Heriot-Watt University
Strategic Communications Manager
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Strategic Communications Manager
Grade and Salary: Grade 7, £37,694 - £47,389 per annum
FTE and working pattern: Full-time (35hrs per week) Fixed-term (24 months)
Reward and Benefits: 33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days for all full time staff. Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.
Purpose of Role
The Strategic Communications Manager is responsible for leading the planning, development and delivery of integrated strategic communications that support the University's Strategy 2035, institutional priorities and corporate reputation.
Working across the University, the postholder will translate complex institutional priorities into clear, engaging communications that strengthen understanding, build trust and enhance Heriot-Watt University's reputation among internal and external audiences.
The role provides strategic communications advice to senior leaders, develops communications approaches for major institutional initiatives and ensures communications activity is coordinated across the Communications and Engagement team. Working collaboratively with colleagues across the Marketing, Recruitment, Admissions and Communications Directorate (MRAC), the postholder will ensure strategic communications complements marketing, recruitment, brand and digital activity while maintaining responsibility for institutional communications and engagement.
The postholder will exercise significant professional judgement in determining appropriate communications approaches, balancing organisational priorities, reputational considerations and stakeholder needs.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Communications
- Lead the development and implementation of integrated communications strategies supporting Strategy 2035 and other major institutional priorities.
- Develop communications approaches that translate complex organisational priorities into clear, engaging and audience-focused communications.
- Lead communications planning for major institutional programmes, organisational change, strategic projects and corporate initiatives.
- Ensure communications activity supports the University's strategic objectives and contributes to institutional reputation and stakeholder confidence.
Strategic Advice
- Act as a trusted communications adviser to senior leaders, providing professional advice on communications strategy, stakeholder engagement, messaging and reputational issues.
- Identify communications risks and opportunities and recommend appropriate communications approaches for complex or sensitive issues.
- Develop messaging frameworks, communication plans and key narratives supporting institutional priorities.
- Provide communications expertise to University project groups and senior decision-making forums as required.
Executive Communications
- Lead communications supporting members of the University Executive and senior leadership.
- Develop speeches, presentations, briefings, key messages, articles and leadership communications.
- Ensure executive communications are aligned with institutional priorities and reflect the University's values and strategic direction.
Communications Planning and Coordination
- Lead annual strategic communications planning across the Communications and Engagement team.
- Coordinate integrated communications activity to maximise impact and ensure consistency of messaging.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across MRAC to align communications activity with marketing, recruitment, admissions, brand and digital priorities.
- Identify opportunities for integrated campaigns and cross-University communications that enhance organisational effectiveness.
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Stakeholder Engagement
- Build productive working relationships with colleagues across Schools, Global Research Institutes, Professional Services and international campuses.
- Develop communications approaches that strengthen engagement with staff, students, alumni, government, industry partners and wider external stakeholders.
- Represent the Communications and Engagement team on institutional working groups and project boards where appropriate.
Content Leadership
- Oversee the development of high-quality communications content across a range of channels and formats.
- Ensure communications are audience-centred, accessible, inclusive and aligned with the University's tone of voice and brand.
- Champion innovative approaches to communications, including appropriate use of digital technologies and emerging communication tools.
Evaluation and Continuous Improvement
- Establish appropriate objectives and measures of success for strategic communications activity.
- Evaluate communications performance using qualitative and quantitative evidence.
- Use audience insight, engagement data and evaluation to inform future communications planning and continuous improvement.
- Prepare reports for senior leaders demonstrating communications impact and outcomes.
Leadership and Team Contribution
- Line manage the Communications and Content Officer (Video and Digital Storytelling), providing coaching, development and performance management.
- Lead cross-functional communications projects involving colleagues from across the University.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of the Communications and Engagement function through collaboration, innovation and sharing of best practice.
- Undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post.
Person Specification
These are the criteria on which the short-listing and recruitment selection will be made.
Essential
- Degree, professional qualification or equivalent relevant experience.
- Significant experience of developing and delivering strategic communications within a large, complex organisation.
- Demonstrable experience of leading integrated communications strategies and plans across multiple audiences and channels.
- Experience of advising senior leaders on communications strategy and stakeholder engagement.
- Experience of managing communications relating to organisational change, complex projects or high-profile initiatives.
- Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex issues clearly and effectively.
- Strong planning, prioritisation and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with proven ability to build effective relationships and influence a wide range of stakeholders.
- Experience of evaluating communications activity and using evidence and insight to improve future performance.
- Experience of line management or leading multidisciplinary project teams.
- Excellent digital communications skills and understanding of contemporary communications channels and technologies.
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Desirable
- Membership of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) or equivalent professional body.
- Experience of working within Higher Education or another large, complex public sector organisation.
- Experience of executive communications and speech writing.
- Experience of supporting organisational transformation or strategic change programmes.
- Experience of working within an international or multi-campus environment.
Knowledge, Skills & Attributes
- Strategic thinker with excellent judgement and political awareness.
- Highly credible communications professional with the confidence to advise and influence senior stakeholders.
- Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise competing demands.
- Collaborative leadership style with strong relationship-building skills.
- Creative and innovative approach to communications.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret evidence and evaluate impact.
- Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Commitment to continuous professional development.
How to Apply
Please submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system (1) Cover letter describing your interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full CV
Applications can be submitted until 23:55 on Sunday 6th September 2026.
About Heriot-Watt University
At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.
Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.
Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.
Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/.
We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options.
Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.
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