Senior Social Media Manager - fixed term contract

Job summary

We are currently recruiting for a Senior Social Media Manager to join our Media Relations and External Affairs team on a 12-month fixed-term contract commencing in January 2027. This is an exciting opportunity to lead AHDB's strategic approach to social media, ensuring our channels, campaigns and content support organisational objectives, sector priorities and wider communications activity. The role is based on a hybrid working arrangement, with time split between our Coventry headquarters and remote working from home.

In this role, you will act as AHDB's social media expert, providing strategic advice to directors, senior leaders and stakeholders while leading and developing the Social Media team. You will use audience insight, performance data and industry best practice to maximise the impact of our digital communications, helping to strengthen engagement with levy payers, stakeholders and wider audiences. We're looking for an experienced communications professional with significant social media expertise, strong leadership skills and the ability to influence at all levels of the organisation.

About AHDB

We are the independent, impartial public body that unlocks success in British agriculture. Funded by a levy from over 100,000 British producers in the beef, lamb, pork, dairy and cereals sectors, we support and champion farmers, growers and processors, often where no one else can or will.

We share the expert, evidence-based research and reports that inform on-farm decision making. We promote British produce to the UK public through domestic marketing campaigns, and we identify and open new global export opportunities to help farm businesses grow.

We help levy payers learn more, sell more and export more to remain sustainable and profitable. Together, we deliver the insights, the influence and the impact that farmers need.

Job description

• Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of our social media strategy
• Oversee the management of AHDB's social media channels, ensuring activity supports organisational objectives and sector priorities
• Act as our lead expert on social media, providing strategic advice to directors, senior managers and stakeholders
• Lead, manage and develop members of the Social Media team, setting priorities and supporting professional development
• Deliver impactful social media campaigns and projects that drive engagement and measurable outcomes
• Develop reporting frameworks and use audience insight and performance analytics to inform decision making
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, supporting reputation and engagement objectives
• Lead the social media response to emerging issues, misinformation and periods of heightened public interest

Person specification

• Significant practical experience in a senior social media or digital communications role
• Experience developing, implementing and evaluating social media strategies
• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams
• Strong knowledge of social media channels, tactics, trends and best practice
• Experience advising and influencing senior stakeholders, directors and leadership teams
• Strong communication, relationship-building and stakeholder management skills
• Experience using social media analytics, KPIs and performance reporting to drive continuous improvement
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively

Benefits

The benefits...

We believe in rewarding our people for their hard work, so we have a great mix of benefits and opportunities to give you the recognition you deserve:

• 35 hours per week, Monday–Friday
• 33 days of annual leave plus one privilege day (inclusive of bank holidays)
• Life assurance cover (4x salary)
• A market-leading defined contribution pension scheme with Legal & General
• Enhanced pay of 20 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, subject to length of service
• A paid day each year to volunteer and make a difference in your community
• Comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Excellent training and development opportunities and an agreed development plan
• Recognition awards throughout the year
• Reward Gateway membership - this gives you a huge number of online discounts and savings

Please note that we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should we receive a significant number of suitable applications. For any queries or support with your application, you can contact us at recruitment@ahdb.org.uk

At AHDB, we are committed to developing, maintaining and supporting a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion, including flexible working opportunities. This applies to both our workforce and the practices we follow.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

To apply, simply upload your CV and Cover Letter via our careers portal by clicking the ‘Apply’ button on this page. Our hiring managers will review your application, and we’ll be in touch with the outcome shortly after the closing date.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an initial interview via MS Teams. If successful, a second-stage face-to-face interview will be held at our HQ in Coventry, Warwickshire, following our competency-based framework.

Please note that we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should we receive a significant number of suitable applications.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : recruitment@ahdb.org.uk
• Email : recruitment@ahdb.org.uk
• Telephone : 02476 935722

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ahdb.org.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles of the Civil Service, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact the Head of HR via email: hr@ahdb.org.uk