Marketing and Communications Officer

**Marketing and Communications Officer (Northern Ireland)**

**Job Title**: Marketing and Communications Officer (Northern Ireland)
**Department**: Northern Ireland
**Location**: Belfast, Northern Ireland. The position will be based in Northern Ireland (Belfast) but occasional travel throughout Ireland and Great Britain will be necessary. Work outside of normal hours will be required from time to time.
**Reports To**: Head of Northern Ireland (dotted line to Marketing and Communications Manager).

**Job Type**: Full-time, permanent. Flexibility considered for a reduced-hours arrangement (e.g. a 3- or 4-day week), with adjustments to salary and holiday entitlement proportionate to hours worked.

**Job Purpose**

**Key Responsibilities**

**1. National Advertising Campaign (NAC) Oversight**
- Ensuring content is tailored to Northern Ireland audiences in tone, messaging, and relevance to local services.
- Engage with affiliate credit unions to encourage subscription to the NAC, facilitating presentations to CEOs and Boards for campaign buy-in and local implementation.
- Be involved in ad-hoc projects, supporting credit unions with social media content and management.
- Assist and co-managed the NAC personalisation service with the in-house designer, providing customised campaign materials for affiliate credit union marketing activities.
- Assist with the Content Creation Hub, assisting in onboarding and training new credit union users.
- Oversee ad-hoc projects, supporting credit unions with social media content and management.

**2. Marketing and Campaign Support**
- Develop and deliver marketing content for non-NAC campaigns such as Junior Savers Week, International Credit Union Day, and Talk Money Week.
- Manage and allocate monthly hours for the in-house designer to optimise productivity.

**3. Public Relations and Communications**
- Assist the Marketing and Communications Manager in the relationship with the external PR agency, contributing to PR strategy and content that supports the profile of Northern Ireland credit unions.
- Develop crisis communication strategies, including crisis messaging, FAQs, media responses, and public statements where appropriate.
- Collaborate with the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) on messaging that aligns with overall strategic goals.

**4. Direct Affiliate Credit Union Engagement**
- Provide direct support to affiliate credit unions, including guidance on marketing strategies, loan policy reviews, crisis communications, and general PR support.
- Present marketing insights and strategic updates to credit union Boards as required.

**5. Content Creation and Editorial Support**
- Draft press releases, speeches, blog articles, board proposals, and reports to support internal and external communications.

**6. Northern Ireland-Specific Events and Initiatives**
- Organise and deliver NI-specific events and sponsorships
- On occasion as part of the NI Team, represent the ILCU at conferences, workshops, and forums as a speaker or participant.

**7. Research and Insights Management**
- Manage the quarterly Consumer Sentiment Index NI release, working with Marketing and Communications Manager and external research agencies and economists.
- Oversee NI-specific research initiatives, including the annual Back to School survey, and collaborate on member research and other ad hoc research needs.

**8. Website and Digital Management**

**9. Marketing Forum and Social Impact**
- Assist in organising (and where appropriate leading) regular Marketing Forums for affiliate credit union marketing teams.
- Assist in reviewing and developing the social impact project to promote credit union community contributions.

**10. Northern Ireland Committee and Pilot Project Support**
- Attend meetings with the NI Committee, providing updates on key projects and supporting committee initiatives.
- Participate in NI-specific pilot projects, such as Agi Lending and Green Lending, to drive innovative solutions for Northern Ireland credit unions.

**Qualifications and Experience**

**Essential**:

- Bachelor’s degree in marketing, Communications, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience in a marketing, communications, or campaign management role, preferably within the financial or nonprofit sector.
- Demonstrated experience in campaign management, content creation, and affiliate engagement.
- Strong knowledge of PR and crisis communications strategies.
- Proficiency in digital marketing tools and platforms, and experience managing third-party agencies.

**Desirable**:

- Experience in the credit union or cooperative sector.
- Project management certification or experience with event management.
- Knowledge of the Northern Ireland financial services landscape.

**Key Skills and Competencies**
- ** Strong Communication Skills**: Able to articulate complex ideas and campaign concepts to diverse audiences.
- ** Customer-focused**: Strong interpersonal skills with the ab