners, funders, alumni and the wider public.

You will build productive and effective relationships with colleagues, at all levels of seniority, across the institution and beyond; bringing passion and creativity to the role, in order to successfully deliver focused communications and public affairs activities that support the University’s wider strategic aims and objectives.

You will play a pivotal role in protecting and enhancing UWS’s reputation, by devising and overseeing the implementation of strategies encompassing the full communications and public affairs mix; including external communication, two-way internal staff engagement, student communication, media relations, campaigns, social media, publications, web content, events and policy briefings.

The successful candidate should have the following:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent, preferably including a communications and public affairs element.
• Experience of managing people and developing a high-performing team
• Proven track record of successful design, delivery and evaluation of corporate communications and public affairs activities within a large, complex organisation.
• Evidence of the successful development and delivery of multi-channel, integrated corporate communications, public relations and public affairs activities aligned to both external environmental, and internal organisational, priorities.
• Experience of managing external and internal high-profile events, awards, conferences or large internal staff/student events.

ABOUT US

UWS was named Higher Educational Institution of the Year in The Herald Higher Education Awards 2022 and is ranked in the top 150 universities worldwide under 50 years old (2022 Young University Rankings). UWS is one of Scotland’s largest and most dynamic modern universities. Our reach across the country, together with our London campus, means that UWS is a significant force in global knowledge creation, innovation, and a leading provider of undergraduate, postgraduate and research degree education. Our degrees provide students with a transformational experience; equipping them with highly sought-after graduate skills that set them up for global success in world-leading sectors, industries and businesses. With cutting-edge courses, modern pedagogy and practical knowledge, we enable our students and staff to experience the joy of learning, teaching, research and innovation, and apply their knowledge for the benefit of others. 

Our professional services teams are the backbone of UWS, providing robust and innovative solutions to support the vast range of work across learning and teaching, and research and innovation. You will join a supportive and dedicated team, playing a key role in a range of work that will help drive forward our ambition to deliver world-leading research, and graduates who will design, shape and build a new future.

We offer our colleagues a caring and supportive environment, across five campuses, and a competitive benefits package which includes:

• 24 days of annual leave, plus a further 12 days for public/university holidays
• 19.3% employer’s pension contribution, including death in service benefits on joining the pension scheme
• A flexible approach to working pattern and work-life balance
• Employee discount scheme across 3,500 retailers
• Fitness facilities across our campuses
• Access to a range of health and wellbeing resources, including occupational health, physiotherapy and access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• Professional, career and research development opportunities.

Closing Date:             Monday 10^th April 2023

Interview Date:          Week commencing 2^nd May 2023

The University reserves the right to shorten/extend the closing date of any position where a high/low volume of suitable applications are received. Therefore, if you are interested in this role, an early application would be encouraged.

UWS is committed to equality and diversity and welcomes applications from underrepresented groups.

UWS is a “Disability Confident” employer.

University of the West of Scotland is a registered Scottish charity, no. SC002520.