Thought Leadership Specialist
Reference: MAR#removed# 
Location: Flexible in UK
Salary: £44,315.00 - £47,312.00 Per Annum
Hours: Full-Time, 37.5 Hours per week
Contract: 12 months - Maternity Cover
Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave

We are more than halfway into the critical decade of action needed to really tackle the nature and climate emergency and more needs to be done.

This charity’s corporate strategy has identified that to play their role in addressing the crisis, they need to become 'a more agile, bold influencer and campaigner in the movement for birds and nature’. Their PR, media, campaign and wider communications responses have a key part to play in delivering this shift.

They are looking for a seasoned comms professional who has specialised in thought leadership in past roles and has supported senior leadership with profile raising. The right candidate will have an awareness of the UK’s charity, political and media landscapes and be able to support this organisation to inspire and engage audiences across multiple channels, helping to grow and protect the charity's profile and reputation. If that sounds like you then you could be the person they are looking for.

Being a top-class stakeholder manager and working closely with internal teams, you will work to deliver and further develop the integrated thought leadership communications strategy and help deliver impactful communications including:

• Securing UK national media opportunities - political and cultural, and developing relationships with journalists and media, including non-traditional outlets like podcasts
• Planning content for senior leader social media channels and growing their social media presence, with particular expertise and focus on LinkedIn. Developing best practice guidance and supporting individuals to get the most out of their channels.
• Identifying and securing key speaking opportunities, and spotting opportunities for owned events that will have impact.
• Identifying long-term strategic communications opportunities to raise the CEO’s and other senior leaders’ profiles, in order to further the impact of this charity's work.
• Collaborating internally on how to make best use of owned channels such as the organisation's website and social media for showcasing thought leadership work.

You will have a proactive, positive attitude, be an excellent writer with outstanding communications skills and attention to detail, be able to work at speed with senior stakeholders and have a strong understanding of what constitutes effective communications.

Essentials:

• Highly effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Highly developed knowledge of the UK media and political landscapes and how they inter-relate
• A solid understanding of developing engaging content and growing accounts on social media, in particular Linkedin
• Well-developed knowledge of and experience in developing thought leadership communications strategies for senior leaders
• Ability to shape the strategic direction of an organisation's thought leadership programme by leading change, planning and organising activities of others to support work area objectives
• Ability to develop/improve the capabilities in thought leadership communications of other team members, motivating and mentoring colleagues to meet current and future requirements for this area of work
• Experience in working with and influencing senior stakeholders
• Experience in developing innovative solutions and contributing to strategic planning
• Experience of leadership and collaboration, working across a vast variety of teams internally to deliver outcomes.

Desirables:

• Excellent at striking up new relationships and developing them
• Highly effective influencer
• Great networking skills and experience in working with partners
• Ability to work at pace, understanding the need to sometimes pivot or change direction at a late stage due to external world factors
• Creative thinker with a desire to try different approaches
• Experience working for or with a large and complicated organisation
• Understanding of issues facing nature and the environment
• Script writing skills
• Understanding of B2B engagement and a broad media landscape.

Additional Information:

• This is a full time (12 months Maternity Cover) role working 37.5 hours per week.
• The right is reserved to extend this role or make it permanent at any time.

Closing date: 23:59, Tuesday 29th April 2025 
This empoyer is looking to conduct interviews as and when applications come, in so please don't hesitate to submit your applications. 
Please note that as the employer is actively recruiting for this position the right is reserved to close this vacancy once sufficient applications have been received.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Click the job board apply button to be taken to the next stage where you can find out more information and complete your application by following the instructions (you may need to scroll down).

This employer is committed to developing an inclusive and diverse organisation, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve their vision of creating a world richer in nature, they need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, they are particularly interested in receiving your application. 

This charity is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment.

No agencies please.