UK Young Academy Communications Officer
Job Scope:
The UK Young Academy (UKYA) is an interdisciplinary membership organisation, launched in June 2022, that provides a voice to individuals who are early in their career and are passionate and enthusiastic about driving societal change. The UKYA is currently supported operationally by the Royal Society.
The Society is recruiting a Communications Officer to support the UKYA as it engages its wider membership and various stakeholder groups who support the initiative. This is an exciting opportunity to work with a relatively new organisation and help it to reach its full potential by leading on its communication strategy and increasing the visibility of its work to both internal and external audiences.The role will be responsible for developing and delivering a clear communications and engagement plan for the Young Academy to engage its members, prospective members and the wider public across its various channels including website, email marketing and social media.
The post holder will be confident communicator with the ability to work under pressure and manage a varied workload and conflicting deadlines. Experience of delivering creative and co-ordinated communications campaigns across different marketing and promotional channels is essential, alongside a strategic and proactive approach to explore evolving opportunities as the UKYA works to establish itself in its first few years.
The role will be based at the Royal Society in Carlton House Terrace in central London and UKYA activities will take place at the Royal Society’s offices, at partner national Academy locations across the UK or delivered virtually.
Please note that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.
Reports to: UK Young Academy Programme ManagerPay band: C
Salary: £36,500 pa
Contract type: Fixed term contract until 31^st March 2026, with the possibility to extend
Hours: 35
Location: Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG plus the option for some hybrid remote working
Closing date for applications: Midnight 19 March 2025
Interviews will be held: WC 31^st March 2025
Responsibilities:
The work of the UK Young Academy Communications Officer will include:
- Devising and implementing a communications strategy and delivery plan to help facilitate membership engagement, applications for membership and wider engagement with the public and the UKYA’s key networks.
- Delivering and analysing the success of email marketing campaigns for membership and public newsletters to ensure engagement with the UKYA’s core audience groups.
- Developing and managing a social media strategy, including the UKYA’s established platforms, to engage existing audiences and build its network and reach. This may include reviewing opportunities for new platforms and digital activities in the future.
- Managing the UKYA’s website to ensure content is up-to-date, accessible and showcases the work of the UKYA. This includes project overviews, event promotion, news and blog pieces and general updates for announcements and membership calls.
- Coordinating engagement with press and media through press releases and news stories, with support from the Royal Society’s Media and PR team, to generate media buy-in with core activity.
- Supporting the wider membership with external communications around member led projects including key message generation, communication plans and possible stakeholder briefings.
- Facilitating partner academy communications for core activities, including coordination of briefings for key announcements or deliverables, and translation of UKYA communication and design assets to meet the UKYA’s bilingual commitments.
- Building a suite of simple assets using design software for use across the UKYA’s communication channels.
- Ensuring all UKYA materials meet the UKYA brand guidelines and house style.
- Ensuring all UKYA communications are compliant with data protection legislation and the UKYA’s policies and procedures.
- Supporting the wider UKYA staff team in the delivery of the Young Academy’s events and programmes.
- Supporting the UKYA member-led initiatives as needed.
Key Knowledge and Skills Required:
Education / qualifications / knowledge / interests
¨ Evidenced interest in the research and innovation landscape and its broader social significance.
Essential
¨ Excellent knowledge of office systems and procedures, including computer skills in Microsoft Office
Essential
¨ Working knowledge of communications and marketing practices
Essential
¨ Knowledge of the research environment within the UK.
Essential
Experience
¨ Experience of working independently and in a team environment
Essential
¨ Ability to build effective relationships with key stakeholders and partners
Essential
¨ Experience of implementing communication and marketing strategies
Essential
¨ Experience of working with marketing systems such as Mailchimp (email), Smart Survey (surveys), Canva (design) or similar
Essential
¨ Experience of identifying and targeting a variety of audiences
Essential
¨ Experience of writing for a variety of audiences
Essential
¨ Experience of producing promotional material for a variety of media
¨ Experience of using social media in a professional capacity
¨ Experience of evaluating reporting data to optimise ways of working
Essential
Essential
Highly desirable
¨ Experience of establishing and maintaining a network of contacts
¨ Experience of working with a Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) system such as Microsoft Dynamics 365
Highly desirable
Desirable
Circumstances
¨ Able to be flexible about working hours, including working evenings and weekends on occasion, and travel across the UK.
Essential
¨ Able to work in a non-smoking environment
Essential