Marketing and Communications Officer Job Description The School Colston's School was founded in 1710 by the Bristol philanthropist, Edward Colston, and is consequently well established as one of Bristol s principal independent schools. Colston entrusted his school into the care of the Society of Merchant Venturers, which continues to play an active and caring role in the school's affairs, nominating half the governing body, including the chairman, from its members. Having been originally housed in rather cramped quarters in the centre of Bristol, the school moved to its current position, a former palace of the Bishop of Bristol, at Stapleton, in 1857. Together with the Lower School, which is situated on what used to be Stapleton Court and the old Rectory only a stone s throw from the Upper School, the school estate now boasts over 30 acres of beautiful grounds on the northern outskirts of Bristol, bordering the river Frome. It is easily accessible by road and has all of its facilities, including extensive playing fields, on the one site making it somewhat unique amongst Bristol schools. Colston's, as so many schools of its day, was initially a boys' school but it has been fully co-educational since 1991, following initially admitting girls into the Sixth Form in 1984. The school now caters for some 700 boys and girls aged 3 to 18 years. Pastoral care is exercised through a house system and there is a thriving Sixth Form of some 150 boys and girls. The school is large enough to sustain a wide range of activities at a high level and yet small enough for each boy or girl to contribute actively and be known as individuals. Every effort is made to provide for and develop pupils' abilities in academic, cultural and other extra-curricular activities. More details about the school can be found on www.colstons.bristol.sch.uk
Reporting The Marketing & Communications Officer will report to the Headmaster Job Purpose The Marketing & Communications Officer will play a crucial role in promoting Colston s School to prospective parents and pupils, prospective staff, the local community and the wider public and encouraging their engagement with the School. The role requires someone who is able to marry their creativity and flair with the ability to secure value for money and a return on investments. The post holder will assist the Headmaster with all aspects of the Communications Strategy, making this a diverse role with opportunities to deliver a range of marketing and communications activities. The Communications Office will work closely with the Development Office so the post holder will also advise and support colleagues communicating with alumni. The post holder will have particular responsibility for the School s online communications including the school website its use of social media, creating digital and printed marketing material, and planning and fostering public relations. Due to the seasonal peaks in the admissions cycle there will be times when the Communications & Marketing Officer will need to support admissions activity. Therefore a flexible, can-do attitude and strong team working skills are needed. Outline Terms and Conditions The starting date for this post is 1 st September or earlier. Average 37.5 hours per week during term time (35 weeks) plus an additional 5 weeks. In addition there are specific evening events, inset days and weekend events at which the postholder s attendance is required (excessive hours to be taken as time in lieu). 33 days holiday per year including 8 bank holidays (pro-rata) to be taken out of term time. The postholder will be required to work as necessary to complete the job to the highest standard Pay scale NJC point 30-35 dependent on experience ( 25 727-29 528 pro-rata) The School operates a defined contribution pension scheme which all non-teaching members of staff are eligible to join and to which the School and the member of staff both contribute. Lunch is provided free of charge for all staff whose working hours encompass the time of School lunch. Staff are eligible for a 50% (pro-rata for part time staff) staff reduction on tuition fees and parking is provided on site. The School is keen to help develop the skills of its staff and looks to provide appropriate training as necessary.
Key Responsibilities Website and digital marketing Ensuring that the website and digital communications effectively convey the essence and experience of Colston s School and provide audiences with the information they need in a user-friendly way. By: Using quantitative and qualitative data to continuously evaluate the effectiveness of the website and identify ways to improve it. Keeping abreast of website innovations and recommending appropriate enhancements, working with staff and our creative agency to ensure the website s functionality, navigation and look and feel evolve. Developing content, in line with the content strategy, including images, video and audio. Ensuring digital activity is effectively optimised for Search, using SEO and other techniques if appropriate. Uploading of regularly refreshed content such as newsletters and stories Co-ordinating and publishing weekly, termly and annual newsletters and magazines, both in hard and electronic format, as required. Marketing material Ensuring School marketing materials have a consistent look and feel that reflects our values and effectively conveys our proposition. By: Drafting and editing copy for key marketing materials including newsletters, prospectuses, the annual review, flyers and adverts. Working with our creative agency to design digital and printed marketing materials and, designing some material in-house. Maintaining stocks of marketing material and ensuring they are displayed at all appropriate points in the School and supplied to appropriate partners (for example local nurseries, primary schools and estate agents). Helping staff apply the visual identity to their communications, for example developing simple toolkits, templates and guides. Setting up and managing the School s marketing image library, including securing and briefing photographers and ensuring image use for marketing purposes adheres to School policies. Public Relations Helping the School engage its various audiences and develop strong relationships. Raising awareness of the benefits of being part of Colston s School or working in partnership with us. Working with the Headmaster and other staff to develop mutually-beneficial relationships with partners (such as local schools, businesses and academia). Acting as the School s social media expert; reviewing, implementing and evaluating the social media strategy and policies. Developing a forward look of Staff blog topics and co-ordinating guest bloggers for the website. Liaising with staff across the School to ensure newsworthy activities are identified Covering activities and taking photos for news stories, creating case studies and commissioning professional photography/using school photographer where appropriate. Promptly reporting news on the website and in the social media channels. Maintaining an archive of media coverage that can be accessible to interested parties.
Contributing to the crisis management plan, preparing for crises, and active involvement in the event of such an incident. Advertising and direct marketing Ensuring the School appears in key directories and that entries are kept up-todate. Supporting the Headmaster with the advertising plan, including gathering information about the audiences and rates for different channel options. Organising leaflet drops / banners if deemed appropriate and cost effective. Working with our creative agency to develop adverts and, designing some adverts in-house. Identifying emerging markets for the school. Events Working with staff to organise and promote open days, Speech Day and Entrance Test Day and other pupil-centred events designed to promote Colston s School. Producing marketing material for open days including programmes and maps Securing and analysing parent feedback from events to inform the marketing strategy. Other The post holder will be expected to work closely with the administration team. The successful candidate will wish to explore ways of collecting feedback on the school s service in order to inform management discussions. Person Specification Essential experience, skills and personal qualities Experience in a marketing, communications or PR role Strong writing and editing skills, including the ability to tailor content and format to different audience needs. Experience of digital marketing or website management and/or evaluation (technical skills not essential but would be an advantage). Experience of using social media in a business/organisational setting. A nose for a good news story and the ability to tell that story convincingly. An eye for good design and the ability to produce well-formatted documents such as PowerPoint presentations, newsletters, programmes and reports. Initiative and ability to work without direct supervision. Diplomacy with strong interpersonal and listening skills. Thoroughness with an eye for detail. A team-player who is happy to go beyond their own responsibilities to help others at busy times. Ability and willingness to work outside normal office hours as required. Desired experience While not essential, the following would be an advantage. Graphic design skills or use of desktop publishing packages. A marketing or PR qualification. Experience of delivering and evaluating email campaigns o using social media monitoring tools o setting up or managing an image library o using marketing databases In addition to the above, the successful applicant will be expected: To promote the safeguarding and welfare of children and young persons for whom they are responsible or come into contact with;
To be supportive of and committed to the School s policies on Child Protection; To be supportive of the School s policies on Equal Opportunities; To be mindful of their personal responsibilities relating to Safety, Health and the Environment; To be mindful of the need to treat all sensitive information relating to pupils, fellow employees and the business of the School as confidential; To be accepting of the need to follow all other School policies and procedures as appropriate and relevant to their post. Application and Recruitment Process Application Form Applications will only be accepted from candidates who complete the attached application form in full. The deadline for applications is midday on Tuesday 8 th July 2014. All sections must be completed, including the names and addresses of two referees, one of whom should be your current employer (if applicable) and a full education and employment history. Please provide a Curriculum Vitae in addition to the completed application form, completed supplementary application form and send a covering letter. All applicants will be asked the reason for leaving previous roles if this is not explained on the application form. Applicants will be asked to confirm that they have not been disqualified from working with children. Any gaps in employment will be explored at interview. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore you must declare all convictions, cautions and bind-overs, including those spent. If your application is successful you will be required to complete an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service. You will also be asked to supply evidence of your right to live and work in the U.K. References will not be requested until after interview and the school may approach your previous employers for information to verify specific experience or qualifications. If you are currently working with children, your current employer will be asked about disciplinary offences and whether you have ever been the subject of any child protection allegations or concerns and the outcome of any inquiry or disciplinary procedure. If you are not currently working with children but have done so in the past, your previous employer will be asked about those issues. Where neither your current nor your previous employment has involved working with children, your current employer will still be asked about your suitability to work with children. Please be aware that the provision of false information is an offence and could result in the application being rejected or summary dismissal if your application has been successful. All applications are acknowledged in writing and short-listed candidates invited for interview. The interviews will be held on Monday 14 th July 2014. The proposed inter Applicants who are not invited for interview should assume that, on this occasion, their application has not been successful. Interview If you are invited to interview the areas that it will explore will include your suitability to work with children. If you are invited for interview you must bring with you documents
confirming your educational and professional qualifications as necessary for, or relevant to, the post. Where originals or certified copies are not available for the successful candidate, written confirmation of the relevant qualifications must be obtained from the awarding body. Conditional Offer of Appointment Any offer of a post will be conditional upon: Receipt of at least two satisfactory references (if not received prior to interview) Verification of identity, qualifications and the right to work in the U.K. A satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure Verification of professional status If you have worked or lived abroad in the previous five years, satisfactory checks and confirmation as required in accordance with statutory guidance Verification of medical fitness Satisfactory completion of a probationary period Safer Recruitment Colston s School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including references from previous employers, and a Disclosure and Barring Service check at the enhanced level and compliance with Sections 15-25 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (eligibility to work in the UK).