About ARU:
ARU is a global university transforming lives through innovative, inclusive and entrepreneurial education and research. ARU holds a Gold award for the quality of its education, awarded through the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
ARU’s research institutes and four faculties bridge scientific, technical and creative fields. We deliver impactful research which tackles pressing issues and makes a real difference to our communities. Our academic excellence has been recognised by the UK’s Higher Education funding bodies, with 16 of our research areas assessed as world leading. We are the largest provider of Nursing, Midwifery, Health and Social Care students in the East of England, and we are also among the UK’s leading universities for degree apprenticeship provision, working with hundreds of employers across the UK.
About the Role:
This is an exciting opportunity to lead a newly formed communications function at a pivotal moment for ARU. As the University launches its new 10-year strategy on 1 September, we are bringing together specialist communications teams under a new leadership structure to deliver a more strategic, audience-focused and integrated approach to communications across the institution.
As our new Head of Communications, you will provide leadership for staff, student, leadership, research and innovation, and media communications, ensuring our communications activity supports institutional priorities, strengthens engagement, enhances reputation and delivers measurable impact. Reporting to the Deputy Director of External Relations and Communications, you will play a key role in shaping how communications operates across the University and how we engage with our diverse audiences.
Leading a newly established team of communications professionals, you will bring together expertise from internal communications, research and innovation communications, and media relations to create a high-performing, collaborative service. You will set standards, establish ways of working, embed planning and governance processes, and create a culture of continuous improvement that enables the team to deliver excellent outcomes and trusted advice across the institution.
You will work closely with senior leaders across ARU, providing expert communications counsel, shaping institutional narratives and ensuring our communications are informed by audience needs and insight. You will oversee communications planning across a complex portfolio of activities, while also playing a key role in reputation management, issues management and crisis communications.
We are looking for an experienced communications leader with a strong track record of delivering strategic communications in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment. You will have experience leading teams through change, developing high-performing communications functions and influencing senior stakeholders. Just as importantly, you will bring the vision, credibility and collaborative leadership needed to build a new team, establish trusted partnerships and create a communications service that helps deliver ARU's strategic ambitions.
This is an opportunity to build something new. You will shape the future of communications at ARU, establish the foundations of an insight-led communications service, and play a central role in bringing our new 10-year strategy to life. If you are excited by the opportunity to build a team, influence institutional direction and help shape how ARU engages with its communities and stakeholders, we would love to hear from you.
Informal enquiries can be made to Andrea Hilliard, Deputy Director of External Relations and Communications, at [email protected].
Find out more about working with us and how we recruit.
We have an agile working culture and offer an extensive range of benefits including generous holiday entitlement, occupational pension schemes, training and development opportunities, travel to work scheme and a competitive relocation package. Visit our benefits page for full details.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting welfare of our staff and students and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants should be aware that ARU will carry out online searches as part of the due diligence on short listed candidates.
We value diversity at ARU and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
We have a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK and will conduct Right to Work checks in line with UKVI’s Right to Work policy and our own institutional policy. Furthermore, we must note:
- Applicants applying from outside the UK: At this time, ARU is unable to sponsor applicants applying from overseas for a Worker Route visa.
- Applicants already in the UK: ARU is unable to offer Worker Route visa sponsorship to applicants whose salary does not meet our minimum sponsorship threshold, which aligns with roles at Grade 6 and above.
Committed to being inclusive and open to discuss flexible working.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy once we have received sufficient applications.
Guidance Notes:
Please download the Job Description Person Specification for key requirements. To apply, demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the criteria.
