Senior Marketing and Communications Manager

Company Description

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). We work in partnership with the NHS, universities, local government, other research funders, patients, and the public. The NIHR funds, enables and delivers world-leading health and social care research that improves people's health, well-being and promotes economic growth. 

Job Description

We are looking for a proactive, enthusiastic and experienced communications professional to work in a diverse marketing and communications role, as part of the NIHR Business Development team. The BD team is focused on supporting the Life Science industry to understand, access and utilise the NIHR’s broad investment supporting innovative research, facilities, services and expertise.

The postholder will report into the Head of Business Development and will work with teams from across the NIHR’s large, multi-faceted and nationally distributed organisation. Occasional travel to NIHR sites or conference across England will be required.

Key relationships
The Senior Marketing and Communications Manager will report into the Head of Business Development and work closely with staff across the Collaborations, Business Development, Innovations and External Affairs teams. Beyond this they will work closely with colleagues across the NIHR, including the NIHR Research Delivery Network. As required, the post-holder will liaise and build strong working relationships with managers and staff of NIHR funded infrastructure and other key external organisations.

Key responsibilities 

• Lead on the development and delivery of NIHR BD team’s marketing and communications strategy.
• Translating messages about NIHR’s industry services into clear and compelling communications and marketing messages
• Project manage the development of a series of disease, technology-specific and NIHR capability focused marketing offers focused towards the life science industry
• Lead on the development and management of a case study library, collating success stories from across the NIHR that can then be converted into marketing collateral.
• Lead on the development and governance of an NIHR Life Science industry focused master slide deck.
• Work with the BD managers on the development of social media campaigns focused on marketing new offers and health priorities to industry 
• Support the NIHR Collaborations team and the Translational Research Collaboration (TRC) Managers to communicate and promote their work and impact, including improving their web presence and the generation of ongoing content such as blogs and news stories for the TRCs
• Working with communications colleagues from across the NIHR to ensure delivery of the NIHR BD’s support for the NIHR’s corporate communications strategy.
• Maintaining and developing content for the NIHR website for NIHR key industry audiences
• Drafting articles and ‘thought leadership’ pieces on behalf of senior colleagues.
• Coordinating the development and delivery of press releases and news stories from NIHR industry focused work.
• Coordinate NIHR BD team’s input into relevant NIHR digital channels including social media and newsletter(s).
• Coordinating communications and marketing input into NIHR BD supported external events, webinars and workshops.
• Providing communications expertise to support NIHR BD team’s input into the NIHR’s areas of strategic focus, including Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Industry Engagement, and Multiple Long-Term Conditions.
• Ensuring effective internal communications within the NIHR BD and Collaborations team.
• Managing relationships with external suppliers to support communications activities. 

Qualifications

We are looking for a creative and innovative thinker to bring in fresh ideas and improve how we market NIHR’s “services” to industry and in particular promote our successes and impact.

To be successful in this role, you will have an excellent eye for detail and will have the strong writing abilities to turn complex information into effective news stories, marketing materials and digital content for industry.

You will need proven copywriting and editing skills, preferably news or marketing related in a health, medical or other science context. Prior experience in using audio-visual equipment and creative software to produce engaging multimedia and visual content is desired.

You will need excellent interpersonal skills to establish productive relationships with key external stakeholders, as well as with different NIHR departments, other communications managers, life sciences industry academics and clinicians.

You will have experience developing communication and marketing strategies focused towards various audiences and be able to program manage the various initiatives and projects resulting from it. You will need to be able to work to tight deadlines and maintain excellent communications with the leadership team to effectively manage priorities and delivery risks.

Qualifications & Experience 

Essential Criteria 

• A BSc / Medical, or equivalent degree, with a biology and/or chemistry focus
• Extensive experience in communications and marketing
• Significant experience marketing services and products to the life sciences industry with a basic understanding of healthcare product development (medical devices, digital technologies, IVDs, therapeutics and vaccines). 
• Confidence and diplomacy when dealing with a variety of stakeholders who have diverse levels of experience and seniority, including the ability to influence senior individuals to drive NIHR’s agenda.
• An outgoing and engaging personality with excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written, verbal, presentation) and ability to motivate colleagues
• A proactive, self-motivated, flexible and enthusiastic team player who can work independently and as part of a team and contribute to the development of a positive, can-do culture
• Exceptional organisational skills, including excellent attention to detail, meetings management and record keeping
• Ability to analyse issues and generate creative solutions to problems that produce mutual benefit for NIHR and stakeholders
• Highly organised with ability to complete work on time, despite working in a rapidly changing environment with last-minute requests.
• Understanding and a clear vision of good scientific storytelling and proven copywriting ability (e.g. for news releases, features and social media), underpinned by strong grammatical skills and attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal skills, team working and customer focus, including experience of external liaison with a customer-focused approach.
• Experience of applying and advising on corporate or other brand identity.
• Experience in using web content management systems and email software.
• Highly experienced in using social media in particular LinkedIn to tailor and share news and other content to engage diverse audiences.

Desirable Criteria 

• Experience in the management / supervision of junior staff 
• Experience working within the life sciences industry marketing B2B services including identifying and articulating challenges with solutions
• A relevant professional qualification and/or membership of a professional body such as the CIPR, CIM or Stempra.
• An good understanding of the UK’s research ecosystem (NIHR), the NHS and social care
• Experience in clinical research
• Experience of working with government departments.
• Experienced user of Google Apps (Drive, Docs, Gmail, Hangouts).
• Experienced user of Adobe Pro, Canva, Agorapulse and Drupal
• Ability to use camera equipment and editing software, such as Adobe Creative Cloud, effectively and efficiently.
• Understanding of, and commitment to, process review and improvement. 

Additional Information

Why work for us?
Join our team and you’ll be working with an exceptional organisation who manage high quality health and care research for the benefit of patients and the public. NIHR is one of the UK’s largest funders of health and care research.

Salary & Benefits
£47,300 - £49,900 PA 
Bonus - subject to company performance
25 days annual leave, plus public holidays (UK)
Enhanced contributory pension scheme
Life Insurance
Benenden Healthcare
Season Ticket Loan
Laptop, IT equipment and remote IT support

NB: This is an office based, hybrid role, with an expectation for all employees to attend our offices a minimum of 4 days a month, usually worked as 1 day per week, and may increase, subject to team requirements. 
Application
If you are excited about the prospect of joining our team and believe you possess the relevant skills and background, we invite you to apply. Please submit your CV along with a 'Statement of Suitability' that showcases your key skills and experiences in relation to the 'Required Criteria' outlined in the job description. Additionally, share your enthusiasm for working with NIHR.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES 
LGC strongly believes that every job applicant and employee should be valued for their individual talents regardless of age, disability, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion, or belief. Short listing, interviewing and selection will always be carried out without regard to gender, sexual orientation, marital status, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age, or trade union membership.
For more information about LGC, please visit our website www.lgcgroup.com