Job Description
Job Title: Marketing and Communications Officer (Research)
Posting Start Date: 13/11/2025
Job Id: 1905
School/Department: Marketing Admissions Recruitment & Comms
Work Arrangement: Full Time (Hybrid)
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary per annum (£): 32, ,636.00
Closing Date: 30/11/2025
The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.
We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.
Overview
With a reputation for high impact, Marketing, Admissions, Recruitment and Communications (MARC) leads the University's core student recruitment activity, as well as enhances the institution's reputation as a global leader in research, teaching and industry collaboration.
This role sits within the Marketing function in the team which delivers activities to showcase research excellence and innovation and build brand and reputation with key target audiences including policy makers, regional and global partners and academics. In this role, you'll be supporting the University's research priorities and its research centres and work closely with academics to understand their communications needs and use your expertise to develop successful marketing plans.
With experience and expertise in marketing and communications across both traditional and digital channels, you'll make insight-led decisions to identify opportunities to create engaging copy and select impactful channels. This is a varied role that offers the opportunity to bring creativity to the narrative about the University's research priorities and its research centres.
Main duties and responsibilities
* Support marketing campaigns to raise awareness of the University's research for reputational gain and maximise these opportunities, taking a lead on planning, content creation, delivery, monitoring and evaluation.
* Develop and execute marketing and communications plans that align with and amplify the University's core research themes and institutional priorities.
* Act as an account manager to a number of research centres, to develop a thorough understanding of their stakeholders, priorities, key messages and audiences and develop marketing plans to help them to reach their goals.
* Turn technical information into engaging copy for a variety of strategic audiences including funders, policymakers, industrial partners and peer academics.
* Recommend and create/commission marketing assets for research to achieve reputational goals, such as brochures, videos, templates, photography, and impact case studies.
* Use the University's Content Management System to create, publish and manage high-quality website content that is aligned with best practice content design principles for audience needs, accessibility and user experience.
* Work closely with our branding, digital and media leads to share best practices and resources to maximise reach, engagement, and impact.
* Manage multiple concurrent projects ensuring tasks are delivered on time, on budget and to a high standard.
* Be a brand ambassador and custodian for the University by ensuring accurate and consistent representation within the brand guidelines, to create a professional image for all marketing and communications.
* Any other duties as required including attendance at events and other critical business activity throughout the year including evenings and weekends.
* Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post
Person Specification
Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.
Criteria
Essential or desirable
Stage(s) assessed at
A good degree in a relevant subject (eg.PR/Communications/Journalism) or equivalent experience
Essential
Application
A strong understanding and proven experience working in a marketing or communications role, managing and delivering communications requirements both internally and externally.
Essential
Application/ Interview
Proven experience of leading on the planning, implementation and monitoring of marketing activity including overseeing decisions relating to creative, channels and evaluation.
Essential
Application
/ Interview
Demonstrable account management experience, and the ability to build and maintain productive relationships with multiple internal stakeholders
Essential
Application
/ Interview
Excellent written and verbal communications skills and demonstrable experience of the ability to turn technical information into engaging content for various audiences and channels.
Essential
Application
/ Interview
Experience in briefing and commissioning multimedia content and creative assets (e.g. photography, video, design) and working with suppliers to create finished products for multiple audiences and placements.
Essential
Application
/ Interview
Basic content production skills such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere and Adobe InDesign, as well as native social media and smartphone-based content creation tools.
Desirable
Application
Excellent project management skills including the ability to prioritise work and manage a varied workload, working to deadlines and juggling multiple pieces of work at the same time.
Essential
Application
/ Interview
Experience working with brand guidelines and applying them consistently to all marketing assets and supporting others to use the brand appropriately.
Essential
Application
/ Interview
Experience of providing marketing and communications support for events.
Essential
Application
/ Interview
Understanding of University research and research funding environments.
Desirable
Application
/ Interview
Enthusiastic and highly proactive with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team, demonstrating initiative and a professional attitude.
Essential
Interview
Further Information
Grade
6
Salary
£32,080 - £36,636 with potential to progress to £39,906 per annum
Work arrangement
Full-time
Line manager
Marketing & Communications Manager (Research)
Direct reports
Research Marketing & Comms Content Coordinator x1
Our website
For informal enquiries about this job contact Caroline Lister -
Next steps in the recruitment process
It is anticipated that the selection process will take place in the week commencing 8 December 2025. This will consist of an interview, presentation and an example of your writing that we will ask you to discuss in the interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have been invited to interview during the week commencing 1 December 2025. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process please contact
Our vision and strategic plan
We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: ().
What we offer
* A minimum of 38days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
* Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
* Generous pension scheme.
* A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
* A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks).
* Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
* A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework
* A range of generous family-friendly policies
* paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
* support for those going through the menopause
* paid time off and support for fertility treatment
* and more
We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.
We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision ) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.