ST CUTHBERT’S COLLEGE

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER - POSITION DESCRIPTION

Job Title:
  • COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
/ Reports To:
  • THE PRINCIPAL

Functional Relationships:
  • The Principal
  • Senior Management Team
  • Director of Development
  • Director of Admissions & Scholarships
  • All teaching staff and administration staff
  • Director of Boarding
  • Members of Parents & Friends’ Association
  • Members of Old Girls’ Association
  • Advertisers of College Ties
  • Internet Development Co-ordinator
  • ICT Department
  • External suppliers
Resource Allocation:
  • Salary
  • Lap Top
  • Keys
Other, as negotiated / Person Specification / Skill Sets
  • Excellent communicator – strong verbal and written skills
  • Supervisory skills
  • Budgetary management skills
  • Energetic, confident, outgoing
  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • Creative, lateral thinker
  • Calm
  • Able to manage diverse range of activities at any one time
  • Excellent time management
  • Knowledge and practical applications of Microsoft software
  • Knowledge and understanding of all aspects of public relations including:
  • Media relations
  • Issues management
  • Understanding of event management
  • Design and production of marketing material
  • Internal communications
  • Project management
  • Understanding of the principles of advertising
  • Understanding of website
  • Understanding of print processes

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

The pivotal position is to maintain the College profile and brand at all times and to provide public relations on behalf of St Cuthbert's College Trust Board. The position reports to the Principal and liaises with other staff and external suppliers.

N.B.The statements on this page and the following pages are intended to describe the general nature and level of work. They are not intendedto beconstrued as a list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required by the position and the incumbent.

KEY RESULT AREAS
/ PERFORMANCE INDICATORS /
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
Raise profile of the College’s academic successes and achievements through media releases. /
  • Liaise with College staff for ongoing information on student successes and / or events worthy of publicity.
  • Write and distribute media releases as required.
  • Establish communication channels with media representatives.
  • Allocate tasks to the Communications Assistant.
/
  • Consistent and open communication with College staff.
  • High quality written communication.
  • Established communication with key media representatives.
  • Information accurately presented in media releases.
  • Communications Assistant writing press releases.

Write, edit and produce College Ties magazine and newsletters. /
  • Plan editorial content of College, Ties, x 3 per year.
  • Write content as required.
  • Look for advertising clients and sell advertising to cover costs and publication.
  • Develop and maintain relationship with designer and printer.
  • Assign tasks to the Communications Assistant including photography.
/
  • Editorial themes developed in consultation with the Principal.
  • High quality appropriate articles/columns.
  • Achievements and events of the College publicised in magazine.
  • Advertising revenue generated to meet production costs.
  • Communications Assistant contributing to production of magazine.

Provide design and print management services to College staff. /
  • Provide advice on development of new publications.
  • Manage design process with internal / external consultants.
  • Manage production of Academic Programme and all marketing materials.
/
  • Publications produced to a high level and meeting brand standards.
  • Publications on line and on time.
  • Relationships with suppliers are successfully developed.

Produce promotional material for key stakeholders in the College community. /
  • Edit and produce fortnightly online newsletter – College Connection.
  • Update Boarders’ Handbook at the end of Term 3.
  • Overview production ofannual Chronicle
  • Arrange for photographs to be taken where appropriate.
  • Assist Parents & Friends’ and Old Girls’ Association with promotional material.
  • Write copy for promotional and marketing material.
  • Book advertising when required.
/
  • All newsletters are of high written content, produced and distributed efficiently and on time.
  • All marketing tools reviewed and reproduced on time.
  • College partners satisfied with communications services provided.

Manage College Website /
  • Develop website strategy in conjunction with the Director of ICT.
  • Monitor accuracy of website on a weekly basis.
  • Work with eLearning Manager on content management.
  • Liaise with key staff to develop editorial content relevant to particular subject, department or activity.
  • Write and produce all material and post to website.
  • Keep abreast of technology changes and advancements.
/
  • Website strategy developed successfully and accurately.
  • Positive relationships established with key staff members for soliciting editorial content.
  • Websitecurrent and effective.
  • Accurate editorial content maintained and posted to website.
  • Increased number of hits to website.

Budgets /
  • Develop and manage budgets for the following:
  • Communications / General
  • Chronicle
  • College Ties
  • Web Hosting
/
  • Budgets and expenditure meet targets and allocations.

Community Relations /
  • Maintain good relations with immediate neighbours.
  • Inform neighbours of events that might affect them.
  • Deal with issues that affect local community.
/
  • Regular updates of College information distributed.
  • Relationships maintained to positive level.
  • Any issues defrayed and dealt with positively and professionally. College is portrayed in a positive light in local media.

Media Liaison and Management /
  • Promote the College via print media, radio and television as appropriate.
  • Manage all media working on campus.
  • Maintain relationships with key journalists.
  • Provide story leads to journalists on a regular basis.
  • Monitor media. Anticipate and be prepared for media interest in educational issues and issues affecting the College.
  • Seek out opportunities for the Principal to interact with wider audiences in target group.
/
  • College is portrayed in a positive light in media.
  • Any negative issues minimized efficiently.
  • Relationships with key educational media developed and maintained.
  • Journalists regularly seek comment from Principal.

Liaison with key teams within the College /
  • Member of Business Development Committee
  • Member of the Marketing Committee
  • Member of Centenary Committee
  • Liaison with the Development and Admissions offices
  • Liaison with the SMT
  • Other teams as required
/
  • Active liaison and particpation with key teams
  • Understanding of the need to officially market the College

Issues Management /
  • Update (C.I.M.) the Critical Incident Manual and distribute manual to key staff and CIM boxes.
  • Participate in practices for incident management.
  • Participate as a member of C.I.M.T.
  • Advise the Principal, Senior Management Team and the Critical Incident Management Team on all media procedures relating to critical incident(s).
  • Manage media relations on all critical incidents.
/
  • Manual updated continually.
  • All staff are familiar with C.I.M. Manual.
  • All issues / incidents handled efficiently and professionally.

Manage Communications Centre /
  • Provide management to 3 staff.
  • Ensure outputs are met and branding standards are maintained.
  • Ensure equipment is maintained to minimize loss of time.
  • Ensure staff performance appraisals are completed and follow up on action points.
  • Assist Fuji Xerox Copy Centre Manager with management of peak workflows.
/
  • That the Communications Centre staff perform to their top ability by completing work to a high standard.
  • Internal clients provide positive feedback.
`
Provide communications counsel and services /
  • Provide College staff with support and advice on communication activities.
  • Provide editorial services to College staff for written material e.g. newsletters.
  • Manage and implement the College brand.
  • Manage the development of communication plans for major events
/
  • Teaching staff advised of recommendations for achieving publicity. College staff utilising communications skills.
  • Achieve media coverage for major College achievements and events e.g. six media pickups per Term.
  • Increased use of College brand on all College publications.
  • Increased communications input into College events.

Communications Manager

Name: Robbie MulgrewSignature: ______Date: ______

Principal

Name: Lynda ReidSignature: ______Date: ______

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