UKRI - Council Communications Business Partner

Salary: £49,708 gross per annum
Hours: Full time
Contract Type: Open Ended
Location: Swindon

UK Research and Innovation

The role of the Communications Business Partner is to build understanding, engagement and trust in UK Research and Innovation and its activities and interests, both externally and with all employees, by providing dedicated communications and engagement expertise for a Council and/or another part of UKRI, underpinned by a detailed knowledge and understanding of the relevant interests, investments and activities.

This role will work with STFC communications across HO, Rutherton Appleton Laboratory and Daresbury ensuring communications plans and activities are consistent with STFC’s goals and aligned and integrated with UKRI communications, helping to amplify messages, extend reach and improve the effectiveness and impact of communications. It will also work with the Corporate Hub developing and implementing communications plans and activities to support corporate publications and activities.

Key areas of accountability:

• As a senior member of UK Research and Innovation, demonstrate leadership in communications and engagement with a focus on expert knowledge of the relevant Council and/or Corporate Hub stories and activities.
• Support and contribute to the organisation’s culture and overall strategy.
• Effective relationship development at all levels with site-specific teams where needed (e.g. RAL and Daresbury Lab).
• Work across internal and external stakeholders, including forming constructive working relationships at all levels, particularly at Director, Executive Chair and Chief Operating Officer. 
• Represent the interests of UKRI with external stakeholders in national and international forums.
• Play a proactive role in working across the Communications and Engagement Team to ensure sharing of intelligence and information, promoting cross-team working and skills development, and the implementation of a consistent corporate narrative to all audiences.
• Working with the Communications and Engagement team to ensure effective communications and policy activities intelligence sharing within UKRI. This will ensure diverse audiences have high levels of understanding of UKRI’s vision, strategy and initiatives, know how to engage with us and feel their views are being considered.
• Improve and develop insight into the relevant Council objectives in relation to wider UKRI, BEIS and government priorities.
• Direct line management of European Research Infrastructure Communications Manager and International & Research Programme Media Manager

Essential skills and experience

• High level understanding of the strategic needs and priorities of UKRI, STFC, and wider stakeholders.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams, councils and communities.
• Demonstrable emotional intelligence and tolerance of ambiguity and uncertainty.
• Ability to influence, persuade and negotiate.
• Demonstrable experience of line managing staff across mulitple sites.
• Experience of working in media relations.

Desirable skills and experience

• Demonstrates credibility with relevant communities, usually based on experience from government, industry, education or the third sector.
• Resilience, multi-tasking and ability to work to deadlines.
• Ability to absorb, evaluate and communicate complex information appropriate to the audience.
• Strategic thinking.
• Flexibility to adapt to change.
• Experience of working in or with the science, research, innovation or higher education sectors.