Science Communications Manager – Content

The Science Communications Manager leads an expert team that inspires and informs the public, donors and researchers about dementia research, the progress being made, wider developments in the field and the impact of Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK) funding.

The postholder plays a vital role in helping tell the story and scientific narrative of ARUK to a variety of audiences, cementing the charity’s role as a leading authority on dementia research in the UK and globally. They also help to create a clear, creative, and compelling case for the need for research and the progress being made towards finding a cure.

Key responsibilities include finding and developing stories around ARUK research, managing our news and views website, and commissioning multi-media content that tells the story of ARUK and progress in dementia research. 

With much of the charity’s fundraising propositions centring around our research portfolio, this role and the team it leads are the keystone that unites our research output and fundraising approaches.  This means working closely with our Philanthropy and Gifts in Wills teams to create impactful research content, as well as supporting engagement activities.

This means you will be an effective and inspiring communicator, creating and landing content covering ARUK research, impact and commentary across multiple communications channels and audiences. This includes: creating social media and digital content, such as blogs and website summaries; managing the progress reporting for a philanthropic audience and creating content for supporter and researcher newsletters.

You will also be expected to engage in broader communications and events work both within the team and beyond it. This is a challenging, creative and busy role, but one that oversees a function that is absolutely critical to ARUK and its mission.

 

Main duties and responsibilities of the role:

·         Work with both the Senior Science Communications Manager and the Head of Communications, to plan and implement inspirational science communications programmes and initiatives that support the delivery of the charity’s 10-year strategy.

·         Lead and develop a team of 2 Officers, working closely across the wider science communications team.

·         Develop and maintain a first-rate working knowledge of the dementia research field, including ARUK’s portfolio, strategy, impact and history, and act as a go-to person for the latest information and insight in dementia research and able to communicate this effectively.

·         Ensure the team develops and maintains relationships with a wide network of experts from across the dementia research field, including through attending research conferences and representing ARUK.

·         Develop and implement communications plans for dementia research stories – both ARUK-funded and responding to other stories in the news.

·         Responsible for regular out-of-hours science sign off, alongside the wider science communications management team (organised through an on-call rota, and occasional ad hoc).

·         Supporting the Philanthropy and Gifts in Wills teams by ensuring progress reports are delivered on time and have met the required brief, producing other engaging research content when needed, managing a series of lab visits, and identifying and briefing scientific speakers for events or VIP visits.

·         Oversee the charity’s work to engage researchers, growing the field, sharing best practice, and coordinating events and development opportunities to ensure the UK remains a world-class place to conduct dementia research.

·         Develop and maintain high-level narrative documents that make the case for research and the work of ARUK, and devise and develop innovative and creative communications products and campaigns based on this narrative.

·         Manage the ‘Our Research’ and ‘News and Views’ sections of the ARUK website, ensuring engaging and up-to-date content, video and graphics, and monitoring the performance of digital content.

·         Lead the development of public-facing communications for our major research initiatives such as the Drug Discovery Alliance, Clinical Accelerator programme and UK Dementia Research Institute.

·         Represent ARUK to a high level within key relationships and partnership projects including, but not restricted to, Join Dementia Research, Brains for Dementia Research, Blood Biomarker Challenge, the Science Media Centre and other shorter-term partnerships.

·         Manage multiple short and long term projects, working with teams within the charity and key external stakeholders.

·         Ensure activities comply with ARUK’s branding and style guide.

 

What we are looking for:

·         Educated to Degree Level in life sciences.

·         Experience of working with the media at a national level.

·         Experience of developing multi-media communications including film content, infographics for a variety of audiences.

·         Line management experience.

·         Project management experience.

·         Ability to identify and develop creative and engaging public communications opportunities emanating from scientific research.

·         An eye for creativity and innovation in communications.

·         Excellent organisational skills; the ability to manage a large number of tasks to multiple deadlines.

·         Ability to communicate appropriately with people affected by dementia and their families.

·         Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills: can work collaboratively with and manage multiple stakeholders within and outside the organisation.

·         First-rate editorial and writing skills, excellent journalistic and news sense.

·         A confident and friendly manner; would feel at ease representing the charity to a range of audiences to a high level.

·         Working with drive, flair, independence, intelligence and initiative.

·         A passion for, and curiosity about, dementia research.

·         Willingness and ability to travel in the UK and beyond, to work outside of regular office hours when needed.

 

Additional Information:

Ways of working: As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.

Roles that are classed as part of the Agile ways of working are not able to claim any costs for Mileage/Travel on Public Transport, Accommodation and/or Meals.  This includes when attending the office for various meetings/events.

Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD. 

Salary: Circa £44,000 per annum, plus benefits

Please download the Vacancy Pack on our website for more information.

The closing date for applications is the 20th October 2024, with interviews likely to be held week commencing the 4th November 2024. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity as the closing date may be brought forward at any time. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential.  We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.  Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.

As part of our commitment to be an inclusive employer and ensure fairness and consistency in selecting the best candidate for this role, your CV will be anonymised. Please however note we are unable to anonymise the application question which you are required to complete. When answering this question please remove any personal information, including your name. All questions answered as part of your application are also anonymised and not shared with the hiring panel. The hiring panel will only be made aware of your name and address once you are invited for an interview. Should you need any adjustments at either the application or interview stage, then please contact us via our website. 

How to apply: Please create an online account using our Online Recruitment Platform which can be accessed through our Job Vacancies page. You will be able to attach your CV to your application and track the status of your application.

About Alzheimer’s Research UK: Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure.  Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope. 

There has never been a more important and exciting time in dementia research. With promising new drugs in clinical trials that slow the progression of the diseases that cause it, and revolutionary new ways to diagnose them on the horizon, we are now at a tipping point. Working with the smartest minds globally and across the UK, with industry and academia, Alzheimer’s Research UK is uniquely placed to invest in the very best research identifying barriers to a cure and knocking them down so that there are more and better treatments for everyone with dementia. For the first time in history, we can see a future where people with dementia can get a swift and accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments that could slow or even stop their disease. We stand for everyone affected by dementia. We stand for a cure. 

In 2022, we were incredibly proud to be awarded a 3-star accreditation by Best Companies which recognises ‘World Class’ levels of workplace engagement and were also listed in the prestigious Best Companies lists:

• 48th in the 100 Best Large Companies to Work For in the UK.

• 19th in the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the East of England.

• 3rd in the 50 Best Companies to Work For in the Charity Sector.

In addition, we were also shortlisted for a special award recognising the work undertaken on reducing our environmental impact.

In 2021, we were awarded the HR Management award by The Charity Times for our Wellbeing initiatives throughout the pandemic.

In 2020, we demonstrated our commitment to changing the way we think and act about mental health in the workplace and signed the Time to Change Employer Pledge. 

ARUK really does look after its people, where you will be able to add value and make a difference. 

To view further details about working for us and the benefits we offer, please visit Alzheimer’s Research UK