Job Description

Welcome from the Head of Communications

Thank you for your interest in the role. It's an exciting time to join King's, a College with a very friendly community of students, staff and Fellows from around the world with an alumni population of 10,000.

We're looking for an exceptional person to step into the role of Digital Communications Manager as a maternity cover. The role has made a positive impact on the College and its relationship with different audiences. The postholder works with the Head of Communications to deliver the College's digital communications strategy, including making key decisions about channels, campaigns, audiences, and priorities which will influence the work of multiple teams across the College, including Admissions, Choir and Chapel, Development, Conferencing and Events.

The role requires a variety of strategic, reactive, managerial, and campaign skills. Strong written communication skills and the ability to write effectively for the web as well as on social media are essential. There is scope to help shape this new role, based on your own experience and insights on how we can deliver improved communications to engage our audiences and inspire them to connect with King's.

I hope your interest is piqued and that you could see yourself joining us here. If you have any questions about the role, please get in touch.

Rachel Gardner Dalton

Head of Communications

The Role

Working closely with the Head of Communications and the Alumni and Development Communications Manager, the Digital Communications Manager will lead on digital communications strategy as well as daily planning, editing, publishing, high volume comment moderation, and analysis of website content and organic social media content on King's College's social media channels.

The postholder will work closely with colleagues across multiple departments to create content for a variety of channels and audiences.

With more than 50k followers on the College's social channels, this role requires an expert understanding of using digital communications such as social media to minimise risk and maximise reputation as they will lead on or deputise when issues arise. The postholder will work closely with key colleagues to create growth and deepen engagement with core audiences, including prospective applicants, current students, Choir supporters and the wider Cambridge academic community.

They will help researchers and staff to find the most effective means of communicating to different audiences and help to build communications skills across the organisation. They will lead in advising other team members, College colleagues, and external stakeholders on all things digital and deputise for the Head of Communications wherever appropriate.

Their performance in this role will have a direct impact on the College's reputation with a range of audiences.

If, in future, a Social Media Coordinator is appointed, they will line manage the position, ensuring that the postholder is supported and empowered in their role.

Key responsibilities

Content creation and management

Drafting, editing, and publishing new content for the College's digital channels on a regular basis, covering topics such as student achievements, key anniversaries, and research findings.

Leading on making decisions about what content and stories are a priority, how they are shared, and to which audiences.

Supporting Alumni and Development communications colleagues with content creation.

Monitor high volume comments and mentions on social media channels, respond to comments and ensure that social conversations are maintained where appropriate. Assist external stakeholders by answering enquiries or directing them to sources of information. Support colleagues with leading on ongoing community management processes, including continual improvement, awareness of new trends, and implementing new tools.

Digital strategy and leadership

Work with the Head of Communications on creating a digital communications strategy for the College, and lead on large social media campaigns around, for example, student recruitment, sustainability and high-profile events at King's (e.g. the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols).

Manage a number of medium and large-sized campaigns through the year, which are essential for helping stakeholders meet their objectives. This will sometimes include paid social, social listening, and advising on how social media fits into the wider communications mix.

Stay informed of best practice in digital communications, such as accessibility, social media platform development and trends and contribute ideas around the opportunities these provide for the College in reaching and engaging key audiences. Represent the team at conferences, seminars, and events where appropriate and where it will be useful for development and networking.

Content performance and measurement

Test and evaluate ways of increasing audience engagement with our social media communications, both on an ongoing basis and in response to changes in platform design/algorithms.

Identify good practice through measurement and evaluation of tests e.g. evolution of message channel, creative, personalisation, segmentation and timing. Make recommendations to operational and content team managers of how this knowledge can be used in everyday practice.

Be a leading College 'web champion', using tools such as Google Analytics to monitor site traffic and content performance, suggesting ways to improve user experience as needed.

General responsibilities

To take part in the College's appraisal scheme and to undertake training as required.

To fully comply with all the College's policies including equality of opportunity and data protection.

To adopt a responsible attitude towards health and safety to comply with any procedures as required by the College to ensure the health and safety of the College community. To be familiar with the College's Health & Safety policy and the legal responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (section 7). Be prepared to undertake any training provided in relation to health & safety.

To undertake any other reasonable request or duties commensurate with the post.

The Person

We seek to appoint a talented individual with strong communication skills.

An ideal candidate will demonstrate:

Knowledge & experience

Extensive experience of co-ordination and project management of multiple concurrent workstreams in different stages of production

Extensive experience of creation content and campaigns for current social media, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube

Experience of writing original copy for online channels

Experienced user of standard office software packages e.g. Excel, Outlook and Word

Experience of managing the whole digital campaign process from conception to execution

Excellent creative, photographic and video editing skills using software such as Canva, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Premiere

Excellent organisational skills, accuracy and excellent attention to detail

Excellent written communication skills, especially editing copy for use in social media or on the web

Demonstrable ability to learn new software systems

Educated to degree level or have equivalent practical experience

Familiarity with agency-style production processes such as writing and receiving a communications brief, planning timelines, booking resources and advising clients about those processes (desirable)

Awareness of trends around the ethical use of AI in digital content creation (desirable)

Ability to analyse common social media metrics to assess the relative reach of, and engagement with, a social media campaign

Ability to manage and coach team members in social media creation, campaign planning, and professional development

Personal skills & abilities

A calm, efficient manner and ability to deal with pressure and tight deadlines.

Good at identifying process efficiencies and comfortable suggesting and implementing changes once discussed

Excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills

Self-starter, capable of working independently and in collaboration with others

Able to work well under pressure and to meet deadlines

Ability to prioritise work

Friendly, professional, and helpful

An interest in continuous growth and professional development, learning new skills and increasing competence

Tact and discretion, particularly when handling potentially sensitive information

About King's

King's is one of the 31 constituent Colleges of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1441 by Henry VI as a place of education, religion, learning and research, it comprises around 130 Fellows, 650 undergraduate and postgraduate students and 275 non-academic sta?.

The College is internationally recognised as a leading academic institution, with eight Nobel laureates among its former students and Fellows, as well as in?uential ?gures such as Alan Turing, E.M. Forster, and John Maynard Keynes. Notable contemporary members include novelists Zadie Smith and Salman Rushdie, astronomer Martin Rees, anthropologist Caroline Humphrey, former chair of the Bank of England Mervyn King, molecular biologist Lesley Anne Glover, entrepreneur and computer scientist Hermann Hauser, composers Judith Weir (Master of the King's Music) and Errollyn Wallen, the ?rst black woman to have a composition performed at The Proms.

The student community is vibrant and diverse, priding itself on a friendly and inclusive atmosphere combining academic commitment with political engagement and a lively social and artistic scene. King's has long been leading the way in undergraduate recruitment from the state sector. The College works very hard to attract the best applicants, regardless of background, and to encourage academically outstanding students from underrepresented communities to study at Cambridge.

In 2018 it launched a transformational Student Access and Support Initiative designed to improve equality of access and opportunity, and to help combat entrenched social and economic disadvantage.

Remuneration and Benefits

Remuneration

The post is offered on a fixed-term contract of one year at a full-time salary of 39,201-44,930 per annum dependant on experience and ability. The post holder will join the College's auto-enrolment pension scheme with generous additional contribution options on completion of probationary period.

Hours of Work

The post is full time, 37.5 hours per week, Monday-Friday, but part time would be considered at a minimum of 30 hours per week. Salary and benefits would thus be pro rata.

The post will be based at King's College, but the post holder may be able to work remotely for part of the week in accordance with the College's agile working policy.

Benefits

The College offers full-time members of staff 32 days holiday per year, including Bank Holidays. All staff working over a mealtime are eligible to take a free lunch or dinner in the servery. The postholder would be auto enrolled in a contributory pension scheme, subject to age and earnings level, with the right to opt out.

The College offers enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay as well as generous sick pay for those who have more than six months' service. This is in addition to the Flexible Working Policy. More details on all of these are available in the Staff Handbook. Staff are eligible to use the Tax-Free Childcare Scheme introduced by the government to replace Childcare Vouchers.

Probationary Period/Notice

Upon successful completion of the three-month probationary period, the notice period will be two months.

How to Apply

Please download the application form from our website and apply by email.

Closing Date

Please submit your application by 5pm

Friday 4th July

. First round interviews will be held soon after.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent

Pay: 39,201.00-44,930.00 per year

Benefits:

Additional leave Canteen Company events Company pension Cycle to work scheme Discounted or free food Enhanced maternity leave Enhanced paternity leave Free parking On-site gym On-site parking Referral programme Sick pay Work from home
Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 04/07/2025