The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) is strengthening its Communication teams and is recruiting for a Senior Strategic Communications Manager with knowledge of the cereal & oilseeds / arable sector.
Department: Communications
Location: Coventry, Warwickshire
Salary Range: £50,000 – £53,000 per annum, depending on experience
Total Hours (per week): 35
Closing Date: 08/12/2024
This position is offered on a permanent basis, with hybrid working, two/three days from our HQ in Coventry and the remainder working remotely from home.
The new role will play a pivotal part in shaping and delivering impactful communications and will collaborate closely with internal stakeholders to develop and execute sector specific plans.
AHDB are a purpose driven organisation, and it is imperative that we communicate effectively to our levy payers from farmers all the way through the supply chain on key research & development initiatives, services, tools and innovations.
You will also collaborate with the cereal and oilseeds team to develop the communications strategy, in addition to project management, plus support on the execution and gather insights to ensure continuous improvement, and all initiatives are delivered on time and within budget.
The AHDB is looking for a passionate individual who is seeking to join a team that is purpose driven, with experience in agriculture (cereals and oilseeds), stakeholder management and delivery of campaigns who can also demonstrate excellent leadership and integrated communications.
“At the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), we inspire our farmers, growers and industry to succeed in a rapidly changing world. Working at AHDB, you won’t just be helping our farmers produce the food we eat and look after our environment, you’ll be helping to shape the future of food production and leaving a legacy for the next generation.” said a spokesperson.
Responsibilities
- Align and collaborate with the Cereal and Oilseeds sector director in building the communications strategy, planning, coordination, and evaluation of a portfolio of high-impact communications targeting levy payers and other audiences
- Collaborate with sector leaders, business heads, communications experts, and stakeholders to develop communication plans that drive results and align with returning value to levy payers
- Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of sector communications and recommend actionable improvements to enhance reach and engagement
- Co-ordinate the timing of communications activities to maximise impact while ensuring efficient use of resources and budgets
- Build and nurture strong relationships with in-house creative, production, PR, media, and events teams, as well as external suppliers and agencies, ensuring seamless execution of campaigns
- Stay at the forefront of industry trends by actively participating in meetings, events, and stakeholder sessions, sharing key insights to inform the broader communications strategy
- Act as a senior communications representative, fostering strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders
- Champion best practices, innovation, and excellence in communications strategy, planning, and evaluation
- Be the conduit between the communication and Cereal & Oilseed team to ensure a positive, collaborative, and results-driven culture, aligned with delivering effective plans and supporting AHDB’s vision
Essential Criteria
- Fully knowledgeable/qualified in communications sector, including significant practical experience
- Understanding of the agricultural industry, specifically the cereal & oilseeds/arable sector
- Excellent communications strategy, planning, writing and influencing skills, and exceptional verbal & written communication skills
- Experience of campaign management (either communications or marketing)
- Excellent project and budget management experience
- Understanding of KPI setting, campaign evaluation and development
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders
The benefits…
We believe in rewarding our people for their hard work, so we have a great mix of benefits and opportunities, to give you the recognition you deserve:
- 35 hours per week, to include hybrid working
- 33 days annual leave plus one privilege day (inclusive of bank holidays)
- Life assurance cover (4 x salary)
- A market-leading defined contribution pension scheme with Legal & General
- Enhanced pay of 20 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, subject to length of service
- Comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
- Excellent training and development opportunities and an agreed development plan
- Recognition Awards throughout the year
- Access to the Government’s tax-free childcare scheme
- Reward Gateway membership – this gives you a huge number of online discounts and savings
To apply, go online at careers.ahdb.org.uk, or call 02476 935722 if you require any further information. The closing date is 8 December 2024.
Please note that the AHDB reserves the right to close the vacancy early should they receive a significant number of suitable applications.
The AHDB is committed to developing, maintaining and supporting a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion, to include flexible working opportunities. This applies to both its workforce and the practices it follows.
