Junior Communications Officer

Junior Communications Officer

Reports to:
Digital Project Manager

Location:
Currently operating hybrid working in our West London Office

Contract:
Permanent

Pattern:
Full Time (standard hours 9am – 5.30pm)

Closing date:
01/11/2024 at 10am

Interviews:
w/c 04/11/2024

Salary:
£30,000

About the role:

The Communications Officer will be responsible for supporting the activities of the Communications Team, working across functions on a wide range of projects including digital marketing, social media and internal communications for Ark. This role reports to the Digital Project Manager but will work closely with all members of the team.

This role is ideal for an early career candidate who is keen to gain experience within a dynamic, high-functioning communications team. There will be plenty of opportunities to develop a variety of skills related to organic and paid marketing campaigns, research and analytics, content creation, external and internal communications.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support Google Ads, Meta and LinkedIn campaign management, including creating assets and adverts, as well as reporting on campaign performance
• Maintain dashboards, tracking social media growth and engagement
• Work alongside members of the communications team to draft, design and schedule social media content in support of Ark’s schools and ventures
• Contribute to storytelling and brand-building activities through the production of creative video, photography and design assets
• Help maintain and improve the quality of Ark websites by testing new features, as well as implementing content and design changes
• Assist with the production of internal and external newsletters and bulletins
• Support the wider events, marketing and recruitment work of the team

Key Requirements:

• Right to work in the UK
• Degree level or equivalent
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• A strong understanding of social media and channel management
• Experience setting up and managing organic and paid campaigns in Meta and LinkedIn
• Familiarity with key marketing metrics and confident handling and analysing data
• Experience producing creative content for a range of audiences and channels
• Confident adding and editing content on websites (basic knowledge of HTML and CSS beneficial)
• At least one year of experience of working in a communications team or a related field, supporting communications and/or marketing activities across a range of channels
• Organised with the ability to work across multiple projects in parallel
• Responds flexibly and positively to unexpected changes or demands
• Demonstrates strong attention to detail and commitment to quality
• Works well both independently and collaboratively within a team
• Willing to occasionally travel to Ark schools and programmes

About Ark

We’re an international charity, transforming lives through education. We exist to give every young person, regardless of their background, a great education and real choices in life. In the UK, we’re a network of 39 schools, educating around 30,000 pupils in areas where we can make the biggest difference and we’re recognised as one of the highest achieving academy groups in the country. We want to change the lives of children everywhere, not just in our own schools. So, we create and incubate Ventures designed not only to help pupils in Ark schools, but also to improve education systems.

You’ll be joining a group of like-minded, ambitious individuals who work collaboratively and are all committed to our core mission. Having just celebrated our 20 th anniversary, we are shaping our goals for the next 20 and there has never been a more exciting time to join us.

Benefits:

• Our hybrid working model aims to offer the best of both worlds, striking the right balance between in-person collaboration and remote working. You will work a minimum of two days per week in our state-of-the-art office in West London allowing you to connect with colleagues, with the flexibility to work remotely, or in the office over the remaining days
• In addition to our current hybrid working arrangements, employees can request to work fully remotely for up to 10 working days a year, whether this be in the UK or abroad
• Our flexitime policy allows you to work your hours around our core hours of 10.00 – 16.00, helping you prioritise your work-life balance and personal commitments
• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years’ service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays
• Full office closure between Christmas and New Year
• Regular social events, monthly free breakfast, and daily fruit
• As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to
• Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform
• Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests

How to Apply:

Apply with a CV and cover letter on our online recruitment portal. Applications to be submitted by Friday 1 st November 2024 at 10am
but please note: we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this advert may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response.

This ATS application form should take no longer 20 minutes to complete. At any time, you can pause, save, and log back in. If you have any difficulty with meeting the deadline for application, please contact

Interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment – this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link .

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.