Strategic Communications Manager (Dairy Sector/Agriculture)

Job summary

We are currently recruiting for a Dairy Strategic Communications Manager to work on a hybrid basis, two/three days from our HQ in Coventry and the remainder working remotely from home, Monday to Friday.

This key role delivers project communications and supports the rollout of wider AHDB levy payer activity for the Dairy sector. Strong project management skills and excellent attention to detail are essential.

We are looking for a capable communications or marketing professional with hands‑on campaign experience and confident planning, writing and influencing skills. A solid understanding of agricultural issues and stakeholder relationships is key to succeeding in this role.

Established in 2008, AHDB is the independent, impartial public body that unlocks success in British agriculture. Funded by a levy from over 100,000 British farmers, growers and processors in the beef, lamb, pork, dairy and cereals sectors, we support and champion farmers and processors, often where no one else can or will.

Job description

• Take responsibility for the planning, coordination and evaluation of a portfolio of communications with levy payers and/or employees
• Coordinate the timing of all communications activity to maximise effect, ensuring an effective use of resources and budget
• Generate and develop content, e.g. articles, social media, video, for defined project areas in line with the sector delivery plan
• Build and manage relationships with internal teams, wider communication team suppliers and agencies and sector opinion formers
• Work with colleagues within the communications function to ensure effective delivery of the plans to time and to budget
• Work across the team to ensure consistent, high-quality outputs and AHDB brand integrity
• Contribute to an annual ‘communications delivery grid’ for a sector or campaign

Person specification

• Knowledgeable/qualified in communications sector, including significant practical experience and an understanding of agricultural issues
• Excellent communications planning, writing, influencing and project management skills
• Experience of campaign management (either communications or marketing)
• Understanding of KPI setting, campaign evaluation and development
• Excellent time management and organisational skills, able to prioritise tasks and manage deadlines effectively
• Strong team player and natural collaborator
• Strong interpersonal skills, confident in building productive working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders

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, to include hybrid working
• 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

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.

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 Team
• 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