Business Disability Forum (BDF)

Job DescriptionJob title: Head of Communications (Part Time)

Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Building disability-smart organisations

Business Disability Forum (BDF) is a world-leading membership organisation bringing together business and the public sector to build disability-smart organisations. BDF has more than 30 years’ experience of providing high quality advice and guidance, in-depth consultancy, business to business networking and knowledge-sharing relevant at all stages of the journey towards greater disability confidence.

Our Disability Smart Framework defines Best Practice and provides the benchmark against which organisations measure their performance on disability across the entire business. Our taskforces and networks regularly bring together our Members and Partners with disabled opinion leaders to share best practice and create change in their specialist fields or areas of common interest.

Our values:

Purposeful: We are focused Respectful: We respect our colleagues and customers Pragmatic: We find solutions and deliver outcomes Empowered: We are empowered and take ownership Evolving: We constantly learn and evolve

Job purpose:

The Head of Communications will lead on developing and implementing a communications strategy for Business Disability Forum which increases our profile and maximises our impact. The strategy will raise awareness of the issues and barriers facing disabled people in the workplace, as consumers and in society as a whole, the benefits to addressing them and the unrivalled support that Business Disability Forum offers in this space. You will create a compelling, coherent and consistent narrative that joins up all our communication channels and enhances our position as a thought leader in

disability inclusion. To do this, you will work collaboratively with others across the organisation including other knowledge holders.

Key tasks and responsibilities:

Communications strategy To lead on developing and implementing a communications strategy for

Business Disability Forum which maximises our profile, reach and impact and supports us to achieve our organisational priorities.

To ensure that marketing, press and digital strategies flow from and support this overarching communications strategy and to ensure that they are coordinated to drive maximise reach, engagement and impact.

To identify topical campaign themes for each year/s with clearly identified priorities and areas of focus, with strong input from the Head of Policy & Research, the Advice Service and other customer facing teams to inform this.

To work with the policy team in particular to maximise impact of our thought leadership activity.

To be the key point of contact for all communications for the BDF team.

To be the key point of liaison with Member and Partner communications teams.

Creative collateral To create a compelling story and narrative thread that runs through all our

external communications activities and positions Business Disability Forum as a credible thought leader and to create a consistent voice and brand personality to run through all our communications.

To write creative copy including blogs to support our overall narrative and specific campaigns and to support the CEO in writing speeches as required.

In collaboration with the CEO, Head of Policy & Research and press consultant, to lead on the development of a bank of key messages to promote what we do. To ensure this is regularly maintained and updated as a “live” resource and that all customer facing teams know how and where to access it.

To work with the Head of Policy & Research to develop position statements to provide a consistent voice on key policy and campaign areas and to enable and support thought leadership.

In collaboration with the CEO and the wider team, to lead on communicating our mission, vision and values, refreshing and updating these as needed.

To ensure that our messaging reflects all our different audiences and to map our audiences as required to support this.

Created by dianel: May 2021 2

Events and resources To lead on the design and delivery of the Disability Smart Awards scheme

annually to maximise profile, reach and impact and to work with the Head of Legal & Content and the Events Manager to design and deliver a high- profile awards ceremony (actual or virtual).

To support the Head of Content & Legal and the Events Manager to create themes and narratives for events that raise our profile, support our positioning, highlight our current campaigns and priorities and promote our product and services.

To ensure that there is an overall and integrated communications plan for each event and product/resource launch which joins up and feeds into marketing, press and social media plans to maximise impact and reach.

To present and discuss comms plans to Member and Partner communications teams for sponsored events and product launches, ensuring that all our obligations within sponsorship agreements are deliverable and met.

To ensure that there is a rolling programme of marketing and communications to promote existing resources in a creative way that keeps them at the forefront of Members’ minds.

To work with the Digital Officer and Creative team to ensure that user journeys are optimised.

Marketing and digital To work with the Marketing Manager and Digital Officer to ensure that

Business Disability Forum’s marketing and digital strategy flows from and supports the overarching communications strategy.

To work with the Marketing Manager to ensure a strategic approach to our external marketing communications with a plan that brings together communications from all teams to ensure that they are coordinated, coherent and impactful.

To work with the Marketing Manager and Creative Designer to review and update our brand guidelines to support our positioning.

To work with the Marketing Manager and Digital Officer to ensure that our marketing and messages are consistent across all our digital platforms and that our website is optimised to meet our organisational priorities.

Press and media To work with the press consultant to ensure that Business Disability

Forum’s press strategy flows from and supports the overarching communications strategy.

To work with the CEO and press consultant to manage BDF’s reputation and to support crisis and reputation management as required.

To work with the press consultant to ensure that Business Disability Forum spokespeople are briefed with appropriate media/refresher training organised as needed

Created by dianel: May 2021 3

To be a Business Disability Forum spokesperson as required.

Other:

Be familiar with and, at all times, adhere to Business Disability Forum’s policies and procedures as compiled in the employee handbook.

All employees are also expected to promote and comply with Business Disability Forum’s policies on equality and diversity with specific reference to disability both in the delivery of services and treatment of others.

Any other duty as may be assigned that is consistent with the nature of the job and its level of responsibility. Any changes will be made in consultation with the post holder.

Line management responsibilities:

Marketing Manager

Digital Officer

Press consultant

Working contacts

Internal CEO

Leadership Team

Marketing Officer

Creative Designer

Content Creator & Editor

Events Manager

Insight & Research Manager.

Membership recruitment manager

Advice Service Manager

External Suppliers

Press and Media as required.

Partner and Member contacts as required including Communications Teams and sponsorship leads

Speakers at Events

Created by dianel: May 2021 4

Person specificationWe assess how candidates and post-holders meet the criteria through: application (A), interview (I) or testing (T). We assess your suitability for the role through one or more of the aforementioned (A), (I) and/ or (T). Adjustments will be made for all candidates throughout the recruitment process.

ExperienceEssential: Experience of developing and delivering high profile marketing and

communications campaigns (A & I). Experience of working in a membership organisation (A & I). Experience of developing communications strategies to meet the needs of

a range of audiences (A & I). Experience of developing brand strategies and guidance (A & I). Experience of promoting events (A & I). Experience of developing position statements on key issues (A & I). Experience of leading a communications function, ideally including

marketing, digital and press (A & I).

Desirable:

Experience of working with or for the private sector

Experience of disability and wider equality/diversity issues. (A & I).

SkillsEssential: Strong interpersonal skills, ability to relate effectively and appropriately to a

wide range of people, including people outside the organisation from private, public and voluntary sectors and to work collaboratively. (A, I & T).

Excellent copy writing skills for a range of audiences and across a range of platforms (A, I & T).

Proven people and line management skills (A & I). Strong project management and planning skills with proven ability to

manage marketing projects (A, I & T). Ability to learn, understand and explain complex information clearly and

simply verbally and in writing to meet the needs of a range of audiences. (A, I & T).

Created by dianel: May 2021 5

Desirable:

Knowledge and attributesEssential: A willingness to learn about disability inclusion as it affects business and

the BDF way of working with businesses in partnership (A & I). Broad and deep, up to date knowledge of all aspects of marketing and

communications (A, I & T). Knowledge of disability and wider equality/diversity issues. (A & I). Detailed knowledge of the law as it affects communications (e.g. GDPR)

(A, I & T). Committed to own professional development. (A & I). Computer literate including familiarity with Word, PowerPoint and Excel

programmes. (A, I & T). Familiarity with social media and digital platforms including twitter,

LinkedIn, Instagram, Hootsuite, WordPress (A & I). Strong attention to detail without the need for close supervision. (A & I). Committed to the aims and objectives of Business Disability Forum. (A &

I).

Desirable: Knowledge of policy, ideally in relation to disability (A, I & T).

Equal opportunities

We are committed to becoming disability-smart and an employer of choice irrespective of race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, or pregnancy and maternity. The ethical and business case of ensuring that our workforce is representative of wider society is at the heart of what we do. When we are recruiting, disabled candidates who meet all of the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview.

General terms and conditions of employment

Based:

Business Disability Forum, Nutmeg House, 60 Gainsford Street, London SE1 2NY.

If remote working, attendance at Leadership team meetings at Nutmeg House is a minimum requirement.

Hours:

Created by dianel: May 2021 6

Part time role of 21 hours a week with timings to be agreed. Due to the nature of the role, some out of hours working is likely to be required. We are happy to discuss flexible working options with suitable candidates.

Length of contract:

1 year fixed term contract

Salary:

£63,000 pa & benefits

Probationary period:

Six months.

Annual leave:

Pro rata of 25 days per annum plus statutory and bank holidays (33 days in total).

After 3 months:

Group Pension Scheme 5% of gross salary.

Permanent Health Insurance.

Group Death in Service (Life Assurance 3 x Annual Salary).

Private Medical Scheme.

Group Dental Insurance (non-contractual contributory).

Employee Assistance Programme.

Interest free season ticket loan.

Childcare vouchers (non-contractual).

Created by dianel: May 2021 7

How to applyApplications should be by CV and a supporting statement, of up to 400 words, detailing why you think you would be suitable for the role. If you require any adjustments to the application process please contact Barnaby Powell as set out below. Applications should be addressed to Barnaby Powell, HR & Office Manager, Business Disability Forum, Nutmeg House, 60 Gainsford Street, London SE1 2NY. If you are submitting your application by email please do so to barnabyp@businessdisabilityforum.org.uk

Closing date for applications: 1 August 2021.

First interviews are planned for the week commencing 9 August 2021

Second interviews are likely to take place TBC.

Business Disability Forum is committed to ensuring that all its information, products and services are as accessible as possible to everyone.

If you wish to discuss anything in regards to accessibility or if you require alternative formats please contact Barnaby Powell by email at barnabyp@businessdisabilityforum.org.uk or by telephone on 020-7403-3020.

For further information on Business Disability Forum please refer to www.businessdisabilityforum.org.uk.

Equal opportunitiesWe are committed to becoming disability-smart and an employer of choice irrespective of race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, or pregnancy and maternity. The ethical and business case of ensuring that our workforce is representative of wider society is at the heart of what we do. When we are recruiting, disabled candidates who meet all of the essential criteria will be offered an interview.

Created by dianel: May 2021 8