Spark Communications Officer

**Key Duties**
- To develop and implement SPARK’s communication plan, and work to objectives outlined in the strategy.
- Deliver high-quality, engaging, and effective communications and digital content across all platforms, working with multiple stakeholders internally and externally. Proactively change and adapt delivery according to customer requirements.
- Lead the coordination and delivery of ‘SPARKing conversations’ to enable and grow connections across the SPARK Community.
- To develop, coordinate and deliver the SPARK podcast series for an external audience, working closely with key stakeholders across SPARK including the SPARK Community Manager, SPARK Engagement group and research centres.
- To develop, manage and implement a plan of improvement to the SPARK website, working with the wider SPARK community to provide relevant content.
- To work with colleagues to identify relevant stakeholders and key audiences for each communication activity, to include creating targeted mailing lists, promotional activity and materials.
- Provide professional advice and guidance on digital content production and communications processes, using judgement and creativity to suggest the most appropriate course of action where appropriate, working with a range of internal stakeholders.
- To carry out a stakeholder analysis in relation to SPARK wide communications preferences, reviewing and evaluating current practices and providing future recommendations, working closely with SPARK Director of Operations, the wider SPARK hub team, and SPARK Engagement group.
- To continuously review and develop other communications methods and channels.
- Investigate and analyse specific issues within communications, establishing basic trends and patterns, interpreting results, and creating recommendation reports to inform and influence decisions.
- To prepare evaluation reports and present and share relevant forthcoming events and communications information to the SPARK hub team.
- To establish, manage, and maintain relationships with relevant staff across Cardiff University and with key external stakeholders
- Undertake a variety of administrative duties to support the wider SPARK hub team objectives

**General Duties**
- Abide by University policies on the Welsh Language, Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity.
- Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.

**Person Specification**

**Essential Criteria**

**Qualifications and Education**

**Knowledge, Skills and Experience**
- Substantial experience of working within a communication role with specialist knowledge of key advances in the field of online content and communications
- Able to demonstrate professional knowledge within a communications role including events and digital communications to give advice and guidance to internal and external customers including a broad knowledge of writing for online platforms, content management systems etc.
- The ability to demonstrate excellent IT skills (e.g. Microsoft Office), and the experience of creating/maintain websites and other digital platforms
- Excellent interpersonal and written skills, including the ability to communicate professionally with a range of people at all levels, internal and external to the University.

**Customer Service, Communication and Team working**
- Evidence of a flexible and adaptable approach to work, with the ability to organise, prioritise and plan tasks unsupervised, working with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Evidence of ability to explore customers’ needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered to staff and external organisations.

**Planning, Analysis and Problem Solving**
- Evidence of ability to solve expansive problems using initiative and creativity; identify and propose both practical and innovative solutions.
- Experience of working simultaneously on multiple tasks with a diverse stakeholder base.

**Desirable Criteria**
- Fluent in Welsh, oral and written.
- Experience of working in a Higher Education environment
- Postgraduate/Professional qualification in communication.

**Additional Information**

**IMPORTANT: Evidencing Criteria**- Please note that these are also the criteria shortlisted applicants will be assessed against at interview and/or by other means (e.g. a skills test).- **Additional Information**

The Social Sciences Research Park (SPARK) comprises 16 of the University’s leading social science-led research centres and institutes co-located with their research partners from the private, public and third sectors (SPARK members) with a strong focus on addressing societal challenges.
- SPARK is a community driven by expertise, creativity, curiosity, and entrepreneurship, focused on tackling the complex challenges facing societies locally and around the world.
- The SPARK Roadmap sets out four interlinked priorities to achieving our ambitions:

- Devel