Major Projects Communications Officer

Initially a 12 month contract extending to 18 months as required

Standard Working Hours are 37 per week but flexible working would be considered
Location: Salisbury

This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the UK’s leading archaeology companies and a registered charity. We’re a forward-looking organisation with a passion for engaging others with the benefits of heritage. We offer our staff a varied and challenging career path, within an organisation that supports personal development and wellbeing.

We are currently seeking to appoint a Major Project Communications Officer to work within our Communications and Marketing Team. We are going into a period of significant growth with the commission of a major infrastructure project due to start in the coming months, and the successful candidate will deliver communications support for this and other projects, working closely with client teams and stakeholders to engage target audiences with the benefits and results of our work.

The role will be hands-on and project-driven, with the opportunity to deliver communications on some of the UK’s most sensitive and high-profile infrastructure schemes. It is essential that applicants to this position have a strong track record of delivering communications on large-scale projects, understand how to manage a range of stakeholders and can deliver effective, high-quality results to tight deadlines. You’ll be able to demonstrate creativity and initiative and understand the importance of attention to detail. Some experience or understanding of archaeology or heritage is not essential but a bonus!

Anticipated Start Date: mid-July

Responsibilities

• Work with internal and external project teams to develop and deliver effective communications plans
• Manage communications programmes across multiple projects, including associated admin and reporting
• Identify and map key stakeholder groups
• Research and write clear, high-quality press releases, features, blogs, FAQs, case studies and other content
• Liaise with journalists and the media and proactively pitch stories
• Brief specialists and facilitate media interviews and press days
• Manage project-based social media content, including paid-for activity
• Work with our internal Studio team to commission creative assets
• Liaise with our Community Engagement team to deliver and promote public engagement activities
• Assist with the delivery of professional events, including creating communications collateral such as presentations and press packs
• Create and distribute e-newsletters
• Update media schedules and CRM systems
• Monitor and compile press cuttings

Requirements

The successful candidate will:

• Be a BA graduate in Public Relations, Communications, Marketing, Journalism, History, English or Archaeology (or other relevant degree)
• Ideally have a strong background in communications within the construction industry
• Have experience of managing multiple projects and competing priorities
• Have very strong verbal and written communication skills
• Understand how to demonstrate the impact of their work
• Have a solid understanding of social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube
• Have a collaborative and proactive approach
• Be proficient with Office 365 (Teams), CRM and CMS systems, Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications
• Have experience in creative and publishing applications, such as Canva and the Adobe Creative suite

Benefits

We offer attractive benefit packages to our staff to ensure they feel happy and supported in their roles. These include:

• 22 days of annual leave per year, plus bank holidays, rising to 27 after five years
• A generous pension contribution of 5% paid by Wessex Archaeology
• Life assurance scheme of three times your basic salary
• Generous maternity and paternity options
• Paid sick leave from start of contract, with the number of days dependent on length of service
• High quality personal protective equipment (PPE) provided
• Bike2Work scheme
• Free transport from regional offices to sites
• Time in lieu or paid time for drivers
• Subsistence allowance
• 50% of professional membership costs reimbursed
• 5 days paid carers leave
• Company Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), offering a free and confidential service to the employee and immediate family in the form of counsel and assistance for personal problems such as health and stress. Confidential external advice is available on health and wellbeing issues including, work-life balance, legal and health concerns and child and elder care support. The service is available 24/7, 365 days per year.

Location

Wessex Archaeology is a truly collaborative organisation, and though based in Salisbury, the successful candidate will work with our project teams in all regions on some of the most significant and challenging heritage projects across the UK and beyond. Some travel between offices will be expected as part of the role. 

A mix of office-based and home-working can be offered (even when Covid restrictions are lifted) and we are also happy to discuss part-time or other flexible working arrangements with the right candidate.

Applications

Applicants are invited to submit a completed application form (available from the vacancies page on our website http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/vacancies) with a copy of their CV and covering letter; and returned by e-mail to [email protected] 

Applications must be received by close of business on Friday 25 June 2021. Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged. For all queries, please contact Maddy Gilbert, Marketing and Communications Manager: [email protected]

Whilst Wessex Archaeology welcomes applications from all sections of the community and is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, it is essential that all applicants must be either a British citizen, EU National or hold a full work visa or a current work permit. Proof of identity and eligibility to work in the UK will be required prior to commencement of employment.