Senior Communications Manager

We are looking for an experienced and creative Communications Manager to take on a key role in our rapidly growing organisation. As Communications Manager, you will lead all aspects of our communications and marketing activity with key stakeholders and with the general public. You will be developing and implementing the organisational Communications Strategy which will increase our profile as an organisation, maximise our reach and impact, and raise awareness of the vison, mission and aims of Black Thrive Global. 

JOB DESCRIPTION 

Job title:     Senior Communications Manager  

Reports to: Black Thrive Global CEO/Director of Programme and Strategy 

Manages: 1 x Comms and Engagement Lead, 1X Comms Project Officer, contractors, freelancers and volunteers 

Geographic focus: All 

Salary: £41,000- £48,000 

Hours: 37.5 per week (flexible working available)

Benefits: 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, pension contribution , employee assistance program

About Black Thrive 

Black Thrive Global (BTG) evolved from the work of the Black Thrive Lambeth Partnership, established in 2016. We exist to address the inequalities that negatively impact the mental health and well-being of Black people so that the thriving of Black communities is the norm. 

Our guiding principle is that Black communities should be at the forefront of reimagining, redefining, and co-creating a society where systemic racism and other oppressive systems have been dismantled so that they have fulfilling lives. We have two priorities – building a Black Thrive Research Institute and embedding race equity in systems change. 

Purpose of the role  

We are looking for an experienced and creative Communications Manager to take on a key role in our rapidly growing organisation. As Communications Manager, you will lead all aspects of our communications and marketing activity with key stakeholders and with the general public. You will be developing and implementing the organisational Communications Strategy which will increase our profile as an organisation, maximise our reach and impact, and raise awareness of the vison, mission and aims of Black Thrive Global. 

Working closely with the Directors, the CEO and the staff, you will create a compelling, coherent and consistent narrative that joins up all our communication channels, key messaging around core BTG work, and plan strategically for key dates linked to activities and events corelated with our aims and mission. To do this, you will work with staff across our organisation and with the communities we represent to increase our engagement with the general public and key stakeholders. Our communications will be both reactive and proactive and the post holder will provide quick responses to emerging media stories. 
 

Duties and responsibilities 

1. Oversee Black Thrive’s communication activity, co-ordinating that activity and planning for all communications channels, including website, social media and external newsletters. This role includes marketing Black Thrive to different audiences to raise the profile of the organisation in support of its strategic aims. 

2. Deal proactively with media enquiries, maintain the media database and log enquiries, monitor media coverage. 

3. Implement effective external communications strategy to develop a consistent and coherent narrative for Black Thrive; amplify and support the work of the organisation among the general public, potential strategic partners (including but not exclusive to academics, community partners and local decision-making bodies); and provide clear goals around communication and brand awareness. 

4. Evaluate and monitor communications activity – developing KPI’s in line with our Communications Strategy, and ensuring the information is used to build on success and to develop strategy and outputs.  

5. Lead on the management and delivery of the communications calendar. 

6. Manage and lead the Communications Team staff. 

7. Work with the Black Thrive staff team (and with external agencies as appropriate) to develop and maintain website content and upload website content. 

8. Implement a social media strategy that is integrated with wider team projects and ensure consistent messaging is shared across all platforms. 

9. Work with the Directors and staff team to support proactive and reactive media relations and social media output. 

10. Work with the Directors, CEO, team members and freelance staff to manage and coordinate the production of Annual reports. 

11. Provide oversight of publications and materials, ensuring brand guidelines are followed. 

12. Produce engaging content for internal and external blog posts, newsletters and other forms of media to be shared across all platforms.  

13. Provide in-house design for publications and promotional materials as required.  

14. Produce regular e-newsletters. 

15. Oversee the work of freelancers and volunteers as required. 

16. Manage the communications budget. 

17. Act as a brand guardian and champion: Developing core messaging guidelines to include organisational style guide, tone of voice, etc. and advising others to ensure that all content and messaging is on brand. 

18. Spend up to 10% of time supporting corporate business, such as strategy and administration. 

19. Occasionally work at weekends and in the evenings when required. 

The above is not an exhaustive list of duties, and you will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by your changing role within the organisation and the overall business objectives of the organisation.  

PERSON SPECIFICATION 

Communications Manager 

E=Essential, D=Desirable 

Experience 

1.  Experience of raising organisational profile through developing and delivering creative, engaging social media and digital communications.   E 

2. Experience of working in a creative communications role with autonomy.   E 

3. Experience of brand development and communications strategy design and implementation.    E 

4. Experience of managing a WordPress website CMS, including Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), site navigation, Gutenberg page structuring, [and content updates with basic HTML knowledge *] and uploading website content.   E 

5. Experience of writing press releases, media statements, web content, handling media enquiries and briefing and supporting with media interviews.   E 

6. Ability to write regular content for website, weekly email news summary and monthly subscriber newsletter.  E 

7. Experience of planning, delivering and supporting range of events,  including assemblies and capturing images for publication.   E 

8. Experience managing and mentoring staff   E 

9. Experience in the use of CRM systems   D 

Ability, skills, knowledge 

1. Commitment to equality for all people as well as good knowledge and understanding of the experiences of Black people of African and Caribbean descent and a strong drive to address the factors which negatively impact upon their health and wellbeing.   E 

2. Excellent writing skills and ability to consistently create content that is clear and engaging.   E 

3. High level of digital competence and creativity to support strategic goals .  E 

4. Ability to work at speed through ambiguity and uncertainty and remain calm under pressure   E 

5. Possess excellent interpersonal skills and can communicate effectively with a variety of people at all levels. E 

6. Ability to work across teams and build relationships with stakeholders   E 

7. Ability to work independently, plan and prioritise own work to deadlines and ensure delivery of key objectives. E 

8. Ability to manage budgets and report on spend when appropriate   D 

9. Demonstrable competence in Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe InDesign.   E 

A basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required but we will treat applicants who have a criminal record fairly and will not unreasonably discriminate because of a conviction or other information revealed.