Report to: Director of Catapult Network

Direct Reports: n/a

Location: This role is home based with the option to work from one of the Catapult centre locations. The host Catapult, and employer, will be High Value Manufacturing Catapult which has offices based in Birmingham and London. There will be a requirement for the incumbent to travel nationally to the Catapult centre locations.

Salary: c£55k per annum

Primary Purpose: To work with all nine Catapults to promote the collective impact they are making on people’s lives and the UK economy.  To develop and implement a wide-reaching marketing and communications strategy that promotes the Network’s collective positioning in order to amplify the understanding and recognition of Catapults, as well as extend their collective influence as key delivery partners in the innovation landscape, both nationally and internationally.

Main Responsibilities:

Strategic Collaboration & Campaign Management

• Collaborate with Catapults and Innovate UK to develop and implement marketing and communications strategies that enhance awareness of the benefits of working with the Innovate UK Catapult Network and showcase collaborative success stories by amplifying cross-Catapult programmes.
• Lead the creation and delivery of targeted campaigns that highlight the Innovate UK Catapult Network’s impact, success stories and innovation-driven projects to engage the Catapult Network Office’s target audience and key stakeholder groups.
• Lead and manage the internal communications to the Catapults from the Innovate UK ecosystem (Innovate UK, Innovate UK Business Connect, Innovate UK Business Growth), developing and maintaining strong working relationships with communications and marketing teams in Innovate UK and the Catapults to keep abreast of key updates to be shared efficiently and effectively.
• Manage the coordination and chair regular Catapult Network communication and marketing meetings, ensuring alignment across all network activities.

Brand Management

• Manage the use and updating of the Innovate UK Catapult Network brand across all marketing materials, campaigns and events within Catapults and Innovate UK, ensuring it remains up to date, and it supports the wider innovation agenda, aligning closely with Government and Innovate UK’s brands.
• Keep abreast of developments that impact the innovation landscape to align messages, brand and campaigns with national and global priorities.
• Develop and manage the use of cohesive messaging to ensure consistency across the Innovate UK Catapult Network, supporting the Catapult Network Office with aligned branding and messaging for responses to requests for information and input into government, parliamentary and other consultation exercises.

External Communications

• Define, manage and oversee the production (from setup, strategy, optimisation to reporting), of social media, blogs, podcasts, videos and delivery of events.
• Preparation, drafting and copy writing of content including proof reading and editing for external publications such as case studies, digital media campaigns, thought leadership pieces, news releases, Innovate UK Catapult Network prospectus, etc. ensuring communications are aligned to the Innovate UK Catapult Network messaging.
• Develop and manage the Innovate UK Catapult Network website and online presence with suppliers and manage the relationships with the communications and marketing colleagues across the Catapults and Innovate UK to ensure this is regularly updated.
• Lead on the coordination and management process of the external email inbox for the Catapult Network Office ensuring communications are shared in a timely manner and for enquiries to be managed efficiently and effectively.

Stakeholder & Event Coordination

• Support the Catapult Network Office in the design, promotion and coordination of high-impact events, including the CEO meetings and political roundtables, ensuring participation from stakeholders across the Innovate UK and Catapult ecosystem.
• Support the stakeholder manager in external affairs and political engagement activities as required, to ensure consistency in messaging and effectiveness of communications strategies to maximise engagement of target audience.
• Support the coordination and marketing of Catapult and Innovate UK events across the Innovate UK Catapult Network ecosystem to inform and reach our internal stakeholders as well as engage the Catapult Network Office target audience across our channels.

Performance Monitoring & Reporting

• Develop and monitor the performance of campaigns, providing monthly dashboard reports on key metrics that analyse effectiveness and support the refinement of strategies for optimal impact.
• Develop proactive messaging and strategies for crisis communications to demonstrate Catapults collective impact.
• Build a network library of information including case studies and metrics to support communication activities to enable efficient and effective responses to enquiries from government and other stakeholders.

Qualifications	Essential
Level 6 in relevant subject or equivalent experience	X
Experience
Proven experience managing/delivering relevant marketing/comms campaigns/portfolios in complex environments with an interest in/passion for the innovation, research and development sector(s)	X
Proven experience in roles that interface with central government.	X
Experience of working in complex environments with a broad range of stakeholders, professional experts and industries	X
Proven experience of a wide range of tools/channels with the ability to deliver vibrant and appealing social media strategies, content marketing and website user experience management.	X
Highly credible, strategic project manager.	X
Strong analytical skills	X