York Festival of Ideas Marketing and Communications Officer

Role Description

Department

The Events Office seeks to appoint a communications specialist to join the high-performing Events Team to manage the communications and marketing for the annual York Festival of Ideas. Reporting to the Head of Events, and working closely with the Events Officers, the role holder will primarily work to support York Festival of Ideas (a 12-day annual festival coordinated by the University, taking place in June).

 The role is permanent, subject to external funding, and will require the role-holder to work full-time from November to the end of June each year.

 The role will necessitate working unsocial hours during the Festival.

Role

The main duties of the role will include: copy-editing and copy-writing material for the Festival brochure and web pages; managing the print schedule for the Festival brochure; creating and managing the distribution of other marketing materials for the Festival; helping to create the Festival web pages; contributing to social media marketing; liaising with photographers; drafting media releases; attending meetings as required, and supporting the Events Team at events during the Festival. The successful applicant will have excellent writing and IT skills; be able to manage a high work-load to tight deadlines, have a ‘can-do’ attitude, and have exceptional attention to detail.

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

• Knowledge of a full range of marketing practices and promotional activities, including social networking tools, and use of those practices within a complex organisation
• Understanding of the key principles of marketing
• A thorough understanding of printing technology and print media
• Experience of writing for a variety of audiences and for a range of publications
• Assisting in the delivery of events
• Office administration, including setting up, managing and analysing systems
• Managing projects
• Handling confidential information
• Liaising with print suppliers
• Liaising with photographers
• Experience of updating web pages using a Web Content Management System
• Excellent IT skills: able to use Microsoft Office (particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint), Google suite, a Web Content Management System, and the ability and willingness to quickly learn new systems
• Excellent copy-editing skills
• Able to undertake and analyse market research
• Able to write media releases and deal with media enquiries
• Professional, helpful and approachable attitude, with a diplomatic, confident and efficient manner in dealing with a range of people and situations
• A high degree of attention to detail

Interview date: tbc

For informal enquiries: please contact Naomi Richards on naomi.richards@york.ac.uk.

The University strives to be diverse and inclusive  – a place where we can ALL be ourselves.

We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University. 

We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork