Job Purpose

Working closely with the CaCHE senior management team, the Communications and Engagement Officer plays a critical role supporting the centre’s wider strategic development. They manage the overall brand, build strong productive relationships with press, public affairs and policy contacts, and work to raise the profile of the centre, establishing it as the leading voice in UK housing policy.

This post is based in the University of Glasgow, College of Social Sciences but will be situated within the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE), part of the School of Social and Political Sciences. CaCHE is a UK-wide collaboration aiming to become the leading independent centre for the production, analysis and dissemination of research related to housing.

We are seeking a Communications and Engagement Officer to share their expertise and provide key strategic insights as we embark on the next stage of our research journey. The role will work closely with our knowledge exchange and research teams across the UK to embed communications from the outset of all projects, ensuring that our research reaches our target audiences and has maximum impact.

The Communications and Engagement Officer promotes the achievements and activities of CaCHE through a wide range of social media channels, press and engagement activities including in person, hybrid and online exclusive events. Our stakeholders are from across the research, policy, private, and practice sectors and include international as well as national colleagues. The postholder will be responsible for producing a range of outputs including reports, briefings and infographics, managing the website and social media channels, and drafting external and internal newsletters.

The post-holder will be expected to have a close daily working relationship with the Director, including attending the CaCHE management meeting, and maintain regular internal communications across the CaCHE consortium. They will also be expected to work closely with communications colleagues within the School of Social and Political Sciences and College of Social Sciences to support joint strategic objectives of benefit to the wider university.

The postholder will have an overview of all communications and engagement activities taking place across the whole of CaCHE including the five knowledge exchange hubs. Their role will be to ensure that activities are strategic, responsive to sector developments, coordinated, in-line with the centre guidelines and objectives, and that the information is recorded for reporting purposes.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1.  To manage all aspects of the CaCHE brand and to champion the brand internally to all academics and researchers across the collaboration making sure its purpose and goals are understood and that all messages and tone are consistent with it.

2.  To lead in the production and implementation of social media for CaCHE; to promote engagement with key stakeholders across different markets.

3.  Use specialist knowledge to develop proactive web-marketing approaches to increase traffic to the CaCHE website, and user engagement opportunities.

4.  To be responsible for development of high quality and effective materials that promote CaCHE to stakeholders and correctly align with the overall communication strategy. Be responsible for assets including the formatting of reports, production of artwork, sourcing images, collating and/or writing copy for all marketing collateral.

5.  To develop relationships across multiple institutions to ensure the involvement and input of CaCHE’s researchers, academic staff and sector partners to the communication activities of the collaboration

6.  Undertake regular reporting on activities taking responsibility to ensure a strategic approach is taken to stakeholder engagement and adjust and refresh approaches accordingly, as required.

7.  Empower staff across CaCHE and at all levels to improve the way we work by providing support, training and advice on how best communicate research and engage with target audiences.

8.  Lead the organisation, and support delivery, of all CaCHE events, maintaining an overview of all planned and completed activities across the five knowledge exchange hubs.

9.  To work with colleagues in the Public Affairs and Communication Office at the University of Glasgow and their counterparts in the other collaboration institutions to write media releases for local and national media to ensure consistent and effective communication of key messages to key audiences.

10.  To support with selected College-level initiatives and undertake other reasonable tasks and duties as required by the line manager.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge / Qualifications

Essential:

A1 Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar or number of different 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), and experience of personal development in a similar or related role(s)

A2 Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including copy-editing

A3 Experience of design software such as Adobe InDesign and Photoshop

Desirable:

B1 Detailed knowledge and understanding of relevant UK housing sector organisations and stakeholders

B2 Higher degree or professional qualification in a relevant area

Skills

Essential:

C1 Excellent interpersonal and listening skills and ability to interact effectively with people at different levels within a wide range of companies, public and government organisations, and voluntary organisations

C2 Ability to influence stakeholders and build relationships at a senior level

C3 Ability to interact and co-operate effectively with academic and administrative colleagues at all levels demonstrating a flexible, open and co-operative attitude

C4 Proven ability to implement strategy and policy and to translate plans into effective action

C5 Ability to think strategically, innovatively, critically and analytically

C6 Self-starter with the ability to generate ideas, exercise initiative and to work effectively both independently and as part of a team

C7 High level of oral and written communication including the ability to write for various publications

C8 Strong digital skills particularly production and editing of video content

C9 Highly developed IT skills including the use of Wordpress and Trello (or equivalent)

C10 Strong organisational skills with the ability to drive multiple projects simultaneously

C11 Ability to work effectively under pressure

C12 Excellent project management skills

Experience

Essential:

E1 Experience of planning and progressing work activities within professional guidelines or organisational policy, applying initiative and independent judgement

E2 Experience of successfully forming professional relationships, including working with and influencing senior management

E3 Experience of working on own initiative, establishing priorities and multi-tasking to deadlines

E4 Experience of contributing to the formulation and/or implementation of strategy

E5 End to end event management experience

E6 Previous experience of working in an external engagement role

E7 Understanding the use of social media in a professional context

Desirable:

F1 Experience of delivering professional services in a Higher Education environment

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 7, £40,497 - £45,413 per annum.

This post is full time (35 hours per week), and is fixed term until 30 June 2026 in the first instance.

Please Note: If you are a current employee of the University of Glasgow, please be advised that the University would consider an internal secondment opportunity for this post. University of Glasgow applicants should seek clearance for release for internal secondment from their line manager before making a formal application.

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As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension , benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community here.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.jobs.gla.ac.uk/benefits-salary-and-flexible-working for more information. 

Closing Date: 1 July 2025