An exciting opportunity to develop of our communications and advocacy function, working with the CEO to define the appropriate structure and functions of the communications team.

You will be a key member of our senior team, working with the CEO, our Board and your colleagues in building a culture that is collaborative, inclusive, impactful and intelligence led.

You will raise our profile with key audiences and stakeholders, ensuring that we are able to influence at the highest levels on behalf of our beneficiaries.

You will make sure we articulate clearly, consistently and effectively our role, our purpose, our priorities and our impact.

You will provide professional guidance and leadership to a small communications team and across the whole organisation.

Key objectives

• Review and redefine the structure of CCSkills’ communications function

• Develop and implement our communications strategy

• Build the brand and profile of Creative & Cultural Skills

• Manage all communications activities to support our key priorities, the delivery of our work programmes, fundraising activities and external profile

• Manage our formal internal communications processes in support of a collaborative, ‘one team’, inclusive culture

• Alongside Senior Leadership Team colleagues, support the CEO and Board in the development of our organisational strategies, business plans and operational plans

• Alongside Senior Leadership Team colleagues, demonstrate effective leadership behaviours in driving an organisational culture that is collaborative, intelligence-led, inclusive and impactful

Review and redefine the structure of CCSkills’ communications function

• Review the structure of the communications function and make recommendations to the CEO in order to best support CCSkills’ strategic objectives

• Define role profiles, resource levels and external support required

• Propose appropriate budgetary spend

• Demonstrate professional leadership for the staff within the communications function and support their professional development

Develop and implement our communications strategy

• Develop our current communications strategy in line with Creative & Cultural Skills’ overall strategic direction of travel and set operational plans for delivery

• Agree measures of success with the CEO and ensure that appropriate mechanisms are in place to deliver, record and report them

• Deploy appropriate resources to ensure the success and sustainability of the communications strategy

• With the CEO and Finance Director develop the annual communications budget and take responsibility for maintaining appropriate financial controls and systems

• Support the CEO, senior leadership team colleagues, Heads of Partnerships (Wales, Scotland and N Ireland) and Partnership Managers (England) to maintain vibrant, meaningful and effective relationships with key stakeholders, including employers, educators, policy makers and influencers within our sector

Build the brand and profile of Creative & Cultural Skills

• Hold responsibility for Creative & Cultural Skills’ brand purpose and positioning, guidelines and guardianship

• Review and develop our website and social media footprints in line with Creative & Cultural Skills’ ambitions and strategic direction of travel

• Create and maintain effective strategic communications and media partnerships that develop our influence and profile with key audiences

• In collaboration with the CEO and senior leadership team colleagues, articulate clearly our key policy ‘asks’ and ensure they are heard in the appropriate places

• Develop the positioning of Creative & Cultural Skills as a thought leader, convenor and source of expertise and intelligence in all four Nations of the UK

• Manage Creative & Cultural Skills’ reputation, ensuring that the brand is represented professionally and consistently

Manage our formal internal communications processes in support of a collaborative, ‘one team’, inclusive culture

• Develop and hold responsibility for formal internal communications channels

• Support colleagues across the organisation to share knowledge, intelligence and experience to support our strategic goals

• Embed Creative & Cultural Skills’ brand values into our operations and ways of working

Manage all communications activities that support our key priorities, the delivery of our work programmes, fundraising activities and external profile

• Oversee the development and management of our programme of podcasts and other relevant communications channels

• Oversee the development of marketing and communications campaigns and collateral in support of specific programmes

• Oversee our proactive communication through the media, speaking events and conferences to build the profile of Creative & Cultural Skills

• Develop a holistic and ambitious approach to PR and media management

• Oversee the design and publication of external reports, including an annual Impact Report, research products and other policy and communications products

• Oversee event management support and marketing

Alongside Senior Leadership Team colleagues, support the CEO and Board in the development of our organisational strategies, business plans and operational plans

• Contribute directly and collaboratively with SLT colleagues to the development and articulation of our organisational strategies

• As part of the SLT, continuously review and develop activities to align with the organisational strategies and our external environment in an agile, responsive and impactful way

• Contribute directly and collaboratively with SLT colleagues to the development of our business plans, operational plans and annual budgets

Alongside Senior Leadership Team colleagues, demonstrate effective leadership behaviours in driving an organisational culture that is collaborative, intelligence-led, inclusive and impactful

• Model excellent leadership behaviours with colleagues throughout the organisation, focusing on building collaboration and a ‘one team’ culture

• Collaboratively support the gathering, interpretation and use of intelligence in multiple forms to inform our work

• Proactively work with the CEO and SLT to ensure that we are truly inclusive in our policies, practices and culture

• Collaboratively ensure that we effectively evaluate, report and articulate our impact

• Collaboratively support the development of a digitally enabled virtual working culture

Other requirements

Able to:

• Demonstrate excellent line management and leadership behaviours

• Demonstrate a commitment to your own and others’ professional development

• Be confident in adapting to new ways of working, particularly in a digitally enabled virtual working environment

• Travel within the UK

• Work occasional unsocial hours

This job profile provides a general description and is not intended to be comprehensive

It may be altered from time to time as required for business reasons, to meet the changing needs of Creative & Cultural Skills.