What skills and experience we're looking forThe successful candidate will have the following essential qualifications, experi.....
What skills and experience we're looking for
The successful candidate will have the following essential qualifications, experiences, skills and qualities:
Experience
• Possess a degree or equivalent qualification
• Experience working in communications and/or marketing roles
• Strong understanding of the core principles of communications and marketing
• Strong understanding of social media
• Ability to create content for multi-channel use
• Experience of working with external companies/agencies (managing third party relationships)
• Experience of line managing
• Experience of working effectively as a part of a team
• Experience of building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and managing their needs.
• Experience of capturing and executing ‘customer’ feedback (in this case students/staff/parents)
• Experience of producing and managing a budget
• Excellent IT skills including Microsoft 365 and experience using creative tools eg Canva
Personal Skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Enthusiasm, energy and flexibility
• Understanding and empathy with the pressures that students and staff operate under
• Well organised, able to prioritise and delegate effectively
• Committed to high standards with strong attention to detail
• Collaborative working/understanding and building relationships
• Ability to be forward-thinking and creative
• Flexible and adaptable – willing to learn and move with new technologies
• Regularly demonstrates initiative and continuous desire to improve
• Proactive, self-starting and able to manage own time
Desirable
• Marketing accreditation
• Design capabilities (including use of appropriate design programs)
• Copywriting experience
• Have previous experience of working in a school, college, educational environment
What the school offers its staff
Health and Wellbeing Benefits
• Access to the College gym staffed by a Personal Trainer
• Free Flu jabs, access to NHS health checks on site and support from a Health and Wellbeing Co-ordinator
• Employee Assistance Programme available 24/7 for in the moment support and counselling as well as signposting services
• In house canteen providing inexpensive and delicious hot and cold food, including a Starbucks and Costa franchise
• Weekly and termly social activities, including football, choir, outings and summer and Christmas events
• Cross College mentors for new staff
• Strong investment in training and development with a dedicated Staff development and wellbeing Lead who support induction, identifies and addresses staff training needs
Financial Benefits
• Enrolment in well funded schemes with generous Employer contributions
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free car parking and access to onsite EV chargers
• Financial wellbeing scheme with access to advisory services
• Discounted gift vouchers
• Discounts at many high street retailers via a Byond card
Further details about the role
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Communications & Marketing Manager
Line Manager: Assistant Principal - Communications
Summary of Job
To lead College communications and marketing activity, supporting the AP in executing the Communications Strategy. To create and manage the overall communications calendar covering all college channels, touchpoints and audiences. To lead the execution of all college communications including parent/student comms, internal comms, social channels and external marketing materials. To work closely with the digital team in maintaining and evolving communications tools. To act as a brand guardian of the College, protecting and maintaining the core brand identity. To line manage the College receptionist and administrators.
Responsibilities
To lead and manage College communications and marketing activities including:
Communications
• To support the Assistant Principal, Communications in developing and implementing the communications strategy
• To produce and manage an annual communications plan and corresponding communications calendar incorporating all College channels, touchpoints and audiences. This should include all owned channels, and paid media where appropriate
• To be the primary contact for all student and parent communications distributed by the College
• To support the Assistant Principal, Communications in ensuring internal communications are optimized and constantly seeking ways to improve
• To implement a process for gathering regular feedback from staff, students and parents on College communications, and make recommendations for improvement to SLT
• To work with the Digital and IT team to monitor and update the communications tools (portals) in relation to feedback
• Work with the Admissions Manager and Digital Marketing Officer to develop a comms plan specifically targeted at prospective students
Marketing
• To work with the Digital Marketing Officer to develop a social media strategy, with a view to growing our channels and defining key roles per platform
• To create bespoke content for our social channels, and support in development of content for our website and wider marketing materials. Maintain an asset bank of photography, videography and other content for future use
• To keep records and regularly audit Departmental activity on social media
• To work with the digital marketing officer to set up, test and report on campaigns across social media and extend reach to potential students, influencers and stakeholders
• To build strong relationships across the college in order to keep updated on news, stories, events etc. with which to populate the social calendar, website and news bulletins
• To work with the wider Marketing, Admissions and Events team to create marketing materials in support of key college dates/events e.g. Open Days, Careers Fairs, School Liaison.
• To be the logistics lead for Open Evenings which run twice per year.
• To work with the Student Union on a community outreach programme in order to build positive sentiment, and provide good news stories
• To measure the effectiveness of marketing activity, working with Digital Marketing Officer.
• To take a key role in promoting and protecting the College’s visual and written identity, ensuring it is reflected consistently across all channels, touchpoints and communications across the College
• To liaise with external providers (e.g. printers, design agencies) to ensure value for money in contracts, working with AP
Admin
• To line manage the College Receptionists and Communications Administrators, and ensure they are always fully briefed on outgoing communications to support their frontline communications
• To ensure that the administration of the College works efficiently for the maximum benefit to students, staff and parents as well as other stakeholders
• To support the Comms Administrators in adoption and execution of the Comms Strategy.
• To manage the admin budget with oversight of the Assistant Principal, Communications
Additional Responsibilities:
• To support the wider team when required e.g. reviewing application forms
• To occasionally attend key events out of hours e.g. Open Evenings, Concerts, performances etc.
• To be willing to work on occasional evenings to assist with College/School Liaison events
• To be available to work in A Level and GCSE results weeks to deliver results comms activity
• To actively seek to maintain and extend expertise in appropriate areas and pursue relevant training
• To demonstrate an awareness and commitment to safeguarding, equality diversity and inclusion, health and safety and data protection, in line with College policies
• To do other tasks as reasonably requested by the Principal from time to time
This job description may be varied according to the needs of the College from time to time.
Last review date: September 2024
Review carried out by: Principal and Assistant Principal Communications
Commitment to safeguarding
Godalming College is committed to equality of opportunity and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Candidates must complete a College application form, may be subject to online searches and are required to complete a self-declaration of their criminal record/information that would make them unsuitable to work with children. It's a requirement for all successful candidates to apply for an enhanced DBS in addition to referencing & qualification checks. The College’s Safer Recruitment, Data Protection and Safeguarding and Child Protection policies are on our website.
