Communications Officer

This is a unique opportunity to join a high performing team who relentlessly strives to end the devastating impact of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Duchenne UK is a small, family focussed organisation. We are led by two parents of boys who live with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, giving employees a very strong feeling of contribution to our mission.  We prioritise team building and wellness through an annual offsite Team Away Day and an annual offsite Wellness Day, alongside social activity throughout the year.

We operate a hybrid working week, to balance our team-based culture with a positive home-life. In the summer months of July and August, staff benefit from ‘Summer Fridays’, allowing them to log off at lunchtime on a Friday (pro rata’d for part time staff) and enjoy the long summer weekends.

The Communications Officer will play a key role in raising the profile of Duchenne UK and supporting our work.

The focus of the Communications Officer’s role will be exciting and varied. It will include research, healthcare, fundraising and events communications, and will be aimed at those with a personal interest in DMD and those working to help people with DMD.

A key part of the role will be growing our online audience and leading and managing our social media channels, our monthly newsletter, and our website.

The role also involves press activity and working with other organisations in the area of DMD.

Content creation and digital marketing is central to the role. This includes drafting compelling copy, creating designs and videos that raise awareness, increase understanding and drive increased participation in our work.

• Support the Head of Communications in delivering the communications strategy across our programmes, research, events and fundraising
• Create compelling content for digital channels, including website, social media, newsletters and film content
• Manage social media channels to grow our online audience and engage existing followers
• Edit the Duchenne UK monthly email newsletter, working with the wider team to gather content and testing outputs to optimise engagement
• Manage updates to the Duchenne UK website
• Design creative content using programmes such as Canva or through briefing external producers and designers
• Regularly monitor digital analytics to achieve ambitious KPIs and grow engagement
• Manage media enquiries, creating comments and briefings as required
• Identify and create media opportunities, including writing and issuing press releases, opinion pieces and comments
• Manage our media volunteers including interviewing new volunteers and identifying opportunities for them to tell their stories
• Other duties according to the needs of the team and including attending occasional out-of-hours events

Experience and knowledge

Essential

• At least two years of experience in a communications role
• Writing communications for external audiences on a range of channels
• Managing/directing press and media enquiries, drafting comments, briefings, and press releases, and engaging the media. Proven experience in generating media coverage with a good understanding of the needs and expectations of different outlets and publications
• Writing and overseeing briefs for agencies and contractors (e.g. photographers / videographers)
• Producing social media content and coordinating multiple social channels
• Producing email communications using email marketing software
• Using a content management system to update web content

Desirable

• Monitoring and evaluation of analytics
• Creating graphics
• Creating videos
• Working with case studies
• Working in a communications role at a charity, particularly a health charity

Key skills

Essential

• Excellent writing skills, being able to write concisely for different channels and audiences
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to proofread
• Creative thinking and an ability to spot an opportunity
• The ability to work effectively under pressure and meet tight deadlines

Benefits

• 25 days of annual leave + 8 days of public holidays (both pro rata)
• Summer Fridays – half days on Fridays in July and August (pro rata)
• Flexible working policy
• Hybrid working
• Standard Employer Pensions contributions after 3 months
• Team wellness day and team away day
• Training and development opportunities

 Terms and conditions

The appointment is subject to satisfactory references and an initial six-month period of probation, during which performance will be regularly reviewed.

The applicant must have the right to work in the UK and provide relevant ‘right to work’ documentation.

Relevant training will be provided during induction as well as opportunities to develop your career through experience of different aspects of the charity’s work and working with colleagues on new initiatives.

The organisation’s hybrid working policy is at the discretion of the line-manager during the first three months of employment, to support the induction process.