Communications Officer

Introduction

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone to join the RSPB NI team, saving nature and inspiring people in one of the most beautiful, wildlife-rich landscapes in the UK, as a Communications Officer.

Our vision is to help people to understand, support and engage with the work of RSPB NI. This role is vital to this task. We are looking for an excellent and enthusiastic communicator, who can tell great stories and produce engaging content that showcases Northern Ireland’s wildlife and habitats. We want someone who can bring our vital conservation work to life.

What’s the role about?

As Communications Officer, you will develop and deliver creative and effective communications campaigns in line with our communications and marketing strategy. You will have a ‘nose for a story and have responsibility for sourcing, sharing and selling-in stories to grow support for our work. The role is exciting and varied. It includes media relations, social media, stakeholder engagement, digital and destination marketing.

This role is based with home working, although there is the option to work in the Northern Ireland Headquarters in Belfast (once office working recommences).

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

As Communications Officer, you will report to the NI Country Communications Manager and form part of a five-person comms and marketing team. We need a dynamic, highly organised team player who is bursting with ideas and has exceptional copy-writing skills and good attention to detail.

The role requires a friendly and collaborative approach, that combines an ability to adapt to changing priorities, while sometimes working under your own initiative to achieve results.

Essential:

• Educated to a degree level with a minimum of 18 months experience in public relations, communications or marketing role.
• Experience in working independently, planning, creating and evaluating multi-channel communications plans in support of major projects, campaigns and initiatives.
• Knowledge of media relations and a proven track record of delivering PR campaigns using a range of tactics to achieve print, broadcast, and online coverage, as well as reactive communications/issue management.
• Experience of sourcing stories, writing for media and producing supporting releases, photographic, audio visual and digital assets.
• Experience of administering professional social media accounts including Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram, LinkedIn including content creation, scheduling, monitoring, and performance reporting.

This role involves:

Media relations

• Developing and delivering effective proactive PR campaigns (online and offline), including:
  • Writing, co-ordinating and distributing press releases, broadcast pitches, features, and assets.
  • Pitching and liaising with journalists, producers and bloggers and partner organisations.
• Dealing with reactive media relations and issue management, supporting RSPB NI staff and spokespeople with media briefings and training.

Collaborative working

• Working with the country communications manager and colleagues across the UK to deliver UK-wide campaigns such as Big Garden Birdwatch in Northern Ireland.
• Collaborating with colleagues within RSPB NI teams to identify and share stories about our work in line with the communications plan.
• Providing specialist advice to site and project teams to support the development and implementation of destination marketing, visitor experience, events and interpretation plans.

Copywriting

• An excellent understanding of which channels of communication and supporting assets are best suited to achieve great results.
• Confident copywriting and proof reading on behalf of RSPB NI for other publications.

Social media channel management

• Planning, creation and delivery of innovative social content including video, images, graphics and blogs as well as monitoring and evaluating their effectiveness.

Planning, monitoring and evaluation

• Co-ordinating and delivering appropriate communications plans, evaluation and monitoring of RSPB NI’s communications activity including digital, social media, press, campaigns and events.

This role requires travel therefore the successful applicant will be required to travel to remote locations without the use of public transport.

Please note this role involves occasional early/late finishes and weekend work by prior arrangement, for which time off in lieu is applicable.

This is a Permanent, Full Time role for 37.5 hours per week.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position on 14th March 2023. For further information please contact [email protected]spb.org.uk

As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

If you wish to provide a cover letter with your application, please include this at the end of your CV document upload.

This role will require completion of a DBS/PVG/Access NI in addition to the standard pre-employment checks.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.