Communication and Digital Support Manager
We are currently seeking a talented Communication and Digital Support Manager to take our digital presence and communication strategies to the next level. Ideally, you will demonstrate the qualities of a proactive leader who understands the power of digital media and is committed to supporting student voices. If you have experience in communications strategy, team management and are driven by values of empowerment, social justice and student leadership, we’d love to hear from you!
In this role, you will be at the heart of the Union’s strategy, with responsibilities including, but not limited to:
- Leading a talented, diverse team that includes graphic designers, digital content creators, IT administrators and web developers. You'll provide guidance and support to ensure they deliver high quality, engaging content across all of the Union's platforms.
- Managing all digital communication channels including social media, websites, email newsletters and printed materials—to ensure consistent and powerful messaging that resonates with students. You’ll be responsible for shaping the tone, voice and brand of the Union, ensuring it reflects the values and priorities of the student body.
- Developing and executing strategic campaigns to raise awareness of the Students' Union’s services, events and initiatives. You'll play a key role in promoting the Union’s activities to current and prospective students, helping to boost engagement and participation across campus.
- Collaborating closely with the University’s communications team, the Union’s elected officers and various student groups to ensure that the Union’s voice is represented accurately and effectively.
Finally, as the Communication and Digital Support Manager, you’ll have the unique opportunity to lead transformative communication projects, empower students and contribute to a vibrant campus culture. Your work will help shape how students connect with the Union and the broader University, making a lasting impact on their experience.
For more information about the role and the assessment criteria, please refer to the full job description.
Alternatively, please reach out to lindsay.h@sussexstudent.com for an informal chat.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job title: Communication and Digital Support Manager
Responsible to: Head of Student Representation
Responsible for: Graphic Designer (Grade 4), Comms & Marketing Graduate (Grade 3), and several student staff: Student Content Creator, Web Developer, IT and Digital Support Administrators
Salary: Grade 6, which is a full time equivalent of £34,491 per annum
Hours of work: 36.5hrs per week, with some weekend work during specific times of the year (such as Freshers Week in September)
Contract: Permanent
Location: Falmer House, University of Sussex, BN1 9QF. However we are supportive of hybrid working.
Applicants: Internal and External
KEY DATES
Applications close: 3rd October at 8am
Interviews: 10th - 16th October
COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION
We are committed to maintaining a diverse workforce because we know how important it is to have decision makers and collaborators with varied lived experiences and backgrounds that reflect the range of needs from our diverse student community.
We welcome applications from everyone, and we want to strongly encourage applications from; people with an ethnic minority or Chinese background, people with a disability, people with dependants, and people who identify as LGBTQ+. We conduct anonymous shortlisting and all of our interview panels have Unconscious Bias Training in order to support the above. We also consider flexible working for those with care commitments. If you have any suggestions as to how we could improve our language or application process please let us know.
ABOUT US
We are looking for skilled, friendly and highly motivated people who share our vision and values.
With our vibrant environment and organisational culture, the Students Union is a dynamic workplace only a few places could match. Led by students we are all about working with students to help them get the most out of their time here at the University of Sussex or Brighton and Sussex Medical School.
Whilst being located on Sussex Campus - close to Brighton & Hove - we are separate from the University, something that is crucial to our campaigning and lobbying work.
According to last year's Staff Engagement Survey, the best things about working here is the supportive environment with great people who you can trust and respect as well as the ability to work flexibly for most roles.
Although we have different departments we think of ourselves as one big team and are often working all together on projects or helping each other out at big events such as Freshers week or Elections.
Whilst we cannot really brag about offering the most competitive pay, as is often the case in the third sector, we feel we have a lot of other things going for us, which more than make up for our less competitive salaries.
Working on Sussex Campus and for the SU has lots of perks: Our staff get access to enhanced time off, which normally amounts to an extra 6 days leave in addition to 20 days of annual leave per year, and bank holidays. We also organise staff socials and events throughout the year and pride ourselves on having learning and development opportunities for all our roles and creating a supportive workplace with regular 1 to 1s, an employee assistance programme and professional health services. You can read up more about our benefits below or on our benefits package.
If this sounds like the workplace you’d like to join, we would love to receive your application and get to know you!
STAFF AND APPLICANTS WITH LONG TERM CONDITIONS
The Students’ Union aims to implement reasonable adjustments for all staff and applicants with disabilities, creating a culture of cooperation, shared responsibility and proactiveness to ensure equitable access to jobs. We want to make sure everyone is supported in our selection processes, and are equipped to work safely and get as much as possible out of their role as possible.
For more information about the support we have available follow this link.
GETTING PAID
Everyone working in the UK needs a National Insurance number in order to get paid. If you are a UK citizen you will automatically have this, however if you are not a UK Citizen you might want to apply for an NI number at the same time as you apply for a job so there is no delay in your payments. You can do so using this link: https://www.gov.uk/apply-natio....
Please note you cannot apply for a National Insurance Number until you're in the UK, but this should not stop you from completing your application for this role.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
Due to legal regulations we have to ensure that everyone is eligible to work in the UK and this would be done by us checking and making a copy of the correct original identification/documentation before your first day of work. You may also be limited in the number of hours you would be allowed to work.
Find out more information about applying to work in the UK. In any case, we would encourage anyone to apply for a job in one of our friendly departments to give yourself the chance of being selected, and we would look to see the appropriate original documents before your first day of work.
MORE INFORMATION
To find out more about working for the Students' Union go to:
GETTING PAID
Everyone working in the UK needs a National Insurance number in order to get paid. If you are a UK citizen you will automatically have this, however if you are not a UK Citizen you might want to apply for an NI number at the same time as you apply for a job so there is no delay in your payments. You can do so using this link: https://www.gov.uk/apply-natio....
Please note you cannot apply for a National Insurance Number until you're in the UK, but this should not stop you from completing your application for this role.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
Due to legal regulations we have to ensure that everyone is eligible to work in the UK and this would be done by us checking and making a copy of the correct original identification/documentation before your first day of work. You may also be limited in the number of hours you would be allowed to work.
Find out more information about applying to work in the UK. In any case, we would encourage anyone to apply for a job in one of our friendly departments to give yourself the chance of being selected, and we would look to see the appropriate original documents before your first day of work.
MORE INFORMATION
To find out more about working for the Students' Union go to: