Science Communications Officer - FTC

Science Communications Officer - FTC

Join to apply for the Science Communications Officer - FTC role at Alzheimer's Research UK

The Officer is part of the Science Communications Team, which inspires and informs the public, donors and researchers about dementia research, the progress being made, wider developments in the field and the impact of Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK) funding.

The postholder plays a vital role in helping tell the story and scientific narrative of ARUK to a variety of audiences, cementing the charity’s role as a leading authority on dementia research in the UK and globally. They also help to create a clear, creative, and compelling case for the need for research and the progress being made towards finding a cure.

This means the postholder will be an effective and inspiring communicator, creating and landing content covering ARUK research, impact and commentary across multiple communications channels and audiences.

Key responsibilities include finding and developing stories around ARUK research and helping to create and deliver communications plans around our research initiatives. This includes pitching stories to media, creating social media and digital content, such as blogs and website summaries, and help creating content for supporter newsletters. The officer will also be part of our press operations which involves handling media calls, including some out of hours cover.

The postholder will also be expected to engage in broader communications and events work both within the team and beyond it. This is a challenging, creative and busy role, but one that oversees a function that is critical to ARUK and its mission.

This is a 12-month Fixed Term Contract.

• Support in the development and implementation of communications plans for ARUK launches and major initiatives, as well as responding to other stories in the news.
• Ensure that ARUK’s research portfolio, strategy and ambition is communicated to the public through digital channels including our website, blog and social media.
• Develop and maintain a first-rate working knowledge of the dementia research field, including ARUK’s portfolio, strategy, impact and history.
• Develop and maintain high-level playbooks that make the case for research and the work of ARUK, and devise and develop innovative and creative communications products and campaigns based on this narrative.
• Work with teams across the charity, including Research, Fundraising and Marketing to find and communicate suitable projects, success stories and researcher case studies for inclusion in public and supporter-facing communications.
• Contribute to ARUK’s proactive and reactive media communications by being part of the news desk, including out-of-hours queries (organised through an on-call rota, and occasional ad hoc) and finding ARUK-related newsworthy stories to pitch to the media.
• Help monitor and showcase the impact of our media activity and contribute to media training ARUK employees.
• Help manage multiple short- and long-term projects, working with teams within the charity and key external stakeholders.
• Deliver presentations about dementia and our communications around dementia and research as part of employee and external events.
• Maintain a watching brief of the dementia research sector to identify emerging technologies and trends that might benefit ARUK’s work.
• Develop and maintain relationships with a wide network of experts from across the dementia research field, including through attending research conferences and representing ARUK.
• Ensure communications activities comply with ARUK’s tone, branding and style guide.
• Undertake any other relevant duties and projects delegated by the team manager in line with the responsibilities of the post.

• Educated to degree level in life sciences or demonstrable relative work experience.
• Experience in translating complex science for a lay audience.
• Experience in creating compelling content for digital channels, including web and social media.
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills: can work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders within and outside the organisation.
• Strong planning and…