Job Summary
The Graduate Communications Coordinator will be involved in a range of communications activities facing the University of Exeter's Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. The role includes supporting external communication including media outreach for the Faculty's exciting research, including placing stories in the media. The role also entails generating content for the Faculty's social media channels, supporting staff and students in their own content creation, communication support for events, and writing a staff newsletter.
This role is part of the Graduate Business Partnership (GBP) scheme and offers full time hours (36.5 per week) from July 2026 for 12 months. This role offers hybrid working where you will work from the University of Exeter and remote.
Key Dates
Closing Date: 2/7/2026
Interview Date: 8/7/2026
Role Start Date: July 2026
Role End Date: July 2027
Starting Salary: £28,029 per annum
Purpose of the Role
The role involves creating visual and written communication assets for both external and internal communications activities, as well as the day-to-day running of our key social media channels.
The role involves creating content for our website and social media channels, as well as supporting a wide range of communications activities around key areas of research including dementia, diabetes and cancer. The post holder will help tell student stories and support world-leading researchers to optimise their communications reach regionally, nationally and internationally to a range of audiences. Working with a wider communications team, the post holder will receive support and training across a range of communications disciplines.
This is a busy and fast-paced role with scope to gain experience across a wide range of communications activities, particularly within health research. The role is part of the Press Office, supported by our skilled External Engagement and Global directorate, providing varied opportunities for training and advice.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Generating content for channels including web pages and social media channels
- Creating and sourcing visual (images / video) and written content to share across a range of communications channels
- Supporting academics and students to optimise content creation for Faculty channels, and social media activity
- Collating and sourcing information from colleagues across the University where appropriate relating to media events and news stories.
- Producing a regular staff newsletter
- Supporting events which may require logistical arrangements, liaising with colleagues across the Faculty and the External Engagement and Global department, including the University’s senior team
- Working with colleagues to optimise communications to groups including students, staff and external audiences, including through newsletters
- Working closely with other key areas within the Professional Services
- Being dedicated to delivering a high-quality customer focused service.
Training and Development - What Skills and Experience will this Opportunity Provide?
- This is a truly developmental role, where the candidate will gain a wide range of experience and an impressive CV, as well as support in applying for the next step in the career pathway. Previous interns have progressed to roles working in social media, press offices, in health journalism and some have progressed within our department.
- The post holder will receive in-post training in areas including: social media, brand guidelines and adherence, media engagement and press release writing, newsletter creation.
- The post holder will be encouraged to engage with national career development opportunities, for example through the science communication network STEMPRA
- As well as this on-the-job training, the post holder will have access to the University’s wide range of learning and development resources.
- Depending on skills, experience and need, we would also consider funding additional external training and education opportunities
You will be asked to complete the university’s mandatory online training in:
- Safeguarding on our Campuses
- Diversity in the Workplace
- Health and Safety Introduction
- Information Governance and Security
Support Available
- The role will report to and be supported by the Head of External Communications for the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, who has more than a decade of experience in both journalism and science communication, and qualifications in both fields.
- The relationship with the line manager will be one based around training and mentorship, with daily contact, including in-person at least twice a week.
- You will also have support from the wider press office team, as well as colleagues across External Engagement and Global, which includes specialists in a wide range of marketing and communication fields.
- The university offers extensive support to staff, including a structured Professional Development Review and Wellbeing Service plus 1:1 support from the Internships Team.
The Benefits
You will have access to a wide range of benefits, rewards and recognition from the University including:
- Flexible/hybrid working
- Generous pension
- A holiday allowance of 39 days per year
- Totum Card (student discount)
- Salary Exchange Schemes such as the Cycle to Work Scheme
- Discounted membership to the university's sports facilities including cricket centre, indoor/outdoor pools, squash courts and fitness centre’s.
- The university offers extensive support to staff, including a structured Professional Development Review and Wellbeing Service plus 1:1 support from the Internships Team.
- All Graduates are offered a ‘how to make the most of your internship’ guide.
- You will have access to the university’s Career Mentor Scheme and career consultancy opportunities.
- You will have access to the university’s extensive suite of online training which includes Excel, presentation skills, and negotiation skills.
- You will be invited to quarterly networking and professional development events through ‘The Graduate Network’.
About You (Person Specification)
Degree and Attainment
- Educated to degree level or higher and graduated from a UK university in the last 3 years
- A degree in a subject linked to communications or health and life sciences is desirable, but not essential
Skills
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including copywriting
- Ability to shoot and edit video content
- Understanding of social media for communication and engagement
- Strong time management ability
Personal Qualities and Attributes
- A confident communicator, able to network and develop contacts
- Organised, with the ability to deliver on plan / to deadline
- Attention to detail
- Creative
- Willingness to learn and develop, and act positively on feedback
- Team player, who can also work autonomously where needed
- Self-motivated and use initiative to find solutions / deliver on a task
- Interest in communications and / or science communication
Prior Experience
- Experience of using Word / Excel / PowerPoint
- Experience of handling a complex workload with competing demands
- Experience of asset creation and editing (desirable)
- Experience of WordPress (desirable)
You must have valid right-to-work documents with you for verification if appointed, copies are not accepted. See here for a full list of acceptable documents to confirm your right to work in the UK.
About the University Department/Organisation
The University of Exeter’s Faculty of Health and Life Science is committed to transforming human health and well-being through discovery, translation and impact arising from our world-leading research, education and partnership. Encompassing the University of Exeter Medical School, the Faculty is a welcoming, inclusive, flexible and dynamic community in which to work.
The Graduate Communications Coordinator will support a team that is integral to communicating the Faculty’s exciting world-leading health and life sciences research and education work to external audiences. We are often communicating advances on some of the greatest health challenges of our time, such as dementia, mental health, cancer and genomics.
Graduate Business Partnership (GBP) Scheme Requirements
- To undertake a graduate role through the GBP scheme, you must have either achieved your degree or be nearing completion of your final year at any UK-based university.
- If you are nearing completion of your final year, your working hours may be reduced to 15 hours per week (for undergraduates) or 6 hours per week (for postgraduates) to ensure you have the capacity to successfully complete your degree. More hours can be completed if your academic agrees and provides written confirmation.
- If you do not pass your degree, the GBP role will end early.
- You must have graduated in the UK within the last 3 years of your most recent degree (we will consider extenuating circumstances of potential applicants that may have prevented them from undertaking a graduate role within 3 years of graduation).
- The University of Exeter is committed to developing an environment which promotes equality of opportunity, values diversity and inclusivity.
- We are committed to creating an inclusive culture and engage with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark) and LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion)
- Learn about the university’s commitment to the Disability Confident scheme here
- At the time of starting employment, the successful candidate must have permission to work in the UK and evidence must be provided in advance of the appointment. Examples of suitable evidence can be found here. Candidates should continue to have permission for the duration of the GBP contract. This includes British citizens, individuals with an EU Pre-Settlement or EU-Settlement Status; and those with a Graduate Route Visa.
- All graduates need to reside in the UK whilst undertaking this role.
Application Tips
- Refer to the job details contained within the advert when writing your personal statement.
- You can use the STAR approach to evidence each requirement in the Person Specification.
- The University is a Disability Confident employer and as such this policy applies to recruitment through GBP Scheme. Applicants who identify a disability on the application form will be offered an interview if their application demonstrates they meet the essential criteria.
- Please also include details of any reasonable adjustments you may need for an interview or to undertake the role.
- You should explain why you would like to work for the employing organisation and why you think you would be a suitable candidate for this role.
Further Guidance and Support
- (Exeter graduates only) You can refer to the My Career Zone Digital resources on application and interview preparation here.
- (Exeter graduates only) If you need support with your application, you can book an appointment through the Career Zone.
- Unless stated, interview expenses will not be paid.
- It is recommended that you check your online presence on social media to ensure it represents you well, as some employers may undertake online research of their applicants.
The Graduate Business Partnership scheme supports final year students and recent graduates to launch their careers at the University of Exeter and with recommended employers in the southwest.
- GBP roles provide graduate-level employment.
- Build experience and develop your skills in a supportive environment.
The GBP scheme is open to everyone who has graduated from a UK-based university in the last 3 years. If you are an international student, you can also apply for GBP roles if you have a Graduate Visa.
You can find out more about the Graduate Business Partnership scheme here.
