Senior Communications Manager (1800)
Senior Communications Manager
Full Time - Permanent - High Wycombe
Salary - £44,128 - £55,755
Buckinghamshire New University is an ambitious, modern university that is always open to fresh ideas and thinking. We believe in the transformative power of education, and in doing the right thing by our students, people and local community. That’s why our BNU community is a special place to work and study, and where people who want to make a difference can contribute and succeed.
Our University’s DRIVE values are at the heart of all that we do. We are united in being dynamic, responsible, inclusive, visionary and empowering to ensure that we provide the best experience to our learners and offer excellent service to our partners and to each other as colleagues. Our commitment to these values is unwavering and they are central to our mission.
It’s an exciting time to join BNU as we enter our next chapter under the new leadership of Vice-Chancellor, Professor Damien Page. BNU knows where it’s heading: we have a clear strategic focus on our students, people and research. And we’ll achieve our goals by thinking audaciously, punching above our weight, refusing to know our place, and by challenging the status quo.
We’re looking for an experienced communications professional to join our team. To innovate, continually. To be bold. To do the things others say we cannot. To confound expectations. To be the upstart.
This new role gives you the breadth to show your capabilities within a friendly team. We need you to implement the University’s communications strategy and deliver high-quality, trusted and digital-first stakeholder communications. From creating proactive and reactive communications strategies, media relations, project management, crisis communications to providing strategic counsel. Can you tell BNU's stories by creating engaging content, and work with marketing colleagues to promote the University's programmes of study?
Your skills, experience of leading a team and outlook matter most. If you haven’t worked in higher education, we’ll bring you up to speed.
This is a hybrid role in an organisation where we’ve removed meaningless meetings, unquestioned bureaucracy and needless complexity. At BNU, we don’t do meetings on Fridays and we provide free parking and a subsidised restaurant. We look after our people. BNU is a university where everyone is welcomed for who they are, and is always made to feel at home.
What we offer:
- a generous holiday entitlement (30 days per annum, plus bank holidays & closure days)
- Hybrid working (dependent on business needs)
- training & development support opportunities
- contributory pension scheme
- discounted gym membership for our on-site gym
- a range of staff discounts with major retailers.
If you have the qualities and attributes representative of the University’s values and ambition, we would be delighted to hear from you.
For further information about this role please contact Louise Harvey at Louise.Harvey@bnu.ac.uk.
All applications are to be made in full and online.
Please let us know if you require any adjustments or support during the recruitment process.
We ensure that our interview/shortlisting Chairs complete the relevant e-learning and/or inclusive recruitment training.
Closing Date: 14 July 2025
Interview Date: End of July 2025
Job Description
JOB DESCRIPTION
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Job Title: Senior Communications Manager
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Faculty/Directorate: VCCCE
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Grade: H |
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Location: High Wycombe
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Hours: 37 |
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Responsible to: Chief Impact Officer
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Responsible for: 1x Communication Officer; 1x Social Media Officer |
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Job Purpose: To implement the University’s communications strategy, delivering high-quality, trusted and digital-first communications to students, staff, customers, partners, and government. The role encompasses creating proactive and reactive communications strategies, media relations, crisis communication and providing strategic counsel, project management, creating engaging content using in-house digital tools, and working with marketing colleagues to promote BNU’s courses and key brand activity.
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Main Duties & Responsibilities of the role:
- Develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy to support the University’s key strategic priorities. Provide robust and trusted strategic advice to the University Strategy Group (led by the Vice-Chancellor) and to the University Management Group (comprising College Deans and directorate leads) on internal and external communication with stakeholders to ensure the brand identity and reputation of the University is both promoted and protected.
- Lead the Communications team to raise the University’s profile by sharing compelling stories and thought leadership; crafting press releases and website stories/copy, and social media content. Proactively use evaluation tools and metrics to assess the value, reach and impact of communications activity and campaigns.
- Proactively undertake regular horizon scanning with colleagues internally and key external stakeholders to anticipate potential issues or opportunities to support BNU’s strategic priorities.
- Lead the Communications team to work with colleagues in USG, UMG, Colleges, Marketing/Brand, the People team and Bucks Students’ Union to develop creative, digital-first internal communications and staff engagement plans to support the University. Play a key role in improving digital competencies and empowering colleagues to create clear and concise communications using channels such as BEN (intranet) with a consistent tone of voice.
- Manage and develop a team, and provide coaching and training to develop their knowledge and skills. Manage the University’s out of hours press office rota for urgent media queries and a monitoring service of BNU mentions in conjunction with an external agency.
- Build strong working relationships with key stakeholders internally and externally, to ensure alignment and coordination of communications where appropriate. Develop a reputation of integrity and trust, representing the University within the relevant national, trade and local media, with key opinion-formers and influencers, and at events with external stakeholders and customers.
- Create and manage projects, initiatives, and events to facilitate positive communication and engagement with students and staff, from developing ideas to successful completion and evaluation.
- Comply with relevant legislative and other requirements (e.g., the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR; Health and Safety; UKVI; and Equality and Diversity) in all working practices.
- Such other duties temporarily or on a continuing basis, as may reasonably be required.
- Line management responsibilities including recruitment and selection, performance management, professional development, motivation, health & safety and wellbeing.
PERSON SPECIFICATION – Essential Criteria Only
A = Application T = Test I = Interview
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Education, Qualifications & Training |
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Degree qualification |
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Excellent writing and communication skills |
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Strong numeracy skills and confidence in handling data |
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Knowledge & Experience |
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More than 7 years’ experience working in corporate communications. |
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Experience of successfully handling crisis communications to guard or promote reputation. |
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Track record of successfully creating opportunities to boost an organisation’s profile across national, local and specialist media including print, digital and broadcast channels tailored by audience |
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Experience of supporting senior colleagues to provide strategic counsel at Executive Board level, and identifying issues and creating communications solutions. |
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Experience of successful project and event management, and of creating engaging written and visual content for all audiences. |
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Experience of working with external associations, networks and institutions on joint initiatives for the benefit of an organisation and its local, national and global communities. |
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Excellent understanding of the wider political and economic context for higher education locally, nationally and internationally. |
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Experience of working with marketing colleagues to tell an organisation’s stories about its purpose and achievements. |
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Skills |
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Create and implement communications strategies to raise the profile of an organisaiton through thought leadership and story creation and placement. |
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Able to convey complex information by writing/editing copy so that is easy to understand, well-structured and appropriate to its audience. |
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Honed analytical skills to interpret data and statistics to extrapolate positive messages for use in proactive communications, and to rebut issues. |
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Adept in using intranet and website analytics; media monitoring report data; and survey feedback to draw insights from which to improve the quality and performance of the Communications team. Proactively use evaluation tools and metrics to assess the value, reach and impact of communications activity and campaigns. |
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Proven leadership skills to manage, develop and motivate team members by providing coaching, shadowing and ‘live’ training. |
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Excellent communication, interpersonal and organisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, lead the team and manage its workload, and deputise for the HSCCI. Adept in collaborative working and providing excellence customer service to all. |
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Confidence to provide strategic counsel at all levels and to provide clear and honest advice and recommended approaches for both proactive and reactive communications. |
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Special requirements |
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Manage and participate in an out of hours press office office and monitoring service. |
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Attend occasional events outside the business day. |
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Behavioural INDICATORS
The BNU Behaviours Framework (BBF) is a framework for all University staff that sets out the key behaviours that exemplify the DRIVE values and ethos of the University. The nine categories provide a clear steer on behavioural expectations that will help support a step change in the performance and culture of the University. The three key behavioural indicators for this post are as follows:
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Delivering excellent service Providing the best quality service to external and internal customers/students/stakeholders. Building genuine and open long-term relationships in order to drive up customer service standards.
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Developing self and others Showing commitment to own ongoing professional development. Supporting and encouraging others to develop their professional knowledge, skills and behaviours to enable them to reach their full potential.
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Working together Working co-operatively with others in order to achieve objectives. Recognising and valuing the different contributions people bring to this process.
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