Severn Estuary Partnership Communications Officer

20311BR

School of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Managerial, Professional and Specialist Staff – MPSS

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Severn Estuary Partnership Communications Officer

Do you have a passion for environmental communication and a talent for engaging diverse stakeholders? The Severn Estuary Partnership (SEP) is looking for a dedicated and dynamic Communications Officer to enhance the visibility and impact of the partnership’s work in promoting the sustainable management of the Severn Estuary.

About SEP
The Severn Estuary Partnership is a collaborative initiative based in Cardiff and hosted by the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Cardiff University. Our mission is to foster cooperation across a broad range of stakeholders, including government bodies, local communities, environmental organisations, and industry representatives, to support the health and sustainability of the Severn Estuary.

Role Overview
As the Communications Officer, you will lead SEP’s strategic communications efforts, managing channels, creating compelling content, and coordinating campaigns to reach diverse audiences. You will collaborate closely with partners to enhance awareness and engagement with SEP’s initiatives, working on projects that highlight the importance of the estuary’s environmental and community value.

The successful candidate will be an experienced communications professional, ideally with a background in science or environmental outreach. They will possess strong interpersonal and strategic communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information to diverse audiences including policymakers, community groups, and academic stakeholders. Competency in digital content creation, media engagement, and stakeholder coordination is essential. The candidate will be adept at managing multiple projects independently, using creativity and initiative to enhance the visibility and impact of the Severn Estuary Partnership. A proactive, collaborative mindset and a commitment to continuous learning and professional development will be key.

This post is funded though The Nature Networks Fund, delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales. It aims to support nature recovery and improve the condition and connectivity of protected sites across Wales.

This position is part time (28 hours per week), available immediately and is fixed term until 31st March 2028.

Salary: £33,482 – £36.130 per annum, pro rata (Grade 5)

Informal enquiries may be made to Alys Morris, email: MorrisA18@cardiff.ac.uk

For further details about working in Cardiff University please contact John Evans, email: EvansJ13@cardiff.ac.uk

Date advert posted: Wednesday, 9 July 2025

Closing date: Wednesday, 30 July 2025

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Job Description

Job Purpose

Support the Severn Estuary Partnership in Strategic Communications to engage stakeholders, carrying out supporting work, providing advice, guidance and support, and leading projects within this area, including managing communications channels, creating content, supporting engagement with partners and the public, and leading projects to enhance the partnership’s visibility and impact

Duties and Responsibilities

Key Duties

Provide professional advice and guidance on communications and outreach processes and procedures to internal and external stakeholders, using judgement and creativity to suggest the most appropriate course of action where appropriate, and ensuring complex and conceptual issues are understood, and to ensure the Severn Estuary Partnership’s messages resonate effectively.
Investigate and analysis of communication strategies relevant to environmental management and partnership engagement, producing recommendation reports, supported by advances to adapting delivery as required to meet the needs of various audiences, including local communities, policy makers, environmental organisations, and educational institutions.
Ensure that the provision of effective communication for the Severn Estuary Partnership i, proactively changing the delivery according to stakeholder requirements (including local communities, policy makers, environmental organisations, and educational institutions).

Collaborate with others in order to make recommendations for developments of established processes and procedures including communication strategies and tools
Establish working relationships with key contacts, developing appropriate communication links that support the Severn Estuary’s strategic goals, including our stakeholders and the University’s Schools/Directorates as required
Supervise specific project teams on an occasional basis to accomplish key objectives – focused on communications initiatives, such as event management, campaign development, and public awareness projects, to achieve key partnership objectives.

Develop and deliver training and presentations for internal and external stakeholders to enhance understanding of communication strategies and the role of the Severn Estuary Partnership.
Undertake a variety of administrative duties to support the Severn Estuary Partnership related to managing digital content, media relations, and other communication logistics.
Guide other employees across the Severn Estuary Partnership as required

General Duties

Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties
Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity
Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

1. Degree/NVQ 4 or equivalent Professional membership/experience, ideally in (science) communications, outreach and engagement, or a related field.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

2. Substantial experience of working within communications or public relations, preferably within an environmental or partnership-focused organisation.

3. Able to demonstrate professional knowledge in effective communication practices, enabling the provision of advice and support to stakeholders.

4. Ability to set up standard office systems and procedures and make improvements as appropriate

Customer Service, Communication and Team Working

5. Ability to communicate conceptually detailed and complex information effectively and professionally with a wide range of people

6. Evidence of ability to explore stakeholders needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered

Planning, Analysis and Problem solving

7. Evidence of ability to solve expansive problems using initiative and creativity; identifying and proposing practical solutions and resolving problems with range of potential outcomes

8. Evidence of demonstrable knowledge of key advances within specialist discipline

9. Evidence of ability to work unsupervised to deadlines, planning and setting priorities for own work and that of others and monitoring progress.

Other

10. A willingness to undertake further training and development

Desirable Criteria

1. Postgraduate/Professional qualification
2. Experience of working in a Higher Education environment
3. Fluency in Welsh, written and oral