Senior Communications Executive Job Description
Salary: £28,369-35,006
Permanent, 37.5 hours per week
Start date: Immediate
Location: Angel, Islington
Reporting to: Fundraising and Communications Lead
Benefits: Up to 4.5% employer pension contributions, 25 days annual leave with additional
office closure days at Christmas, 2 paid volunteer days, season ticket loans, cycle to work
scheme, a further studying budget, childcare vouchers and a range of other benefits.
Key relationships:
ThinkForward central team; ThinkForward Trustees and high level
volunteers; Coaches and other delivery staff; External partners, donors, and high profile
individuals.
Overview of ThinkForward
ThinkForward is a breakthrough coaching programme that ensures young people who are
disengaged from or underperforming at school receive the support they need to transition into
sustained employment. Young people are identified for the programme at age 13 based on risk
factors known to increase their chances of future unemployment. They are then given one-toone support from a Progression Coach who builds a trusted and long-term relationship over
five years, helping them to overcome challenges in and out of school and linking them to ready
for work activities provided by a community of businesses. By the end of the programme young
people develop the aspirations, skills and mind-sets needed to thrive and sustain employment.
The programme has a strong track record, having so far supported over 1500 young people in
fourteen schools in north-east London. 87% of all young people to graduate from the
programme are in education, employment or training. In 2016 ThinkForward took its first step
to national expansion, launching in four schools in Nottingham with funding from the Careers
and Enterprise Company. In 2017 ThinkForward is expanding further, to four schools in
coastal Kent.
Overview of role
The Senior Communications Executive is a new post within the Fundraising and
Communications team. They will occupy a unique and particularly exciting role within
ThinkForward as they sit at the heart of our organisation and work across all teams, central
and front line, to draw together and build an engaging narrative and body of work to raise our
profile and support delivery. They will work with the Fundraising and Communications Lead
to establish a highly successful communications function across all channels both internally
and externally for ThinkForward.
The Senior Communications Executive will be a creative and energetic professional, with
experience working in successful communications teams delivering strategic communications
projects and developing key platforms including websites, social media and fundraising
campaigns. They will embrace challenge and be excited by the prospect of being able to shape
ThinkForward’s brand identity and profile across its three locations in London, Nottingham
and Kent.
Key responsibilities:
Driving communications across the organisation and to external stakeholders:
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To implement the ThinkForward communications strategy, raising our profile with
each of our external stakeholder groups using the most effective channels for doing
so.
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Manage ThinkForward’s internal communication channels, so that central and
frontline delivery teams are kept up-to-date and are sharing relevant information
effectively.
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Ensure all communication with internal and external stakeholders is prompt, clear
and compelling.
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Work closely with fundraising and delivery teams to support the team lead on
developing a new public affairs strategy, raising ThinkForward’s profile with policy
makers, national and local commissioners.
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To manage and maintain all related database contacts, run reports, analyse and
reflect quarterly communications KPIs.
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Work with the Fundraising and Education & Employment teams to create and
refine partnership materials to ensure we maximize the value of funding and
volunteer partnerships.
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Ensure the successful delivery of fundraising, communications and donor
engagement events, in particular donor site visits, major donor fundraising
dinners, ThinkForward’s Annual Thank You event, Graduation event and key
publicity events in Nottingham, London and Kent.
Brand, delivery content and collateral:
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Maintain ThinkForward’s brand toolkit and central communications resources to
inspire central and delivery teams to communicate ThinkForward effectively.
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Support the Programme and Development Adviser in the creation of programme
materials for front-line staff including the Coach Handbook and digitising all
essential materials.
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Act as key contact with external design agencies and printing service providers.
Print, broadcast and digital media:
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Take responsibility for and manage key communication channels including a redesign of ThinkForward’s website, Annual Review, supporter newsletters and
social media.
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Create and publish lively and engaging content for digital and social media
channels.
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Coordinate PR opportunities including awards applications and press relations to
secure coverage for ThinkForward and our stakeholders in print, broadcast and
digital media both locally and nationally.
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Monitor press coverage and policy updates that may impact on our PR and policy
strategies. Develop tools to effectively plan outbound communications and PR
activities.
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Ensure ThinkForward’s Press & PR pipeline is kept up to date. Manage a
communications calendar across the organisation.
Communications strategy:
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Support and strengthen ThinkForward’s brand positioning and visual identity, and
ensure everything produced is in line with brand guidelines.
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Research and keep up-to-date on latest trends in digital communications in order
to ensure best practices and improvements are implemented as needed.
Person Specification
ThinkForward operates a staff competency framework to inform our recruitment and
performance management of staff. The following behaviours define the expectations for this
position.
Communication 
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Planning and
Organising
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Teamwork
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Impact and
quality focused
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Is approachable, and open and transparent with stakeholders and line
manager
Makes use of the strengths of different channels/methods of
communication
Excellent writing and presentation skills
Communicates information to different audiences in an interesting and
stimulating style
Ensures that communications within ThinkForward reflect our brand,
values and objectives
Takes active steps to communicate new developments in a timely
manner and asks for help if needed
Communicates relevant and appropriate information about young
people with partners
Constructively manages barriers to effective communication
Plans in the short-medium term (a month ahead), with realistic but
challenging timescales understanding resources required
Prioritises own workload in accordance with higher level goals and
objectives
Meets deadlines and advises others promptly of likely delays against
plans
Quickly adjusts and refocuses plans when circumstances change
Has systems and files in place
Carries out detailed planning of individual activities keeping other staff
and/or partners informed
Engages in joint activities with colleagues to achieve mutual objectives
Gains the cooperation and buy-in of team members to challenging tasks
Encourages the sharing of ideas in own team and between colleagues to
support individuals and the project as a whole
Helps colleagues to enhance personal skills/knowledge
Accepts decisions that are made for the good of the team after
consultation and communication.
Actively monitors changes or developments in outcomes and quality,
and continuously seeks to improve them including improvements to
systems and resources
Ensures that relevant data is input and produces accurate management
information
Continually identifies and communicates likelihood or otherwise of
meeting targets
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Professional
expertise
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Adapts to varying work situations and is flexible in their approach to
resolving challenges.
Experience of developing and implementing communication strategies
Previous experience in a junior communications role for at least 3 years
Press & PR support experience
Experience of running events, either directly or in supporting or
working with an events team on key campaigns
Project management experience and ability to manage multiple tasks
concurrently
Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills
Excellent copy writing and presentation skills
Experience in planning and developing material for websites and social
media
Experience working with website content management systems
Ability to operate independently; working autonomously to targets and
deadlines
Experience of working effectively under pressure, demonstrating a
calm, confident and flexible approach to their work
Has enthusiasm, flexibility and a determined proactive approach
Ability to work as a team player, supporting and enlisting support from
others
HTML coding and photo and video editing capability (d)
Knowledge of Adobe Acrobat, InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator and
Microsoft Office: MS word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint (d)
(d) desirable
Values
ThinkForward staff operate to the following values:
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Trusted – ThinkForward trusts its staff, offering an environment where people can
work autonomously and there are opportunities for development and stretch of skills
and experience
Preventative – ThinkForward’s approach is preventative, prioritising the safety and
wellbeing of its staff and young people
Collaborative – ThinkForward employees collaborate to achieve the objectives in
our business plan
Impact focused – ThinkForward is impact-focused, constantly reviewing and
improving its approach to make sure we provide the best services for young people
and working environment for its staff
The Organisation reserves the right from time to time to make reasonable changes to this job
description, to take account of organisational changes.
To apply
To apply please send a CV and covering letter to [email protected]
The deadline for applications is Monday 27th February 5pm.