Part-time 0.6 FTE/3 days per week – some flexibility of hours is required
Location:
Mostly remote/home based working with regular visits to Head Office, Salisbury (at least once a month)
Responsible to:
CEO
Background
Wessex Rivers Trust (Wessex RT) is a dynamic and growing environmental charity, dedicated to the protection and conservation of rivers and chalk streams in the Wessex area (Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight). Wessex RT is part of the national Rivers Trust movement which helps to protect and enhance the UK’s rivers. The Trust recognises that communication with a wide and diverse audience is essential to sustaining long-term interest in our local chalk streams and empowering local communities to take ownership of our precious rivers. To deliver on its ambition, the Trust aims to communicate and engage with the public through digital and printed media, as well as face to face.
Wessex RT is seeking to recruit a Communications Officer to work 3 days a week in support of our mission.
Job Summary and Purpose
The main purpose of the role is to build the Trust’s profile by promoting its work of protecting and restoring rivers, increasing the public understanding of the importance of chalk stream and river conservation, and broadening people’s knowledge and empowering them to act.
Reporting to the CEO but working closely with all teams within the Trust, the role will deploy a range of approaches to inform and inspire current and new audiences across the communities we want to reach. This includes celebrating project successes, changing attitudes and behaviours, demonstrating our impact, and bringing our work to life using vibrant images, headline data, and meaningful stories. Keeping tabs on the effectiveness of our communications will be part of the role, as well as planning and innovating. External partnerships are of fundamental importance to the Trust, and the role will involve working with a range of external contacts on joint initiatives and, from time to time, the media.
Duties and responsibilities
1
Communications Coordination
1
Work with colleagues to create and implement an annual communications plan which is aligned to the Trust’s strategy
2
Support project-related communications across the Trust
3
Act as first point of contact for day-to-day communications and media enquiries, working with the management team on drafting and sharing statements as required
4
Liaise with key external partners and stakeholders, including across the Rivers Trust movement, on campaigns and specific projects
5
Monitor and internally report the effectiveness of the Trust’s communications, including use of analytics
2
Online Community Engagement
1
Website development, management and refreshing of content
2
Maintain and build social media presence to meet audiences’ needs and increase online engagement
3
Schedule news and blog posts produced by Trust staff
4
Produce a regular e-newsletter for our supporters
5
Maintain and improve our online presence through creativity and innovation
3
Printed Communications
1
Take the lead on the Trust magazine Wessex Rivers News. Design, develop, collate articles, produce media and arrange printing of the magazine
2
Produce posters/signage for events and projects
4
General Trust Involvement
1
Ensure Wessex RT brand is adhered to throughout the organisation
2
Build the Wessex Rivers Trust library of images and video clips to be used in communications
3
Support community, corporate and supporter events and activities
4
Ensure compliance with all Trust policies, especially safeguarding and confidentiality
5
Contribute to internal Trust meetings and processes as required
Person specification
1
Qualifications and required knowledge
Essential
Desirable
1
Educated to a degree level or equivalent experience in a relevant subject
X
2
Sound knowledge of digital communications and how best to gain followers and engagement
X
3
Knowledge of the use of printed communication materials in dissemination and promotion
X
4
Aware of environmental issues, especially those impacting chalk streams and rivers in general.
X
5
Understanding the needs of communications in a conservation charity
X
2
Experience
Essential
Desirable
1
At least two years’ experience of working in communications
X
2
Proven record of organising and delivering communications to a variety of audiences
X
3
Experience of developing and delivering refreshed approaches to communications
X
4
Working with the charity sector or with voluntary groups
X
5
Experience of working according to Safeguarding and wider Health & Safety policies / legislation
X
3
Skills and competences
Essential
Desirable
1
Good IT skills, including use of Office 365 and social media
X
2
Effective website maintenance and development
X
3
Able to communicate with a wide range of audiences
X
4
Excellent administrative and organisational skills
X
5
Ability to manage workload effectively and prioritise to demanding timelines
X
4
Personal attributes
Essential
Desirable
1
Adept at creating positive, professional relationships with a wide range of people
X
2
Ability to communicate with the media
X
3
Highly resourceful and creative, with a proven ability to solve problems
X
4
Ambitious, self-motivated and target driven and able to work on own initiative
X
5
Genuine enthusiasm and passionate about communicating with people about chalk streams in the Wessex region
X
Miscellaneous
The post will involve occasional travel throughout Wessex (East Dorset, South Wiltshire, West-Hampshire, Isle of Wight) therefore a full UK driving licence and access to own car is desirable. Mileage expenses will be paid at 45p per mile as set out in HMRC’s Approved Mileage Allowance Payment. Some evening and weekend work may be required. We will also require the successful applicant to undergo a DBS check and provide satisfactory references.
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