Science Communications Officer LMS 1853

View Vacancy -- Science Communications Officer LMS 1853
Open Date
20/05/2022, 15:15
Close Date
19/06/2022, 23:55
Research Institute  
MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences
Research Institute / Unit Information  

The London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS) is a Medical Research Council funded research institute at the Hammersmith Hospital campus (London W12) of Imperial College London, with around 400 biomedical researchers undertaking multidisciplinary and internationally-competitive science.

For more information, visit www.lms.mrc.ac.uk.

UK Research and Innovation is a new entity that brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, more information can be found at www.ukri.org
Band  
MRC - 5
Location  
London
Salary  
£25,798 – £27,501 plus London allowances (£3,727 & £1,402) per annum
Contract Type  
Fixed Term
Job Type  
Administration & Management
Full Time / Part Time  
Full Time
Contract Length  
2 Years (with the possibility of extension)
Job Description  

Overall purpose:

Work closely alongside the Head of Communication and Engagement and the Events and Engagement Manager to raise the profile of LMS across key audiences. This will involve writing news articles and press releases about LMS research, managing our social media presence and overseeing our website. You will also lead on our internal communications activity, coordinating internal newsletters and intranet.

Main duties:

• External communication: manage research-focused content for LMS website, oversee and curate content for associated social media channels; assess newsworthiness of research articles and liaise with MRC-UKRI and Imperial press offices accordingly to promote media coverage; create digital graphic and video about LMS research and activities; provide writing support for LMS marketing materials
• Internal communication: Develop and manage the LMS intranet; monthly LMS internal email newsletter, monthly LMS building transition newsletter and a weekly bulletin of upcoming events
• Public engagement: Provide creative input and administrative support for public engagement and educational outreach projects

Key responsibilities:

• Write articles about the Institute’s latest research, awards and events news
• Write articles for Biomedical Picture of the Day (BPoD)
• Design engaging graphics and imagery for use on digital and print media
• Provide writing support for the Institute’s annual and ad-hoc marketing materials
• Help to convey complex scientific concepts to the Institute’s key audiences
• Identify newsworthy events through attending regular LMS seminars, meetings of postdocs/PhDs, and networking internally
• Work closely with the Head of Communication and Engagement to develop and maintain relations with the MRC-UKRI and Imperial College London communications teams and influential journalists
• Responsible for keeping digital communications up to date by managing content of LMS website and social media channels, collating information from group heads
• Project manage the LMS website redesign day-to-day (2021/22)
• Manage the Institute intranet, leading on a content audit and re-design
• Support public engagement events with creative input and providing administrative and logistical support
• Mentor and support team members

Working relationships:

Reports to the Events and Engagement Manager. Works closely with the Head of Communication and Engagement. Supports the Institute Director and Group Heads in external and internal communications, through editorial and design work. Chiefly responsible for the Institute’s digital communications (website, intranet and social media channels) and will play a key role in the future direction of the Suffrage Science and BPoD websites.

 

Additional information:

This is a fixed term post for 2 years (with the possibility of extension).

Please note that this post is full time on site.

Person Specification  

Education / Qualifications / Training required (will be assessed from application form):

Essential:

• Degree in science-related subject or equivalent

Desirable:

• Postgraduate qualification in science communication

Previous work experience required (will be assessed from application form and at interview):

 

Essential:

• Experience in science communication, web and social media management
• Experience of delivering work within timelines

 

Desirable:

• Experience of managing projects
• Experience of working with academics and researchers
• Experience working with journalists and the media

Knowledge and experience (will be assessed from application form and at interview):

 

Essential:

• Interest in science communication and insight into the way the media works

 

IT skills

Essential:

• Proficiency in all aspects of MS Office software
• Proficient in a range of software packages to prepare and produce documents
• Digital content production
• Web-editing experience

 

Desirable:

• Basic competence in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign
• Experience of video editing

Personal skills/behaviours/qualities (will be assessed at interview) :

Essential:

• Ability to work independently
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to prioritise workload and meet agreed deadlines
• Ability to manage multiple short- and long-term projects
• Ability to work under pressure to short deadlines
• Detail conscious and very well organised
• Ability to build effective relationships quickly and inspire trust

 

Desirable:

• Ability to work collaboratively and engage with stakeholders and management, seeking input and feedback

 

Communication skills

 

Essential:

• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and oral
• Ability to communicate complex information effectively
• Ability to identify and translate interesting stories from research findings

 

Desirable:

• Experience of designing and producing print and/or web publications

 

Administrative skills

 

Desirable:

• Proven administrative experience

 

Event management

Desirable:

• Experience in organising science-based events and outreach projects

Additional information:

• Enthusiastic and pragmatic with a flexible approach to varied workload

Further Information  
Please upload your CV, the names and contacts of two scientific references, and a cover letter clearly evidencing your interest for the specific position and explaining how you meet essential criteria (showing evidence against the requirements as per the Job Description and Person Specification). Please quote reference number LMS 1853
The MRC is a great place to work and progress your career, be it in scientific research or the support functions.The MRC is a unique working environment where our researchers are rewarded by world class innovation and collaboration opportunities that the MRC name brings. The MRC is an excellent place to develop yourself further and a range of training & development opportunities will be available to you, including professional registration with the Science Council.
Choosing to come to work at the MRC (part of UKRI) means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement to access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme, as well as the chance to put the MRC and UKRI on your CV in the future.
Our success is dependent upon our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We welcome applications from all sections of the community irrespective of gender, race, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, disability or age. As "Disability Confident" employers, we guarantee to interview all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.
UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.
We will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as an essential part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check.