The British Academy is a voice that champions humanities and social sciences. As a national body they support the study of people, cultures and societies, past, present and future.
Their purpose is: to be an independent Fellowship of world-leading scholars and researchers; a Funding Body that supports new research (nationally and internationally); and a Forum for debate and engagement.
The opportunity:
This is a pivotal role in the organisation as the British Academy is currently reviewing and re‐shaping all aspects of the organisation’s communications activity, with a particular focus on how they use digital channels to communicate with their diverse audience. This newly created Head of Digital position will be a central role in a communications transformation project placing digital at the heart of the organisation’s strategy.
You will own the entire digital department and develop and implement a new strategy, including formatting existing channels and introducing new ones. As part of the Communications Management Team, you will manage and develop a digitally forward-facing team of staff, as well as contributing to the Communications Strategy. This will also include working collaboratively with other managers across the disciplines, and developing a community of editors.
Main responsibilities include:
Digital Communications
1. Act as the Digital Communications Champion for the organisation, promoting a digital‐first approach
2. Provide leadership of the Academy’s websites and other digital channels, with particular focus on UX and IA
3. Develop a roadmap of digital priorities
4. Manage the production of rich media, including the budget for the external commissioning of content
5. Develop the Academy’s social media strategy, ensuring channels and content aligns with the brand
6. Produce and commission research to ensure the effectiveness of our communications
Channel management
7. Provide editorial management of the Academy website
8. Advocate for the user, ensuring excellent User Experience across all platforms
9. Keep up to date with new developments in digital and feed opportunities into the Academy’s Digital Roadmap
10. Develop a range of processes and systems to support the management of our digital channels
11. Use analytics to regularly review the performance of the site
12. Enhance the Academy’s SEO, through active management of content
13. Project manage the development of new channels
14. Develop a community of Content Editors, providing active training and support to ensure high standards
15. Support colleagues to modernise their communications
Leadership and management
16. Lead and manage a team of two assistants
17. Deputise for the Director of Communications in her absence
18. Play an active role in the Communications Directorate Management Team, contributing to cross‐team development
19. Play an active role in the wider Team Leaders network, contributing to organisational efficiency and effectiveness
20. Oversee a significant budget
Required skills and experience include:
21. Demonstrable record of achievement in delivering significant results for an organisation from digital communications
22. Demonstrable experience of leading digital transformation for an organisation
23. Extensive experience of developing multi‐channelled digital communications strategies
24. Experience of managing digital transformation projects, with associated budgets and staffing
25. Educated to degree level or equivalent, ideally in a humanities or social sciences discipline
26. Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and lead a team – experience in people management is beneficial
27. Excellent interpersonal skills, able to communicate effectively with people at all levels
28. Ability to engage and motivate non‐specialists to create change
29. Ability to gather and interpret research and insight to make user‐focused decisions
30. Political judgement and the ability to make sound business decisions
31. Ability to persuade and negotiate with internal and external stakeholders
32. Ability to manage completing demands and prioritise and delegate accordingly