Associate Director Communications

The full-time starting salary is normally £70,564.00 per annum, with progression available in post to £79,840.00 per annum. 

Full-Time, Permanent Position.

Grade: J

We are seeking an Associate Director of Communications who will lead the University's communications strategy across internal, student, corporate, and media engagement. As Associate Director of Communications, you will lead how Birmingham City University projects impact, shapes perceptions and builds reputation. You will take our fast-developing brand identity and make it a reality for a wide range of audiences, including our staff and students, broadcast media, stakeholders, political figures and the wider public, using distinctive content to cut through on social platforms.

Overseeing the fast-paced work of our Communications team, you will lead a newsroom culture, securing consistent coverage across target media of our talented people, BCU as a place to study and how the University impacts the city, region and beyond. You will lead our innovative internal communications teams, building community through multi-channel staff engagement, and helping us develop a student communications service which we aim to be the envy of the sector. 

Reporting to the Director of Marketing, Recruitment and Communications, you will be part of the Senior Leadership Team of a newly established department driving domestic and global recruitment and reputation. You will work closely with our Vice-Chancellor’s Office, promoting the University’s 2030 Strategy – Rooted in Birmingham, Reaching Beyond – and engage closely with our high profile Chancellor, broadcaster and Paralympian Ade Adepitan. 

Key Responsibilities Will Include:

• Developing and leading the university’s integrated communications strategy to support institutional priorities and enhance reputation.
• Providing strategic leadership for staff communications, student communications, media relations and corporate communications functions.
• Working closely with the Vice-Chancellor’s Office and members of UET to plan and deliver communications that convey institutional leadership voice and strategic intent.
• Ensuring the university’s brand and reputation are protected and enhanced across all internal and external channels.
• Providing senior communications counsel to university leadership and represent the communications function in high-level planning forums.
• Leading the development and delivery of compelling campaigns and narratives that strengthen staff and student engagement.

The Associate Director of Communications will:

• Have experience of leading a large-scale communications function across multiple audiences and channels.
• Be experienced in working at a senior level within a university leadership or equivalent executive teams on strategic communications.
• Possess demonstrable skills in team leadership, staff development, and creating a high-performance culture. 
• Have experience of managing internal and external communications teams to deliver coordinated activity. 
• Be skilled in setting strategic direction and translating priorities into effective communications planning. 

Birmingham City University is deeply committed to equality, diversity, and inclusivity at all levels in the organisation, and to addressing underrepresentation in our workforce to ensure we are truly representative of the community we serve. We welcome applications from applicants from all backgrounds and communities for this role, and particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic applicants. 

Please click the below link to download the Job Description:

Job Description

The appointed candidate will normally be employed through our subsidiary company BCU Support Services Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Birmingham City University. Appointees with prior LGPS membership who wish to enter the LGPS scheme will be able to do so and will be employed by Birmingham City University directly.