Here. Now. All of us. Be part of the team championing bold action for climate, nature, and people in Scotland’s first National Park. Join us and be part of the change.
Job Title: Strategic Communications Manager
Salary: £42, - £49, (Band E) per annum
Working Hours: 35 hours per week - we are happy to talk part time and flexible working.
Contract: 1 year fixed term (maternity cover)
Location: Balloch (with hybrid working option)
The Role:
We are on a mission to restore nature, tackle climate change, and inspire action that helps Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and its people to thrive - and we need a dynamic Strategic Communications Manager (12-month maternity cover) to help drive that vision forward.
This is your chance to lead a high-performing team responsible for delivering campaigns with influence, telling engaging stories and redesigning our website with a clear focus on user needs. We need a digital-savvy leader who can shape our storytelling, lead and inspire a passionate team, and champion the National Park’s work for climate, nature, and people.
This is a rare opportunity to make a real impact in a short time.
Responsibilities:
1. Develop and deliver strategically-aligned communications plans for the National Park Authority that use effective and innovative approaches across digital and offline channels.
2. Ensure our communications are based on an understanding of user needs/insights and executed in the most effective way to reach the right audiences in the right way, at the right time.
3. Ensure that the organisation’s communications are well coordinated and help build our brand’s positioning and tone of voice.
4. Build and develop an understanding of the National Park Authority’s work for climate, nature and people amongst our target audiences and stakeholders, helping deliver action that takes us towards our long-term goals.
5. Advise the Executive team and colleagues on reputation management and media handling where relevant.
6. Champion the National Park Authority and its priorities at national communications forums.
7. Inspire and develop a high-performing and resilient team, who are keen to learn and grow as a team and as individuals who use their talents to improve outcomes for the National Park.
8. Lead evaluation of the organisation’s communications, identify any opportunities for continual improvement within the function and how the National Park Authority communicates.
9. Build networks and relationships across the organisation that help ensure effective positioning of the National Park Authority and a ‘communications at the heart’ approach from the outset.
10. Ensure the Executive team and Board members have easy to access to materials from which to draw on in their everyday promotion of the National Park Authority.
11. Work closely with the Behaviour Change Manager to ensure the work of the communications team and wider engagement is closely aligned.
12. Ensure all communications outcomes are achieved through effective use of staff and financial resources, with effective communications processes in place.
13. Undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade as required
Who we are looking for:
Your skills, abilities and experience should include:
14. Experience of managing a communications team within a high-profile organisation.
15. Experience of using all elements of the communications mix and leading specialists in PR, design, digital and stakeholder engagement.
16. Knowledge and experience of developing and evaluating campaigns designed to deliver action.
17. Excellent written and narrative development skills and a proven ability to help others to build their own skills in this area.
18. Excellent people skills and the ability to lead and motivate a team to deliver outstanding results.
19. Articulate with excellent interpersonal and influencing skills.
20. A degree, or equivalent, in a marketing, business or communications related discipline.
Ideally, but not essential, you’ll also have:
21. Understanding of the links between communications, behaviour change and service design.
22. Experience in procuring and managing external services and contracts including for digital projects.
23. Experience in leading or managing digital projects.
24. Experience of leading or delivering work using Agile methodology.
25. Knowledge and understanding of environmental issues or using communication skills in a protected area.
26. A good understanding of recent developments in Government policy on nature, climate and place.
27. Experience of developing and executing media relations strategies and established relationships with relevant print, broadcast and online journalists.
28. Knowledge of Gaelic or promoting Gaelic.
29. Corporate membership of a relevant media/digital/communications professional institute.
30. Understanding or qualifications in a relevant discipline to the objectives of the National Park
How to apply:
If you are interested in this role, complete your application by 24th March @ 9am.
31. Access our application form on our job portal
32. Interviews will be virtual
33. Interview dates are set for: 2nd April
Who we are and our values:
We offer flexible and remote working, with a generous pension scheme and annual leave allowance. Staff have access to wellbeing services and there is a strong focus on wellbeing throughout the organisation.
Being part of Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority means being passionate about what you do, working hard to inspire and lead the way for others. We care about each other and are accessible and friendly treating each other with respect and understanding, we think about our planet with each decision we make. Together, we are the difference.
Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority are proud to celebrate difference. Diversity of experience is vital in our success we want our business to be representative to the communities we work alongside. As an equal opportunity employer, we actively encourage applicants from a wide range of individuals, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, gender identity and expression, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.