Award winning, visionary and unique, the National Media Museum holds world class collections that embrace photography, film, television, radio and the web. The museum also hosts a wide range of events, from film festivals to premieres.
We are now looking for a Communications Manager with a proven instinct for finding stories that capture the imagination of local, national and international journalists. They also need to be able to manage marketing campaigns that raise our profile and dramatically increase attendance at our exhibitions and events. The museum has collections of international importance including the Royal Photographic Society Collection, The Daily Herald Archive and the Kodak Museum Collection. We also hold the National Television Collection, the National New Media Collection and the National Videogame Archive
This role will suit someone who is energetic, outgoing and ambitious. It’s an opportunity for an experienced, hands-on journalist/PR who can build their own media network, engage opinion formers directly and exploit PR opportunities across both press and social media channels.
You will have personal experience of social media, such as Twitter or blogging, a track record of being able to build relationships and have an eye for an angle, capable of leading a small team by example and introducing stories – big and small - to the press with passion and persuasiveness. You’ll have the vision to see exactly how Press & Marketing can help deliver the Museum’s aspirations – and also the skills to inspire and influence curators to help drive and contribute to a continuous flow of good news stories.
Part of the Science Museum Group, the National Media Museum aims to engage, inspire and educate through comprehensive collections, innovative education programmes and a powerful yet sensitive approach to contemporary issues.
To apply, please upload one document containing your CV and a covering letter explaining how you meet the requirements of the position.
Purpose of the Job
Through leadership of the National Media Museum’s Communications team you will make a significant contribution to the realisation of our wider goal of becoming the best Museum Group in the world.
You must be proactive and not afraid to get your hands dirty delivering task after task as you lead your team by example. Whilst strategy has its place it must not get in the way of you doing your job and delivering tangible output.
You will oversee a small integrated Press and Marketing team but your strength will most definitely lie within Press. Writing will come as second nature to you and you will have extensive experience with social media and online publishing. You will have a knack for uncovering stories no matter how big or small and be well positioned to see these into the national and local press through your extensive contacts, persuasive personality and first rate networking skills.
You and your team will develop and execute campaigns that have innovation and visitor insight right at their core, these along with other initiatives will enhance our national and international reputation. Appropriately for the National Media Museum the campaigns should have a strong digital element which when combined with traditional activity will exceed targets whilst enhancing the reputation of the Museum. Working closely with the Science Museum Communications team you will identify and maximise publicity opportunities made possible from Media Space.
Critically important is your vision and the capability to take advantage of the socio-political landscape which Bradford has to offer. All activity will be undertaken against a backdrop of building, managing and protecting the brand.
Key Deliverables/Accountabilities
1. Develop and implement high impact, cost effective, integrated communications strategies and plans, ensuring an appropriate balance between cultural, visitor experience, brand and commercial objectives. Delivering budgeted visitor numbers and revenues and influencing peers to ensure you have the product necessary to pique both the interest of visitors and the media. The Communications strategy should be established with your first six months; this should not only address the media but also the local key stakeholders for the NMeM and identify the Museum’s role within the Group.
2. Take overall responsibility for issues management at the Museum to protect its reputation and identify media and partnerships to maximise the profile of gallery developments, exhibitions, events, and achievements of the museum.
3. Identify and capitalise on stories big and small within both the Museum and the Media to demonstrate the vast array of exciting initiatives at the Museum and to communicate our relevance to current affairs.
4. Ensure the best return on the Communications budget by maximising agency relationships, tracking effectiveness of campaigns improving ROI and taking a rigorous approach to the budget management process which must be compliant with SMG Finance guidelines.
5. Work with the wider communications family within the Museum and across the Group e.g. Web, Development and Enterprises to seek synergies and ensure that we maximise all opportunities and that all communications strengthen the brand. Advising others on their communications needs where resource permits.
6. Act as the contract manager for the One Film Strategy, ensuring comms activity supports revenue targets.
7. Advise the Head of Museum on Corporate Communications and Advocacy to ensure good will towards the Museum from Government, the media, funders and local stakeholders.
8. Proactively develop excellent relationships with Museum staff across the Group and build an informed knowledge of the Museum, its intellectual territory and the sector.
9. Develop and motivate a strong Communications team with the aspiration of making them the most innovative and effective team in the sector. They will be target driven, positive, courageous and creative. Taking specific responsibility for the line management of the Senior Marketing Executive and Press Officer and take responsibility for the delivery of their business and personal development objectives.
10. To assist with all general Communications Office duties and administration.
11. Take care of your personal health and safety and that of others and report any health and safety concerns. Ensure proactive compliance with Science Museum Group H&S Policies, including risk assessments and implementing safe systems of work
Working Relationships and Contacts
Internal
- The Communications Manager will report into the Group’s Head of Communications.
- Executive, in particular the Director of External Affairs, Deputy Director of the Science Museum
- Take an active role on the Group’s Communications Strategic Team, and the National Media Museum’s Interim Management Group, Strategic Operations Group, Audience Evaluation Group and Programmes Board.
- Enterprises SMT: Head of Events & the Business Analyst.
- Museum SMT: Head of Museum, Head of Development, Head of Learning, Head of Public Programmes, Head of Collections, Future Strategy Coordinator and Head of VE.
- The Design Studio, Media Production Unit & Web.
External
- Through their team they will manage a variety of external agencies e.g. creative, media buying, PR, freelancers and media evaluation.
- Trade partners e.g. Yorkshire Attractions Group, Welcome to Yorkshire, Bradford Council, ALVA and Commercial partners e.g. Virgin Media.
Line Management and Budget Responsibility
Directly line manages: 2
Indirectly line manages: 1
Contractors/freelancers: 0
Budget Holder of £355k (includes salary costs)
Candidate Profile
Experience
- Extensive senior management experience in a busy press office of a major corporation/public body or on a busy new desk including issues management.
- A demonstrable record of building strong relationships with journalists on a national and regional basis, key opinion formers and stakeholders. Additionally you’ll have a healthy network of media contacts at your finger tips.
- A demonstrable record of securing significant coverage by highlighting business relevance to current media stories.
- Significant experience of resource management i.e. budgets, people management, staff development, change management and performance monitoring.
- Seen as a leader in the use of digital and social media in a corporate context.
- Significant of experience of leading multi- disciplinary teams with a complex, matrix layered and multi stakeholder organisation.
- Proven track record of leading a motivated team that relentless and successfully deliver project after project over and above expectations.
- Experience of managing the marketing elements of an integrated Communications Campaign.
Skills, Knowledge and Relevant Qualifications
- Educated to degree level or with a relevant Communications qualification or demonstrated experience.
- Driven by results with the motivation and diplomacy skills to get the best out of your team.
- Able to demonstrate personal authority, credibility and leadership, to inspire confidence and respect in others.
- Able to evaluate political and sensitive situation and act accordingly.
- Extensive contacts, persuasive personality and first rate networking skills.
- Strong writing skills and good instincts for deciding what will be of interest to the Media along with the ability to identify potential issues which will need to be carefully managed to protect the reputation of the Museum.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills when dealing with peers, external stakeholders and colleagues at a senior level.
- Strong organisation skills and the ability to plan and priorities complex and competing workloads under budget, resource and time pressures.
- A proven ability of managing budgets/financial management processes
- Ability to think beyond the immediate area of responsibility to take into consideration the broader Museum agenda.
Behaviours
- A self starter, with a positive ‘can-do’ attitude and used to multi-tasking, balancing deadlines and workloads whilst always keeping a keen eye on the detail.
- Single minded, results driven with a track record of relentless delivery whilst possessing strong diplomatic skills.
- Sets a clear vision, objectives and expectation and ensures staff members understand their responsibilities.
- Calm in a crisis and when under pressure to deliver multiple projects/tasks simultaneously and concurrently.
Scope for Impact
The main aim of the post is to raise the profile of the Museum through the development and implementation of high-profile and creative communications campaigns and other marketing initiatives. This will enable us to meet our visitor and revenue targets whilst enhancing the reputation of the Museum and the strength of the brand.
- Profile – Press coverage and Social Media secured in the UK and overseas will enhance the standing and financial stability of the Museum.
- Visitor numbers – delivery of budgeted visitor numbers will lead to us achieving commercial targets and more positive relationships with sponsors, partners and the DCMS.
- Onsite sales – Delivery of budgeted onsite revenue will continue to the successful trading of SMG Enterprises which in turn makes more cash available to SMG.
- Reputation management – protects and strengthens the standing of the Museum to secure financial stability through visitors and other sources of income.
- Consulting – By providing advice to the wider Communications team you will help increase effectiveness of their campaigns which will result in a better ROI. Additionally, it will ensure brand consistency across all communications activity.
- Brand – Delivery of a consistently strong brand underpins the successful delivery of our business plans.
- Product – Ensuring that our cultural programme is aligned to our audience and priorities and of a standard worthy of a ‘National Museum’ will help ensure financial stability through visitors and other sources of income.
- Strategy – Through the development of organisation wide strategies such as the brand alignment plan and audience plan you will shape the future of the organisation.
For further information about the National Media Museum, a full job description and details of how to apply, please visit www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/AboutUs/ and https://vacancies.nmsi.ac.uk/VacancyDetails.aspx?FromSearch=True&MenuID=6Dqy3cKIDOg=&VacancyID=279
Closing date: 13th January 2013
Interviews: week commencing 28th January 2013
