Communications and Engagement Officer

Hours: Full-Time (We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)

Location: STFC, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire 

Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers, technicians and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us.  

Whether it’s sending probes into space or finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society. Come and discover how much you can achieve when you’re surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn and empowered to explore your curiosity. 

About the Role 

We are looking for a talented communicator, with a flair for developing engaging content for internal and external audiences and a keen interest in space. RAL Space is the UK’s national space lab, leading science research and technology development for a diverse programme including space science and exploration, resilient society, and Earth observation. The role is part of RAL Space’s small communications team which connects across our department and captivates our audiences through compelling storytelling.  

This role will be responsible for internal communication, connecting our staff with each other, our purpose and with the information they need to do their jobs. We’re going through a period of transformation in the ways we work together, and this role will play an important part in implementing this. 

The role will also support RAL Space’s stakeholder engagement programme. We deliver over 200 visits and events each year, engaging with academia, businesses, government and the general public. This role will ensure an excellent visitor experience and will also work with our business development team to promote the RAL Space brand at external conferences and exhibitions.  

Our website is an important front door for RAL Space and will be moving to a new platform in 2025. This role will manage that process in a timely way, alongside the STFC web support team, shaping user experience and producing and commissioning new content. 

UK Research and Innovation recognises and values employees as individuals.  We aim to provide a pay and rewards package that motivates staff to perform to the best of their ability. The reward package includes a flexible working scheme, defined benefit pension scheme, 30 days annual leave allowance plus 10.5 bank holiday/privilege days and other benefits. 

Responsibilities 

30% Internal comms

• Support RAL Space transformation programme
• Ownership of the RAL Space internal staff portal, the ‘Hub’
• Deliver the RAL Space newsletter and develop content for staff talks
• Develop internal comms messaging and channels
• Evaluate and improve internal comms activities 

70% Stakeholder engagement

• Coordinate visits
• Improve visits processes
• Maintain visits records
• Events – some onsite event support, all offsite events support working with BID
  - Liaising on brand, messaging, collateral, displays
  - Liaising with RAL Space staff attending events, providing briefing materials
• Develop marketing brochures and collateral – designing, commissioning, maintaining and ordering
• Lead on the development of a new RAL Space website

Person Specification 

We are looking for someone to join the team with great interpersonal skills who will be able to quickly get to grips with complex subject matter and build relationships across the RAL Space. Part of our role is to understand our audiences, improve our channels and to proactively seek out stories and to provide advice and support to our staff to help them share their work in the more effective way. 

This role offers the opportunity to apply and develop a broad communications skillset in a fascinating subject area. The successful candidate will need to be adept at managing multiple projects and supporting the work of the wider team. 

Although the topics and projects undertaken in the department are by their nature technical, a detailed technical or scientific background is not expected but an appreciation of science and a readiness to learn will be very important. 

The following criteria will be assessed at either shortlisting (S), interview (I), or both (S&I):

• Educated to degree level or with relevant equivalent experience (S)
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral (S&I)
• Excellent interpersonal skills (I)
• Experience of planning, delivering, and evaluating communications campaigns (S&I)
• Experience managing and creating web content and working with creative suppliers
• Experience managing and delivering small projects and events demonstrating good team working and organisational skills (S&I)
• Aptitude for or a willingness to learn to use digital tools including creative media packages, such as InDesign and PremierPro, web editing tools such as WordPress (S)
• Enthusiasm for space, science and communications (S&I) 

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Whatever our role, we have the freedom to explore, learn and connect, as part of a community that loves to share knowledge and support one another.  

As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, this is a place where there’s always something new to learn – about the world around us, about your career, but most of all, about yourself. Join us and discover what’s possible.