Research Communications Manager

Job Location:

Milton Keynes, Remote/Hybrid

Department:
External Communications

Closing Date: 22 September 2026

Weekly

Working Hours:

37

Contract Type:
Fixed Term Contract

Fixed Term

Contract:

End Date: 30 April 2027

Welsh Language:
Not Applicable

The Open University is the UK's largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education, combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this
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This role is based in the Marketing and Communications (Mar Comms) unit and the position sits within the External Communications team.

Our vision is to tell the story of the OU’s research to the world. We need somebody who can craft narratives and key messages on a wealth of different stories and projects. Whilst this role requires you to deliver high impact external communications for the OU, working across multiple channels delivering stories and content.

You will be responsible for delivering high impact research communications, working with the Research Communications Manager for the OU with a range of key stakeholders, including Research and Enterprise, faculties and business units.

You are proactive, working with others to extract information to create powerful narratives and key messaging to support the Marcomms Greater Reach plan.

You can take a planned approach to work, by leading, sourcing and delivering communications that can be used in University wide campaigns and external activity.

The role requires interaction and management with groups of different stakeholders across the University and should ensure that research is at the heart of the Marcomms Greater Reach plan.

The role will also support the OU’s leaders, academic experts and our amazing students, as they deliver the University's key messages both internally and externally. You will work with the Research Communications Manager to ensure the development of the Open Societal Challenges programme and support the Research and Innovation Services (RIS) in its continued development.

Specific areas of responsibility will be:

• The production of a monthly OU Research newsletter on Linked In.
• Production of up to four new research grants stories for OU channels and working on making more of them in discussion with the Senior Manager, Research Communications.
• Leading on an OU research video or podcast series.
• Working with the Senior Manager, Research Communications, faculties and the OU You Tube team to produce a regular stream of videos about OU research.

You will create content that can be adapted for use by teams working in media relations, external comms and government and external affairs as well as nations and faculty. You will draft copy and keep the OU Research website up to date with research news.

Your role will work across multiple channels including event support for key research moments such as the Research Excellence Awards/key OU research showcases. Your ultimate aim is to further the understanding of the impact of the OU’s research both internally and externally.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Experience of external communications. Generating stories, creating content and campaigns that work across multiple channels.
• Experience of contributing to the delivery of integrated campaigns across paid, earned, shared, and owned communications channels.
• Can demonstrate a track record of actioning different and varied communications quickly across a range of channels.
• Evidence of strong spoken and written interpersonal and communications skills and the ability to work quickly and accurately to…