Head of Communications

Live Here Love Here seeks to appoint a skilled and enthusiastic Head of Communications to develop and implement the organisation’s communications strategy. The post holder will work towards positive environmental action by managing all communications across the organisation, delivering specific programme communications.     

You will be expected to support other staff as you develop a bold approach to internal and external communications and events to stimulate action, using story-telling to increase engagement in our work. Monitoring of outputs and outcomes will be critical to gauge and improve the effectiveness of our communications and events. 

The post holder will develop relationships with relevant stakeholders including central government, local councils and other partners to cascade communications across Northern Ireland to grow the number of people involved in our work and our programmes. 

As a member of the Senior Management Team, the Head of Communications will work collaboratively with colleagues, encouraging joined-up thinking across the organisation. The Head of Communications will also provide project management oversight to specific areas of work, including the myEARTH digital platform.

The Head of Communications will be responsible for developing and implementing Live Here Love Here’s communications strategy. The role also requires both the management and delivery of specific work programmes on a range of environmental issues. 

Travel to different parts of Northern Ireland will be necessary to support launches, significant photocalls, and major events.

A. Management 

• Contribute actively as a member of the organisation’s Senior Management Team.
• Attend Live Here Love Here Board meetings and provide communications updates.
• Directly manage staff within the sphere of responsibility (currently 4 staff)
• Provide communications support and advice for staff across programme teams. 
• Develop and manage organisational relationships with external stakeholders including funders, partners and suppliers.
• Operate suitable processes to secure external media requirements including running tendering processes where required.
• Manage the organisation’s websites and social media channels to support the organisational strategy.
• Manage the organisation’s event delivery.
• Provide oversight for the www.myearth.org platform, through line management of a project manager.
• Support delivery of specific programmes of work as required as well as ongoing management of communications requirements for major programme areas, including but not limited to: community engagement activities, climate awareness training, Eco-Schools, Blue Flag, Seaside and Green Flag Awards and annual litter reports. 

• Support income generation activities to meet resource requirements for current and new programmes.
• Provide communications input to business development proposals. 

C. Communications

• Develop and implement a new communications strategy to support the 2026-2030 organisation strategy. 
• Implement and manage newly developed Live Here Love Here brand.
• Manage organisation’s reputation, including risk management.
• Play an active role in developing organisation’s policy and advocacy positions and engagement strategies.
• Lead on organisation media relations- drafting and issuing press releases and spokespeople quotes.
• Deliver Live Here Love Here’s communication outcomes agreed with DAERA, councils and other funding partners.
• Co-operate with government press offices, stakeholders, funders, sponsors etc re joint external communications activities. 
• Complete quarterly communications reports for DAERA and the Live Here Love Here Board of Trustees.
• Design and deliver impactful communications campaigns intended to lead to societal behaviour change.
• Secure opportunities/platforms to increase the visibility, thought leadership and storytelling opportunities of the organisation and to expand the audience reach and diversity.
• Lead communications team to deliver integrated communications activity including developing comms plans, content creation, digital activity, media activity and post-campaign evaluation.
• Develop and implement systems to effectively monitor the outputs and outcomes of all communications across multiple channels.
• Support other staff in effective communications through guidance, training etc. as required.
• Competency to deputise for the CEO on occasion and generally represent Live Here Love Here as required.

D. Administration

• Meet all contractual obligations on time and within budget.
• Manage other staff, interns and volunteers as required.
• Respond to and initiate media contact for Live Here Love Here on relevant topics.
• Cover all general office duties. 

• A high standard of written and spoken English
• One year’s staff management experience with proven ability to effectively motivate staff.
• Demonstrable experience of developing and maintaining productive external relationships. 
• Project management skills showing you can manage workloads to tight deadlines.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills, in a range of settings, with proven ability to produce effective content for different audiences across a range of media.
• Demonstrable understanding of reputation and issues management.
• Experience of developing and implementing a communications strategy in the NGO sector.
• Experience of using a content management system, updating websites, and digital communications. 
• Full current driving licence and access to suitable transport to enable the duties and responsibilities of the post to be carried out.

• A relevant degree level qualification in one or more of the following subject areas: communications, media, digital media, marketing, public relations or journalism.
• Well-developed ICT skills, especially using the Microsoft Office suite, excel, on-line CMS, MailChimp and Canva.

• Know how for data gathering, interrogation and presentation in a range of formats alongside an understanding of the need to constantly learn from data to influence future delivery.
• An understanding of how local and central government operates.
• General understanding of GDPR, HR processes and management reporting.

• Knowledge of environmental matters.
• Understanding of the communications approaches used and available to the eNGO sector.
• An understanding of how to effect pro-environmental behavioural change, for example using nudge theory.

• A high level of integrity, discretion, and common sense alongside energy and drive to meet and exceed expectations.
• A natural enthusiastic communicator/storyteller who can create clear, compelling narratives.
• Has creative ideas.
• Pays attention to detail.
• Is a constructive team player who is also self-motivated and can work independently.

• Transport: The post-holder must have access to a form of transport to allow them to effectively fulfil the travelling duties of the post.
• Vetting: The post-holder may at times be in contact with children and vulnerable adults. Finalisation of the contract of employment is dependent upon the successful outcome of Access NI checks.
• Flexibility: Normal days of work will be Monday to Friday, and the non-working day will be a nominated day. Flexibility will be reciprocal to accommodate occasional weekend or evening commitments.

• Procurement: Commission work only in line with company procedures and obtain best value at all times.
• Only commission marketing channels (especially print) in line with those agreed by CEO.
• Media & PR: Refer significant (e.g. Ministerial, reputational) media interest or potential news stories to the CEO.
• Compliance: Operate within the organisation’s policies and procedures at all times.