Senior Research Communications Officer

Alzheimers Society

Hours
35 hours per week

Length of contract
12 month

About the Organisation

Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading dementia charity, and the only one to tackle all aspects of dementia by providing help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future. We give vital support to people facing the most frightening times of their lives, while also funding groundbreaking research and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be. Together with our supporters, we’re working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives. Our values ensure that our focus remains clear for the challenges and opportunities ahead, reminding us of what we all stand for.

About the role

At Alzheimer’s Society, we are advisors, supporters, fundraisers, researchers, influencers, communicators, technical specialists, and so much more. We are volunteers, we are employees, and together we are here to make a difference to the lives of people with dementia and their carers. As part of our Help & Hope strategy, we need to make dementia a priority. Dementia is the defining health and social care challenge of our time. Yet awareness and understanding remain far too low. 

This is one of the biggest barriers to early action, diagnosis, and accessing support. That’s why we’ve chosen to launch a partnership with Mail Metro Media to amplify our messages for people affected by dementia. Research is at the core of our ambitious plans as an organisation, integral to key strategic aims such as driving forward our influencing and fundraising work. This role will lead the coordination and planning of research-related content that we can amplify through our Mail Metro Media partnership, both editorial and social media content, as well as wider proactive research media content across other outlets.

We support over 100 active research grants worth over £50million with large-scale research programmes changing the landscape of dementia research across the UK. Using their understanding of biomedical research and their excellent communication skills, the post holder will be required to convey complex research content both from our own research portfolio and from the wider research field through our Mail Metro partnership and wider media outlets, as well as social media channels, to a range of audiences in a clear and engaging manner.

The post holder will assist with the Society’s reactive research media work by developing press statements for national circulation. With appropriate training, the post holder will be required to act as a research spokesperson for the Society in print and broadcast media channels. The post holder will be expected to proactively get to know our portfolio of research and stay close to news from the wider research field to amplify across our communications channels.

The role is also required to support our wider research communications work, including communications to our funded researchers and the wider dementia research community, the general public, internal teams and others. We are looking for someone who exemplifies our values, someone who is: Determined to make a difference when and where it matters most. A trusted expert who believes in working better together and demonstrates true Compassion.

Responsibilities

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

• Deliver a strategic integrated communications plan to support research content showcased through the Mail Metro Media partnership.
• Responsible for the coordination and planning of research content to support the Mail Metro partnership alongside the national media and social media teams.
• Act as the point of contact for the research communications team for enquiries relating to the partnership.
• Generate creative research content to support the Mail Metro partnership and our wider proactive media opportunities.
• Responsible for preparing media comments and responses, with sign-off for regional media stories.
• Expected to operate with a high level of independence within agreed parameters and limits of authority.
• Expected to liaise with funded researchers and members of the scientific and health professional communities.
• Assist the media team in researching and creating press statements for circulation to the national media.
• Assist the media team in producing briefings for journalists or media spokespeople dealing with medical or research content.
• Assist the social media team in developing research-focused content for Alzheimer’s Society’s social media channels.
• Act as a Society research spokesperson in print and broadcast media, including opportunities for high-profile publicity.
• Proactively identify opportunities to publicise the research programme and work with the press team to capitalise on them.
• Produce and maintain research lay summaries and marketing content about the research programme for use by internal teams.
• Produce and maintain research content on the Alzheimer’s Society website, intranet and social media channels.
• Provide rapid, accurate responses to research enquiries from staff volunteers and members of the public, including the development of standard responses to frequently asked questions.
• Contribute to the planning and delivery of the Alzheimer’s Society Annual Conference and other research events where appropriate.
• Attend external research events, including conferences.
• Work as a full member of the research department and provide cover for other members of staff during leave and absence.
• To undertake any other duties or projects commensurate with the nature and grade of this post as required.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Skills & Knowledge:

• Significant experience in a similar communications role.
• A background in or a good understanding of biomedical research, science, and research communications.
• A clear understanding of national media and its requirements.
• Experience in managing complex communications campaigns across a diverse organisation and with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience in writing about scientific content for a non-scientific audience.
• Ability to act as a spokesperson for broadcast media channels.
• Knowledge of dementia and the related science.
• Good editorial judgement and a high level of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Able to communicate, particularly in writing, compellingly, persuasively and credibly with a range of audiences.

Competencies & Personal Attributes:

• Be a team player, supporting colleagues when there are deadlines, and know when to ask for help themselves.
• Be a self-starter with a determination to make a difference.
• Effective organisational and timekeeping skills.
• Good attention to detail. 
• Non-judgmental communication. 
• Commitment to and understanding of equal opportunities.
• Understanding of the inclusion agenda and its relevance within a diverse society

Compensation & Benefits

• Paid dependants leave
• Paid compassionate and bereavement leave
• Paid time off work to support
• Annual leave of 27 days, increasing to 30, plus bank holidays
• Career breaks of up to 3 months
• Flexible working
• Wellbeing leave
• Values Hero and Society Legend Awards
• Group Personal Pension Plan
• Scottish Widows - with up to 8% employer contribution rate
• Life Assurance Scheme - two times your annual salary
• Health Cash Plan
• Home Allowance of £312 per year
• Discounted gym membership with Society Plus
• Mental health app and unlimited therapy
• Women in Leadership Development Programme
• Leadership development programme
• Financial support towards relevant professional qualifications, enhanced family leave - 16 weeks paid for all parents
• Paid time off work for fertility treatments for both partners, paid carers' leave

Working locations

• Home-Based

How to apply

• Apply to our website
• Please also contact Alzheimer’s Society Talent Acquisition Team via [email protected] for application support or any adjustments you might need.

Interviews

• Interviews for this role have been provisionally scheduled to take place via MS Teams on Tuesday, 31st March and Wednesday, 1st April.

Policies

We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment, or health condition, or individuals who identify as Black, Asian, or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.  

We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society. Our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy here, along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups, helps us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people.

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