About the job

Job summary

Want to work at the cutting edge of environmental science research?  Passionate about making a difference and playing your part in tackling the climate and nature crises? Forest Research (FR) is a leading UK scientific research organisation that provides impactful scientific data, evidence and advice to policymakers and practitioners. Internationally recognised, we want to work with people who have the skills and passion to deliver impactful science which informs practical solutions across the sector.

We’re small enough that your voice is heard, yet large enough, as part of the Forestry Commission, that we have everything on hand to get the job done, as well as a variety of career pathways.  Our staff are dedicated to their work and sharing it with others to bring positive change for our natural environment.  With locations across the UK, you will find us a flexible and inclusive employer who promotes agile working to help you manage your work life balance. If you want to be a part of a growing organisation that makes a difference, find out more at Homepage - Forest Research

The Communications team is the trusted voice of Forest Research. The team leads on:

• Identifying and understanding our internal and external audiences
• Building trust and loyalty amongst external audiences through consistent and transparent branded communications, creating influence and opportunity
• Motivating staff through effective delivery of the senior leadership team’s vision and communication priorities via internal communications channels
• Optimising the effectiveness of the range of analogue and digital communications channels that Forest Research uses to reach its internal and external audiences
• Delivering a cost-effective publishing programme of research, statistics and guidance documents
• Acting as first point-of-contact for all print, online and broadcast media enquiries
• Providing expert advice on media management to the senior leadership and wider organisation.

Corporate Communications supports the priorities of Forest Research by:

• Enhancing research impact by using marketing and communications insight, strategy, delivery and evaluation to influence audience behaviour
• Developing, maintaining and evaluating a communications network across partners, stakeholders and funders
• Providing marketing and communications consultancy and support across the organisation to increase impact and generate income
• Helping attract the very best employment candidates for the organisation through effective profile and reputation management
• Supporting Forest Research staff attending an agreed programme of events.

Job description

The Senior Communications Manager role focuses on the strategy, planning, coordination and evaluation of science communication to key external audiences, including partners, policy makers and forestry practitioners, in line with the Communications Strategy.

The role involves:

• Providing expert advice on science communication to the Head of Communications, senior management team and wider organisation
• Strategy and planning of multi-channel communication campaigns to support forest science research programmes and projects
• Providing communications advice to research teams, identifying communications objectives, prioritising messages and recommending the most appropriate channels for dissemination
• Creating communications plans and project managing their delivery through partnership working with science teams, communications colleagues and external partners
• Line management of science communication manager
• Working with communications team colleagues to create written and multimedia content for Forest Research channels including the FR website and social media
• Providing guidance and editorial support to science teams for planned magazine, journal and blog content
• Prioritising and scheduling of magazine, journal and blog content and relationship building with editors and channel owners
• Providing guidance to science teams on science communication events, online and in-person
• Evaluation and reporting of communications activity performance
• Developing relationships with strategic external partners to extend reach of science communication
• Deputising for the Head of Communications when required.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Demonstrable knowledge and skills in managing and delivering science communications within complex stakeholder environments in order to deliver the right messages in the right place at the right time
• Experience of communicating science to policy makers and/or practitioners within the environmental sector
• Communications strategy and planning skills and expertise
• Project prioritisation and management skills
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, written and verbal, with the ability to write appropriately for different audiences and channels
• The ability to persuade and influence science colleagues and partners in terms of communications best practice
• Understanding and application of OASIS planning and the Government Communications Service Evaluation Framework or other communications planning and evaluation frameworks
• Analytical and evaluation skills, providing regular reporting on communication outputs and outcomes
• Technical ability including computer literacy and content editing
• Basic video content creation skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues within the Communications team and more widely within Forest Research
• Ability to prioritise workload and work at pace.

Desirable Criteria

• Membership of a relevant professional body.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £45,260, Forestry Commission - Forest Research contributes £12,220 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Sift Date: week commencing 27th May 2024.
Interview Date: week commencing 10th June 2024.

If a large volume of applications is received, then we will sift on Experience/Technical Expertise and the Lead Behaviour Communicating and Influencing however, candidates will be expected to answer questions on all behaviours at the interview stage. 

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Forest Research which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.

Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success and we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role.

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.