Croeso and thank you for your interest in our University. As a recent arrival myself to this wonderful institution, I am aware how exciting embarking on a job application can be.
Bangor is a unique institution, the most Welsh in language and attitude, but also the most international in outlook and ambition. Despite current challenges, the University’s leadership is focused on building our research and teaching strengths to create a strong, confident Civic University which not only serves Bangor and our region, but is also genuinely transformational for Wales and the world.
I joined the University earlier this year and following a strategic review of our marketing, recruitment and communications activity we are now seeking to appoint to the new roles of Director of Communications & Brand and Head of Media & Communications. These new roles, which can be based either in Bangor or Wrexham, play a crucial role in raising the profile and understanding of the University and, in so doing, underpinning and supporting student recruitment activity to enable the University to significantly increase the number of applicants it attracts.
Across both roles and as part of my wider leadership team, the post holders will need to combine strategic vision and strong planning and delivery skills to deliver complex multi-channel brand, communications and media programmes which provide measurable results. You will have high profiles in the University and be trusted advisors to senior management.
Bangor University has fantastic academic and teaching credentials and these two crucial posts will play a critical part in leading a new strategic drive to raise our profile. I am delighted to have joined this wonderful institution and I do hope you share our aspirations and are excited by the prospect of joining us.
Our History and Today
The University was founded as a direct result of a campaign in the late nineteenth century for higher education provision in Wales. Funds were raised by public subscription to establish a college of university rank in Bangor. An important feature of its foundation was the voluntary contributions made by local people, including amongst others, many farmers and quarrymen who could ill afford to donate money, but did so despite the difficulties in order to benefit future generations.
The University was founded as the University College of North Wales. It opened its doors on 18 October 1884 in an old coaching inn with 58 students and 10 members of staff. The students received degrees from the University of London until 1893 when the University of Wales, Bangor became one of the three original constituent colleges of the University of Wales.
Bangor has had a long tradition of academic excellence and a strong focus on the student experience. Today around 11,000 students study at the University, and it has approximately 2000 staff, based in fourteen Academic Schools within three Colleges, and supported by a number of Professional Services. In addition, we have 600 students studying at Bangor College China and around 2400 students studying validated programmes in the UK and overseas. We have more than 150 Students’ Union Clubs and Societies which were named best in the UK at the WhatUni Student Choice Awards 2018.
The University is ranked in the top 40 in the UK for research, according to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014. The REF recognised that more than three-quarters of Bangor’s research is either world-leading or internationally excellent, ahead of the average for UK universities.
The most recent National Student Survey results place Bangor amongst the UK’s top 10 mainstream universities for student satisfaction and we are particularly proud of our Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold which highlights our staff’s work in providing outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for our students. Sustainability is central to all our activities and we are ranked 8th in the world in the UI Green metric
More recently, the University, alongside many others, is facing challenges. Recruitment has been below target in recent years which has led to associated financial challenges, and we are exploring ways of increasing and diversifying our income streams. Good progress has already been made in addressing these challenges (numbers are improving, particularly in postgraduate) and this provides an opportunity for these two new positions to have a key role in taking the University into the next phase of its development.
Teaching and Learning
The University prides itself on the quality of teaching offered. This was supported in a recent review by the UK Quality Assurance Agency, which resulted in the highest possible endorsement of the University’s academic standards.
Students are enrolled on 324 undergraduate programmes and 125 postgraduate taught programmes. Undergraduate students are registered to 1883 modules. There are 340 undergraduate modules offered through the medium of Welsh, and Bangor is recognised as the leading provider of Welsh medium education in Wales.
Research
Research is central to Bangor University; it is an integral part of our teaching and a passion of our academic staff. The 2014 Research Excellence Framework recognised that more than three-quarters of Bangor’s research is either world-leading or internationally excellent, ahead of the average for all UK universities.
Research in Sports Science; Modern Languages; Welsh; Education; Linguistics; Ocean Sciences; Biological Sciences; Environment, Natural Resources and Geography; Psychology; Healthcare Sciences; and Medical Sciences have all been ranked in the top 20 in the UK.
Research and teaching are closely inter-linked: almost all research academics teach, ensuring that our students benefit from the knowledge created by our research.
Community
The University’s Arts and Innovation Centre, Pontio (meaning ‘to bridge’ in Welsh), provides a wide variety of high quality activities and entertainment for both the University and the local community, championing Welsh language and culture. The University has a dedicated Widening Access Centre that provides a vital link between the University and its surrounding community. We are also committed to the principles of sustainable development and global citizenship and to ensuring that all our functions reflect this.
Mission
A strong, confident institution recognised regionally, nationally and internationally as a centre of excellence for its varied portfolio of teaching and research, and for the unique, multicultural, inclusive experience it provides for its staff and students.
Further Information
Click here for the recent annual review and accounts
Click here for the 2015-2020 strategic plan
Since its inception in 1884, the University has a tradition of integral links with its local community. Our identity is inextricably associated with our location and we play a leading role in the Welsh culture and economy and in fostering the Welsh language. We are the leading provider of higher education through the medium of Welsh, in terms of volume, breadth of courses and expertise, and we are the sector’s standard-bearer for Welsh Language services and support.
The University actively supports staff to learn Welsh and in using it at all levels of University work. This support will be made available to the successful candidate, if required.
The academic activities of the University are grouped into three Colleges.
The College of Arts, Humanities and Business comprises the following schools and academic centres:
The College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering comprises the following schools and academic centres:
The College of Human Sciences comprises the following schools and academic centres:
Grade: 10
Location: This post can be based at either the Bangor or Wrexham campus. The appointee can decide on their main base, they will be expected to be prepared to travel to the other campus on occasion.
Purpose of the job
To raise the profile and understanding of Bangor University locally, regionally, nationally, UK wide and internationally. In so doing to underpin and support student recruitment activity the enable the University to significantly increase the number of applicants it attracts. To redesign all functions for which responsible, to enable them to be sector leading for innovation, delivery and impact.
The postholder will be set targets in relation to the development of brand awareness regionally, nationally, UK wide and internationally. They will be expected to develop all of their areas of operation to contribute towards the delivery against these targets and thus provide a brand awareness platform which will underpin all aspects of the Universities work including student recruitment, staff recruitment and research profile.
Working directly with the Chief Marketing Officer and Vice-President International, the post holder will be expected to be a trusted advisor to the senior management of the University. The post will hold significant responsibility and influence.
Main duties and responsibilities
Develop strategic plans with measurable and accountable KPI’s for all areas of responsibility, which will ensure delivery against the targets set by senior management.
To strategically lead and manage the specific assigned areas to deliver against these strategic plans. More specifically:
Communications
Brand Marketing
Website
Alumni
General
Other duties and responsibilities
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Qualifications/Training
Experience/Knowledge
Skills/Abilities
Other
Location: This post can be based at either the Bangor or Wrexham campus. The appointee can decide on their main base, they will be expected to be prepared to travel to the other campus on occasion
The ability to speak Welsh confidently to carry out certain tasks is essential for this post e.g. speaking to staff and students, answering phone calls, dealing with urgent enquiries in Welsh.
Purpose of the job
Bangor University has fantastic academic and teaching credentials and wishes to improve its visibility and communications reach. This post will play a critical part in leading a new strategic drive to raise our profile regionally, nationally, UK wide and internationally.
The post holder will need to combine strategic vision and strong strategic and operational planning and delivery skills, to deliver complex multi-channel communications which provide measurable results. In particular the role requires someone with significant skills and experience to take full advantage of the opportunities available across organic social media and broadcast media.
The successful candidate will lead and develop a team of communications professionals and manage communications budgets, taking responsibility for the effectiveness and efficiency of this service. The post reports to the Director of Communications and Brand, with a reporting line also to the Chief Marketing Officer and Vice-President International (CMO) who they will directly support and advise.
Main duties and responsibilities
Other duties and responsibilities
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Qualifications/Training
Essential
Desirable
Experience/Knowledge
Skills/Abilities
The posts are offered on a full time, permanent basis and can be based in either Bangor or Wrexham (the posts will be working from home until at least January 2021). An appropriate salary will be agreed with the preferred candidates.
All other terms and conditions will be in accordance with the standard terms and conditions of employment at the University for professional services staff.
Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to Bangor University. An executive search and assessment process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley for the Director role.
Should you wish to discuss either of these roles in strict confidence, please contact Ed Pritchard on +44(0)7980 817 927, or Carolyn Coates on +44(0)7825 871 944.
The closing dates for applications is noon on Friday 6 November.
Applications should consist of:
Completed applications should be uploaded at www.andersonquigley.com/candidates using the corresponding AQ reference above.
Bangor University is committed to creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all our students, staff and our partners. We aim to take every opportunity to progress equality and diversity and celebrate the enrichment this brings to our community.
Search forward timetable
Closing date: | Noon on Friday 6th November |
Longlisting: | Thursday 12th November |
Preliminary Interviews with AQ: | w/c 16th November |
Shortlisting: | Thursday 26th November |
Final Panel Interviews: | Monday 14th December |