Communications Assistant - Dubai Campus

About our School/Directorate and Team:The Communications Marketing Student Recruitment and Admissions Group is at the heart of attracting engaging and delivering exceptional student and stakeholder experiences. From award-winning marketing campaigns global student recruitment activities and communications that put Heriot-Watt on the global stage our Group delivers professional services that support the Universitys strategic ambitions.

Purpose of RoleThe purpose of this role is to assist with all external and internal communications duties as required by the communications manager. The Communications Assistant is responsible for media outreach extensive content writing assisting with participation at media events and distributing content to promote the Heriot-Watt brand and activities. The post holder will support our internal and external communications strategy write and disseminate publicity material and coordinate events.

Summary of Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work alongside the communication manager to support key stakeholders support development of an effective and proactive communications strategy based on our target audience and business goals. Should support and promote company goals social media content creation internal communications and media outreach.
• To plan and create media content to support courses part of the specified schools under the University to raise awareness and build brand reputation. This is to be done under the supervision of the communications manager.
• Prepare English drafts of content including opinion pieces interview briefing documents articles expert comments video scripts and Q and As requiring translation into Arabic.
• Support the communications team with developing content including opinion pieces interview briefing documents expert comments articles and Q and As for English media when required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; excellent copy editing and proofreading skills should be capable of writing editing for the global newsletters and other marketing material that communicates our activities products and/or services.
• Assist the communications manager with engaging University stakeholders effectively in order to be able to identify suitable news opportunities and leverage them as appropriate. He/she will ensure the delivery of frequent relevant interesting and engaging content to our target audiences.
• Prepare social media posts for media-related activities and liaise with the social media team.
• Should establish and maintain effective relationships with journalists keep track of industry movements and maintain a media database.
• Assist communications manager in coordinating speaking opportunities and also seek opportunities to position faculty and management as spokespeople.
• Support the communications manager with arranging video shoots developing scripts for the spokespeople for the video and ensuring the final quality of the video.
• Maintains awareness of industry news and events. Should keep track of industry news and developments and provide insights and advice for HWs communications strategy based on the same.
• Assist with research and collation of data for external media content and internal documents such as briefing books.
• Should be able to respond to media inquiries arrange interviews and draft materials on behalf of spokespeople with approvals from the communications manager.
• Maintain records of media coverage through the media monitoring service.
• Also responsible for other administrative marketing related tasks which may crop up from time to time.
• Assists with the timely planning and delivery of communications projects for the Marketing team as required.
• Manage and oversee photo shoots for University spokespeople end to end.
• Manage and oversee finance-related matters such as following up with vendors for invoices invoice booking in the ERP system and following up with finance on payments.
• If requested by the communications manager negotiate with suppliers regarding prices and deliveries to increase financial efficiency.
• Take complete responsibility for drafting court reports.
• Act as cover for manager when manager is on annual/sick leave.

Education Qualifications & Experience:

Essential

1. Bachelors degree at a minimum
2. Excellent English copywriting skills as the role calls for extensive content creation
3. Some experience of working within a similar environment
4. Basic computer skills
5. 3-5 years of experience
6. Ability to work quickly flexibly and accurately in a dynamic changing and pressured be proactive capable of multitasking and working with deadlines and schedules
7. Ability to research analyse and present information effectively with good attention to detail
8. Good organisational skills with the ability to prioritise major developments and to function effectively in a pressured environment
9. Demonstrable professional and proactive approach
10. Speak and write English at a native speaker level

Desirable

1. Experience of working in Higher Education
2. Past experience in Internal Communications
3. Some experience in utilizing social media platforms

Heriot-Watt University Values

With a history dating back to 1821 Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and professionally relevant leading-edge research which has made it one of the top UK universities for business and industry.

We are a vibrant forward-looking university well known for the quality of our degrees with employers actively seeking out our graduates. Heriot-Watt is also Scotlands international university with an unsurpassed international in-country presence. We deliver degree programmes to circa 30000 students in 143 countries around the world have a further overseas campus in Dubai and boast the largest international student cohort in Scotland.

At Heriot-Watt weve created an environment that nurtures innovation and leadership - where our researchers staff and students can realise their potential and develop their ambitions.

We are proud of our collegiate atmosphere and integrated teaching and research approach which has helped to build a community of committed academics and highly motivated students. Our focus on careers delivers results and weve an excellent reputation for graduate employability.

In addition to the Edinburgh campus we currently have campuses in the Scottish Borders Orkney Dubai and Malaysia. For all of our campuses we aim to provide stimulating supportive environments conducive to effective learning and research where staff and students can excel. At Heriot-Watt we have an established set of values that help us to nurture innovation and leadership and show our commitment to continuous improvement and development in all our activities.

Our values describe our deeply held beliefs and our community spirit. They characterise not only how we are as a higher education institution but also frame how we want to be.

Our values are:

• Belong
• Collaborate
• Inspire
• Celebrate

As learning living and working institution we use our values as the building blocks of how we go about doing our work and how we each conduct ourselves as members of Heriot-Watt University. They represent what binds us together as a University community and help us to become the best at what we do.

For full details on our University please view our website to Apply

Please submit your application via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system attaching a Cover letter describing your interest and suitability for the post and an updated CV

Shortlisted candidates may be invited to complete an on-demand-video interview as the first stage of the selection process. Successful candidates will then proceed to in-person formal interviews at our Dubai campus where you will be asked to deliver a brief presentation on a relevant topic. Following the formal interview the preferred candidate will attend a second interview with senior staff at the Dubai campus before a final offer decision is made.

At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected trained promoted appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

The appointment is conditional upon successful completion of all Labour and Immigration formalities and the start date will need to be delayed if the employment visa is not in place.