Communication Assistant (Apprentice)
Post Details
Job Title
Communication Assistant (Apprentice)
Post Number
1004798
Closing Date
5 Dec 2024
Grade
SC8
Starting Salary
£23,250 - £28,000
Hours per week
37
Months Duration
20
Interview Date
17 Dec 2024

Job Description

Main Purpose of the Job

You will be working in the Quadram Institute’s Communications and Engagement team, supporting the team responsible for managing the reputation of the institute through effective and creative public relations. This a fixed-term role and the range of work includes internal communications, media relations, digital and social media, events, policy engagement and stakeholder management. This role is an apprenticeship. Successful candidates will be enrolled on the Level 4 Public Relations and Communication apprenticeship and will complete training for 20% of their time, including from an approved apprenticeship training provider.

Key Relationships

Internal: The full range of staff working at Quadram Institute Bioscience, including Institute Strategic Programmes and Food and Nutrition National Bioscience Research Infrastructure.

External: Quadram Institute partners (NNUH, UEA, BBSRC), Norwich Bioscience Institutes, Norwich Research Park, UKRI and general public.
 

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Research and understand goals, audiences and stakeholders, and then use your communication, digital and engagement expertise to support the day-to-day delivery of communication priorities, having agreed specific objectives with colleagues. This could include:

Develop written and non-written content and schedule this content for publication/distribution according to the public relations and communications or campaign plan.

Contribute to the creation of campaigns or new business proposals planning and their implementation.

Research, analyse and monitor stakeholders to inform engagement strategies.

Monitor media to keep up to date with current affairs and build knowledge of the journalist and media landscape.

Research, analyse and evaluate campaigns against key performance indicators (KPIs) to prepare future campaigns.

Share content with relevant stakeholders and media, to inform and influence audiences to maintain positive relationships.

Undertake reputation assessment and formulate responses to support stakeholders with the planning and implementation of reputation management and/or crisis strategies.

Support the Communication team with routine administrative, logistical, and time-sensitive tasks.

Support the planning and delivery of ad hoc engagement activities such as events.
Continued
Organise and coordinate stakeholder meetings.

Contribute to the organisational objectives and key performance indicators to support communication activities which drive and improve performance and sustainability goals.
As agreed with line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the role

Person Profile

Education & Qualifications

Requirement
Importance
Minimum of 3 A Levels or equivalent
Essential
Must have Maths and English GCSEs at A to C/4-9
Essential
Science at GCSE, A Level or above
Desirable

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement
Importance
Have a demonstrable interest in science and health
Essential
Good knowledge of current affairs, and the media
Essential
Up-to-date knowledge of social media channels and content
Essential
Skills in writing engaging copy for differing audiences
Essential
An awareness of the news agenda and emerging news events
Desirable
Skills in selecting appropriate visuals to improve the impact of communication (e.g. infographics and photography)
Desirable

Relevant Experience

Requirement
Importance
Experience of writing for an audience and using social media
Essential
Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office tools, Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams
Essential

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement
Importance
Ability to self-manage and build positive working relationships with others
Essential
Good verbal and written communication skills
Essential
Customer focused and positive outlook
Essential
Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team
Essential
Good organisation and time management
Essential
Flexible approach and ability to prioritise workload
Essential

Additional Requirements

Requirement
Importance
Attention to detail
Essential
Promotes equality and values diversity
Essential
Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required
Essential
Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Institute, ensuring it is a great place to work
Essential
Able to present a positive image of self and the Institute, promoting both the international reputation and public engagement aims of the Institute
Essential

Who We Are

Quadram Institute Bioscience

The Quadram Institute is at the forefront of a new interface between food science, gut biology and health, developing solutions to worldwide challenges in food-related disease and human health.

We are engaged in fundamental and translational food and health research, alongside clinical studies, endoscopy and industry, working together to become a leading international hub for food and health research, combining scientific excellence and clinical expertise, delivering impacts on patient care and accelerating innovation.

The Quadram Institute is a diverse and multicultural scientific community. We thrive on our international and European links, appointing staff from across the world. Any candidate who would like further information on current or anticipated immigration requirements can contact the HR Team on +44 (0)1603 450888 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk.

For more information about working at Quadram Institute Bioscience, please click here.

Department

Communications

Group Details

You will be working in the Quadram Institute’s Communications and Engagement team, supporting the team responsible for managing the reputation of the institute through effective and creative public relations. The range of work includes internal communications, media relations, digital and social media, events, policy engagement and stakeholder management.

Living in Norfolk

Advertisement

Communication Assistant (Apprentice)

Applications are invited for a Communication Assistant (Apprentice) to join the Communications programme at Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), based in Norwich, UK.

Background:

You will be working in the Quadram Institute’s Communications and Engagement team, supporting the team responsible for managing the reputation of the institute through effective and creative public relations. The range of work includes internal communications, media relations, digital and social media, events, policy engagement and stakeholder management.

The role:

This new apprenticeship role will see the Communication Assistant get an excellent grounding in science communication at one of the country's leading research institutes. This is a Level 4 apprenticeship working with our apprenticeship training provider, Cambridge Marketing College.  The right candidate will be interested in science and how it helps us understand and improve the world we live in. This role will give you training and support to research and understand goals, audiences and stakeholders, and then use your communication, digital and engagement expertise to support the day-to-day delivery of the Quadram Institute's communication priorities.

The ideal candidate:

The successful candidate will have 3 A Levels or equivalent, it is desirable if you have Science at GCSE, A Level, or above.

The post holder will have good knowledge of current affairs and the media and up to date knowledge of social media channels and content. You will have experience of writing for an audience and using social media.

This role is open to non-graduates and graduates (who have not already undertaken a Public Relations degree.

Additional information:

Salary on appointment will be within the range £23,250 to £28,000 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time post for a contract of 20 months.

Interviews are expected to take place on 17 December 2024.

For further information and details of how to apply, please visit our website https://jobs.quadram.ac.uk or contact the Human Resources team on 01603 450814 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk quoting reference 1004798.

Please note, this post does not meet UKVI requirements to provide visa sponsorship.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sectors of society.  The Institute supports equality of opportunity within the workplace and expects all employees to share and display these values.  To support our commitment, we have a range of family, faith and diversity friendly working arrangements to help all staff achieve excellence in their area of work.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy.

About the Quadram Institute:

The Quadram Institute is a new interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to understanding how food and microbes interact to promote health and prevent disease. Its mission is to deliver healthier lives through innovation in gut health, microbiology and food. A partnership between Quadram Institute Bioscience, the University of East Anglia, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and BBSRC, it brings together scientists and clinicians in a state-of-the-art building on the Norwich Research Park. This is one of Europe’s largest centres of life sciences and home of the John Innes Centre and The Earlham Institute. (https://quadram.ac.uk/).

The closing date for applications will be 5 December 2024. 

The Quadram Institute Bioscience is a registered charity (No. 1058499) and is an Equal Opportunities Employer.