Strategic Narratives and Events Manager

5. Partnerships and influence

• Work with communications colleagues, researchers and strategic partners to coordinate communications that strengthen ODI Global's influence and extend the reach of its work.
• Build and maintain relationships with strategic external stakeholders, speakers and collaborators, identifying opportunities to broaden ODI Global's reach and influence.
• Develop communications materials and digital toolkits that enable partners to amplify shared messages and priorities.
• Identify policy, news and external engagement opportunities, ensuring events, campaigns and communications are aligned with timely external developments and institutional priorities.
• Advise researchers and programme teams on how to frame evidence, recommendations and technical analysis for policy, practitioner and wider public audiences.
• Support the development of partnerships and event programmes by identifying high-value collaborators and speakers that enhance ODI Global's reputation, audience reach and policy impact.

6. Management and coordination

• Line manage the Senior Communications Officers and other colleagues, as assigned by the Director of Public Affairs and Communications, setting clear objectives and expectations, supporting their development and wellbeing, managing performance and development, and ensuring workloads are balanced and outputs meet agreed standards.
• Task manage interns, junior colleagues assistants, suppliers or colleagues on discrete event workstreams as required, providing clear instructions and quality-checking outputs.
• Contribute to effective ODI Global public affairs and communications
• Promote effective coordination and information-sharing around upcoming events, deadlines, speaker logistics, promotional milestones and post-event follow-up.
• Provide practical guidance to researchers and project teams on event formats, speaker preparation, audience experience and promotional requirements.
• Support PAC colleagues to deliver priority outputs/activities when surge capacity is required.
• Coordinate suppliers, freelancers or agencies where required, supporting procurement, briefing, budget tracking and value-for-money delivery.
• Contribute to effective team planning, collaboration and knowledge-sharing across PAC, helping to build capability and consistency in communications practice.
• Carry out other tasks as specified by the Director of Public Affairs and Communications.

Person Specification

Essential

Experience

• Substantial experience in a comparable communications post.
• Experience delivering influential corporate events.
• Experience translating complex data into accessible content.
• Experience working with researchers, policy specialists or other subject-matter experts to translate evidence into clear, compelling communications for different audiences.
• Experience planning integrated communications campaigns.
• Experience producing engaging digital content across multiple platforms.
• Experience using communications, digital or events analytics to evaluate performance and inform future activity.
• Experience coordinating suppliers, freelancers or agencies to deliver communications, events or content outputs.
• Experience line managing, supervising or developing communications staff, including setting priorities, reviewing outputs and supporting performance and development.

Skills

• Excellent storytelling and editorial skills.
• Strong understanding of strategic communications and narrative development.
• Ability to identify emerging communications opportunities.
• Excellent organisational, prioritisation and project management skills, with the ability to manage competing deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.
• Ability to work to strict deadlines and under pressure.
• Self-starter – able to generate plans and ideas and carry them through to completion, and to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
• Strong negotiation and diplomacy skills.
• Excellent interpersonal/relationship-building skills including the ability to communicate with colleagues at all levels of seniority and from different cultures.
• Ability to work constructively with researchers and technical experts, providing confident advice while respecting subject-matter expertise.
• Strong people-management skills, including the ability to motivate, coach and support colleagues to deliver high-quality work in a busy environment.
• Good judgement in handling sensitive or high-profile communications, including the ability to identify risks and escalate appropriately.
• Understanding of accessible and inclusive communications and events practice.
• Values-driven with integrity, demonstrating ODI Global's values and Code of Conduct, and contributing to a safe, inclusive and respectful working environment where everyone is treated fairly.

Desirable

• Experience in research communications.
• Strong photography or visual storytelling skills.
• Other languages.

Key Relationships and Contacts

• Director of Communications
• Events colleagues and event suppliers/platform providers
• Digital Manager
• AV team
• Head of Media
• Other Public Affairs and Communications staff
• Directors of programmes and researchers
• Speakers, chairs, contributors and invited attendees
• Key external stakeholders, including senior-level figures in the international affairs sector

All staff are expected to:

• Positively support equality of opportunity both within ODI Global and externally.
• Help maintain a safe working environment and take responsibility for own and colleagues’ Health and Safety.
• Undertake such other duties within the scope of their post as may be requested by their Manager.

Why should you work for us?

ODI Global is committed to developing and supporting diverse and inclusive teams of people who share our passion, where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We welcome applicants from a range of diverse backgrounds including those who experience intersectional marginalisation on the basis of their class, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious identity or belief, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We also welcome applications from those living with disabilities.

Pension

This role is eligible for USS pension scheme membership. If you're currently enrolled in the SAUL pension scheme, you may need to change schemes. SAUL Care members will be offered the option to transfer to USS, whereas SAUL Start members must transfer to USS in line with the scheme rules.

Benefits

We prioritise the well-being of our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your personal and professional growth. Enjoy a generous annual leave allowance, including public holidays and additional time off during Christmas and New Year. We also recognise the importance of work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements, remote work options, and study leave to support your