Head of External Communications

The Head of External Communications at the University of Cambridge is a senior role that is crucial to ensuring the maximum effectiveness of the University’s central communications. It involves enhancing and protecting the University’s reputation and demonstrating the impact Cambridge has on the world around it.

Bringing together strategic oversight as a leader and adviser, you will help to shape policy and position at the University; taking a hands-on role in delivering large and important projects, campaign activity, and responses to issues facing the University and its people. As the Head of External Communications, you will take a highly proactive and creative approach to telling the story of Cambridge’s world-leading academic and teaching excellence, and will be able to set out effective channel strategies to achieve that.

You will be responsible for developing the strategy for the University’s communications campaigns and help deliver them. You will also drive standards and skills across the Office for External Affairs and Communications (OEAC), ensuring we have a modern, digital, professional approach to our communications.

Working to the priorities set by the Director of Communications, we will look to you to work with others to promote the University’s global reputation, seeking positive engagement for Cambridge’s work, as well as defending it against challenges where necessary. You will become a trusted adviser to the senior leadership of the University, providing strategic advice on reputation, risk and profile and taking responsibility for shaping our long-term profile.

About You:

As a persuasive and recognised expert in the field, you will join us with:

• A clear understanding of how to gather insights effectively; campaign approaches to deliver strategic communications; the value of effective forward planning; different audiences and how to target our communications effectively towards them; and of how to evaluate our communications in order to measure success and learn lessons.
• A strong news sense and understanding of various media (local, national and global).
• The ability to write clearly and persuasively for a range of audiences.
• The ability to communicate effectively at speed and under pressure, and respond to crises.
• An understanding of how to maximise the impact of our Media and Research Communications teams in collaboration with others from across collegiate Cambridge.
• The ability to build productive relationships with our partners to gain the co-operation and engagement of key internal stakeholders across the University and beyond.
• Resilience, professional expertise, the ability to work at pace and under pressure, and to maintain quality and professionalism.

If you think that you are the right person to be the guardian of our reputation and profile globally, developing proactive strategies to strengthen positive recognition among key stakeholders, we want to hear from you.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

If you would like more information about this role, informal enquiries can be directed by email to James Helm (Director of Communications and External Affairs) at james.helm@admin.cam.ac.uk

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

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