Glasgow Changing Futures Communications Specialist
WORLD CHANGERS TOGETHER
Job purpose
The Glasgow Changing Futures (GCF) Communications Specialist is a new role which will provide professional communications expertise to enable the ambitions and objectives of the newly formed GCF Programme and Institute. Reporting to the Research Communications Manager and operating as part of a small communications team, you will lead on the development and delivery of strategic communications that support the delivery of GCF, articulating its vision and roadmap to internal and external audiences.
Main duties & responsibilities
- The postholder will:
- Lead on developing and implementing strategic communications plans which highlight the breadth and depth of Glasgow Changing Futures activities and impact. You will develop and implement an engagement strategy to socialise GCF across the University community and beyond.
- Work with the Programme Director and Operations Manager for GCF, the Academic Director(s) for the Glasgow Changing Futures Institute, and the Vice Principal for Research and Knowledge Exchange to develop and deliver communication and engagement plans with audience mapping to target external stakeholders that can support the realisation of the GCF strategy and objectives.
- Manage the coordination, design and delivery of communications related to UofG-led, multi-partner, and multi-institution GCF related projects and initiatives.
- Develop and distribute high-quality communication materials and content promoting the GCF programme and Institute, with responsibility for website creation and maintenance, establishment and management of GCF social media channels, and development of publications/printed material including the production of artwork, sourcing images, collating and/or writing copy for all marketing collateral. This collateral will be developed for both internal and external audiences and will vary from an annual GCF report to promoting workshops.
- Analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies and plans using qualitative and quantitative metrics. Use this data to prepare and deliver progress reports to key stakeholders, advising on success criteria and key metrics, ensuring this data informs communication plans and decision-making.
- Establish and maintain effective internal relationships through collaborative working to ensure the GCF narrative is amplified and represented across a range of strategic communications projects/campaigns, business development opportunities, shared initiatives and external partnership projects. This will involve working across the Research Services Directorate, External Relations, Government Relations, Colleges, and Schools. A focus will be to communicate the University’s activities which contribute to the achievement of the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals.
- Lead on creating and commissioning relevant communication content for media channels and other outputs. Providing effective management oversight and professional advice as required. This will include sourcing, researching, interpreting, and drafting relevant material applying knowledge, discretion and judgement.
- Maintain professional credibility through continuous professional development, keeping informed and up to date with emerging and developing sectoral and communication trends to ensure activity is relevant from a creative, content and channel perspective.
- As a staff member of the Research Services Directorate, you will work in collaboration with colleagues on agreed continuous improvement projects. You will bring your communications expertise and skills to these projects, which ensure the efficient and effective operations of the Directorate.
- The role will also support the wider ambitions and objectives of the Research Communications team. You will work in collaboration to deliver GCF complementary priority projects and integrate with other initiatives/projects as needed.
- Represent and promote Glasgow Changing Futures at both internal and external committees and events, deputising for the Executive Director of Research Services as required.
- Perform other duties as requested, consistent with the grade level of the position and agreeing appropriate prioritisation of work with line management or other relevant stakeholders as needed.
Knowledge and qualifications
Essential:
A1 Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary professional knowledge and management skills in a similar communications role or number of different specialist roles. Or: Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9 (Ordinary Degree, Scottish Vocational Qualification level 4), or equivalent (including professional accreditation with relevant formal training).
A2 Excellent knowledge of marketing and communication practices.
A3 Thorough and detailed knowledge of best practice for the development of content for the web and social media.
Desirable:
B1 Thorough knowledge and understanding of work practises, policies, and procedures relevant to the role.
B2 Understanding and experience of budgets.
Skills
Essential:
C1 Outstanding communication skills with excellent writing ability and demonstrable evidence of message delivery for different audiences - print, digital, social media, broadcast, and internal engagement.
C2 Excellent interpersonal skills, including diplomacy and discretion, and the ability to liaise with staff and external individuals at any level of seniority.
C3 Ability to understand, interpret and summarise complex issues and research across a broad range of disciplines.
C4 Initiative, creativity, energy, and enthusiasm, as well as excellent time management and organisational skills, with the ability to define priorities and work flexibly and effectively under pressure to meet demanding (and sometimes conflicting) deadlines.
C5 Excellent web management skills with an ability to effectively manage social media channels.
C6 Excellent planning and organisational skills used to enable external and internal stories to be developed across a range of channels.
C7 Ability to work collaboratively and to take the lead when required with external funders and partner institutions on complex communications projects and outputs.
C8 High degree of initiative, responsibility and self-motivation, and a professional and proactive approach to problem solving.
Desirable:
D1 Competency in InDesign and Adobe Photoshop.
Experience
Essential:
E1 Extensive and relevant experience in a similar role, producing communications plans and content.
E2 Proven experience of operating at a strategic level while translating a strategy into clear deliverables.
E3 Significant experience of establishing, managing, and delivering communications strategies for internal and external audiences.
E4 Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues in other professional teams.
E5 A track record of credible engagement working with, negotiating and influencing senior leaders.
E6 Clear and evidenced experience of developing, producing, sharing, and embedding high quality written, visual, and audio-visual materials for mainstream, online and social media audiences.
E7 Experience of briefing and managing external suppliers of creative services such as design agencies and videographers.
Desirable:
F1 Experience of delivering effective staff engagement communications.
F2 Experience of working within a research environment.
F3 Experience of using the T4 Content Management System.
F4 Experience of working in the Higher Education sector.
F5 Experience of using Canva.
World-Changing Campus
We have delivered one of the most significant expansions of a UK university city campus for over a century.
Over the last decade, the University of Glasgow has invested in its estate to expand its world-class campus and facilities.
An area covering 14 acres of land next to our magnificent Gilmorehill campus has been redeveloped to build a mix of modern research, teaching and public spaces.
Our new buildings will mean the University remains a centre for world-changing research, as well as a vibrant community hub and centre for public engagement.
The development will transform our teaching, learning and research spaces. It will allow us to bring together the best minds of today and tomorrow within world-class interdisciplinary research spaces that offer flexibility and stimulate collaboration, and modern study spaces that will combine study and social learning space with technology enabled teaching.
- The Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre (ARC) is changing the way research is conducted at Glasgow. The ARC is the creative and collaborative heart of research at the University of Glasgow, bridging the boundaries between research, cross-subject collaboration and true societal impact . The ARC brings more than 500 world-leading researchers from a range of disciplines together in a building specifically designed to break down organisational structure and facilitate collaboration and interdisciplinary work.
- The James McCune Smith Learning Hub is an inspirational and diverse learning space. The flagship building was the first to be completed as part of our campus development, and provides a creative environment, combining flexible study and social learning space with multi-styled and technology-enabled teaching. It can accommodate more than 2,500 students, and includes a lecture theatre with capacity for 500 students. State-of-the-art teaching facilities, with flexible study spaces and interactive teaching for students, help to create a more immersive learning experience.
Find out more
Living in Glasgow
A UNESCO City of Music, a vibrant arts and culture scene, a food-lover’s delight, and a shopper’s paradise. Just some of the highlights of the ‘friendliest city in the world’. As well as that accolade by the Rough Guides poll, Glasgow has also been named a must visit destination by publications including the New York Times, The Guardian, and Wanderlust.
Music
The city hosts an average of 130 music events a week catering for every taste; from rock to rap, and classical to country. Glasgow also has a world class club scene playing host to some of the world’s top DJs.
Shopping
Outside of London’s West End, Glasgow is frequently voted the best place for shopping in the UK. A must-visit destination for any shop-a-holic, it houses high street chains, international designers, and independent retailers. The West End, home to the University of Glasgow, is bustling with vintage fashion, vinyl stores, and second-hand bookshops.
Arts and Culture
Glasgow’s arts scene has gone from strength to strength, and is the base for five internationally renowned performing arts companies including the National Theatre of Scotland and Scottish Ballet. The city has several world-class museums, which are free to the public, and the city’s architecture is a work of art in itself.
Food and drink
You can be in Glasgow and taste the world with its many diverse restaurants, cafes, and bars. And if you’ve yet to sample the delights of haggis and whisky, Glasgow is the place to be.
The City and Beyond
Glasgow has all the opportunities and excitement of a big city but its compact size means you can quickly travel from one vibrant district to the next. You could be relaxing in one of its many parks, before shopping in the quirky West End, and then dancing until the wee small hours in the Merchant City.
And when you fancy getting out of the city you can reach the stunning Loch Lomond in just 30 minutes, climb one of our many breath-taking Munros, play golf at one of Scotland’s many world-class courses, visit one of our ancient castles, or go further North and search for Nessie! Scotland has also just been named the world’s most beautiful country by Rough Guides.
Relocating to Glasgow
Choosing to relocate to Glasgow is a big decision. There are numerous things to be considered, such as the costs of moving, the cost of living, and where exactly to relocate to. We have created a guide to aide you in the decision making process.
Find out more on relocating to Glasgow at the below link:
WORLD CHANGERS TOGETHER
WORLD CHANGING GLASGOW 2025
Our outstanding disciplinary breadth and expertise has enabled us to make world-changing advances in fields as diverse as medicine, physics, linguistics, public policy and global development.
The key to our success is our talented staff and students pushing back at the boundaries of knowledge and understanding together.
Our World Changers Together strategy recognises the fundamental importance of a culture of open cooperation: not just as colleagues and mentors or students and teachers, but as a community of discovery that reaches beyond its walls and draws inspiration and strength from its connections and partnerships worldwide: excellence that's part of something bigger. The strategy is articulated across three themes:
COMMUNITY
- People centred, globally engaged
CONNECTIVITY
- Collaboratively minded, digitally enhanced
CHALLENGES
- Solution focused, impact oriented
Find out more
How to apply
Full details of the role and how to apply can be found by visiting our website:
The closing date for applications is 20 May 2025
Terms & Conditions
Salary will be Grade 7, £40,497 - £45,413 per annum.
This post is full time (35 hours p/w) and fixed term to 31 July 2028.
The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK. If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.
Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.
It is the University of Glasgow’s mission to foster an inclusive climate, which ensures equality in our working, learning, research and teaching environment. We strongly endorse the principles of Athena SWAN, including a supportive and flexible working environment, with commitment from all levels of the organisation in promoting gender equity.
Our values
The future holds innumerable challenges for our sector, our society, and our world. We will have to adapt and change what we do and what we offer if we are to navigate these successfully. Our strategy and approach may evolve as the landscape changes, but our values will remain constant: a fixed point of certainty in uncertain times.
We have identified our values in consultation and partnership with our staff and student community. Living and upholding these values will ensure that we remain true to the spirit of our community and ourselves:
Ambition and Excellence
- We strive for excellence through our work
- We defend academic freedom globally
- We recognise and celebrate shared success
- We have an unrelenting focus on development
Curiosity and Discovery
- We innovate and solve problems together
- We lead by influence and example
- We engage with lifelong learning and personal development
- We learn from our mistakes
Integrity and Truth
- We uphold honesty, integrity and fairness
- We share our work widely and generously
- We do the right thing, not the easy thing - or we don’t do it
- We take responsibility
An Inclusive Community
- We are one Glasgow team, and we care for and respect one another
- We advocate for diversity and believe in variety as a vital part of a healthy university
- We champion education as an engine for social progress
- We practise and advance sustainability