St Mary's University - Director of Marketing & Communications

Welcome

Thank you for your interest in joining St Mary’s University as our new Director of Marketing & Communications.

At St Mary’s University, we are dedicated to preparing our students for flourishing lives and successful careers within a community of mutual respect. We aspire to enable every student to achieve their full potential, through outstanding support for their learning and giving them a broad and rich experience. Inspired by our Catholic mission, we pride ourselves on being an academic community which values positive human relationships, promoting belonging and supporting individuals to be the best version of themselves.

In challenging times, we continue to thrive, achieving real progress and success in student satisfaction, research and community impact. We have recently climbed to our highest ever positions in two of the major university guides and the Complete University Guide 2024 ranks St Mary’s 7^th for student satisfaction. The 2021 Research Excellence Framework results found that the majority of research submitted by St Mary’s was 4* world leading or 3* internationally excellent in its originality, significance and rigour.

We are now seeking to appoint a Director of Marketing & Communications who will lead our marketing, communications and digital teams. The Director will report to me and will be a member of the professional services leadership team. The role is focused on developing the University’s brand and profile through integrated, data-driven marketing and communications. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and delivering an integrated marketing and communications strategy that will build our brand awareness, grow our market share and enhance our reputation amongst key stakeholder groups and audiences.

You will bring experience of directing and leading a marketing and/or communications department within a complex organisation, along with experience of developing and implementing innovative, digital-led marketing strategies. You will be able to manage multiple complex projects, activities and resources, and you will bring a sharp focus on delivering outcomes. You will also be an experienced people and stakeholder manager with outstanding communication skills.

This role offers the opportunity to join St Mary’s an at exciting time and play a critical role in the advancement of the University, building our profile and reputation to help deliver our vision and ambitious agenda.

You can find out more about the University and the role on this site and our advising consultants at Anderson Quigley would be pleased to discuss the role with you.

Jo Blunden
Chief Operating Officer

About us

Established in 1850 and with a deep heritage in education, St Mary’s University, Twickenham has a strong reputation for teaching excellence and a student-centred approach. Our aim is to prepare students for flourishing lives, successful careers and social commitment through excellent, research-enriched teaching in a community of mutual respect based on our Catholic ethos and values.

Developing and enhancing partnerships is important and we work with other universities at home and abroad, dioceses and institutions, local FE colleges and many schools across the UK. With nearly 6,000 students, 750 staff, and a turnover of over £55 million, the University makes significant contributions to our local community and wider society, empowering our community to have a positive impact on the world.

Key achievements and highlights

5^th for Teaching Quality 2023 Good University Guide.
7^th for Student Experience 2023 Good University Guide.
7^th for Student Satisfaction 2024 Complete University Guide.
Highest ever position in the Good University Guide and Complete University Guide.
98% of graduates are in employment, vocation or further study within 15 months (HESA 2020).
Ofsted Outstanding assessment of our Primary and Secondary ITE provision for over ten years.
In the National Student Survey 2023:
- The University was rated no 1 in London for Academic Support, with a rating of 89%.
- The University was rated 2^nd in London for Teaching on my Course, with a rating of 88%, almost three percent above the sector average.
- The survey found 94% of students said that staff were good at explaining things, the top score in London, and 87% said staff made their subjects engaging.
The University was also rated in the top ten nationally and 2^nd in London for Learning Opportunities, and in the top five in London for:
- Organisation and Management (second)
- Assessment and Feedback (fifth)
- Student Voice (fifth)

Mission
We are an inclusive Catholic university seeking to develop the whole person and empower our community to have a positive impact on the world.

Vision
Our students and staff are at the heart of everything we do. We are an inclusive university, open to those of all faiths and none, and a local institution in a global city, serving a growing and richly diverse student community in locations both real and virtual.

Values
Rooted in our Catholic Foundation, with the value of the human person at its heart, our values set us apart, shape our behaviour and inform all our decisions in a university that responds to the demands of today.

Inclusiveness
We celebrate differences and welcome diversity, recognising that everyone is born with a unique identity. St Mary’s is a place where all students and staff can reach their full potential and make a positive contribution to society.

Generosity of Spirit
Across the University there’s a strong sense of encouragement, collegiality, empathy, helpfulness, and service to others.

Respect
We respect all and treat everyone as we ourselves would want to be treated.

Excellence
We strive to be the best at everything we do. We set high standards and seek continuous improvement in all our practices and work.

Vision 2030: The Future of St Mary’s

St Mary’s is committed to providing our students with a transformational experience. Offering strong support and challenging goals whilst they study with us and opportunities to be part of the wider St Mary’s community beyond their time here, we want our students to be highly skilled, informed and civically engaged. Vision 2030 sets out how we will do this, building on the successes of the past and setting our direction for the coming years.

To achieve our Vision, we have identified five Pillars that will support our strategy.

Achieving Student Success: With a rich history in education, St Mary’s is committed to high quality delivery in education, research and the wider student experience. We will continue to provide an outstanding academic, sporting and social experience, to ensure our students flourish while they are with us, and beyond.
Developing our People: We seek to empower our staff to reach their full potential by developing a supportive, inclusive, collaborative and inspiring working environment. We want our staff and leadership to reflect and encompass the diversity of our student body and the wider community.
Driving Growth: Through growth we can reach more students, employers and communities, and ensure the University’s sustainable future. We will expand our applied and professional programmes and offer more flexible ways to learn.
Developing Partnerships: We will identify organisations with whom we can work with to deliver shared goals. We will share our knowledge and expertise with other universities, further education colleges, and civic and sporting organisations at home and abroad.
Enhancing our sense of Place: We treasure our historic campus and will continue to develop it as a safe space and to guard it for future generations. We will open up our work to the public and strive to have a positive impact in our local community. We will play a dynamic role in the educational, cultural, sporting, and economic life of south-west London.

You can read more about our Vision 2030 here.

Location

St Mary’s University is located in Twickenham, which is just half an hour by train from the heart of London. This gives both staff and students access to the best of both worlds: a dynamic, bustling city and a tranquil, riverside suburb, with excellent schools and facilities. Many staff and students choose to work and study at St Mary’s because of its prime location.

A snapshot of the local area

A leafy, suburban neighbourhood, Twickenham is a mixture of period houses, formal gardens and parks surrounding King Street, the town’s centre. Twickenham offers many traditional pubs and restaurants, with many diverse cuisines. Church Street runs adjacent to the river and comprises cafés, boutiques, small bookshops, and a church.

The lively riverside towns of Kingston and Richmond are a short bus ride away from the University. Throughout the day, the towns attract visitors who come to enjoy the shopping centres, cinemas, restaurants, live music venues, bars, and theatres. Teddington, just along the road from the University, was recently named “the best place to live in London” by the Sunday Times.

Outdoor spaces

Marble Hill Park in East Twickenham is a charming local park and the setting of Marble Hill House, a Venetian villa built for a mistress of George II and now a local landmark. Just a short stroll along a peaceful riverside road into secluded woodland gardens is Orleans House Gallery, a stunning 18th century house and gardens which now serves as an art gallery, hosting regular exhibitions and workshops.

St Mary’s is close to two of London’s eight royal parks. Both Richmond Park and Bushy Park, where Parkrun started, offer staff and students hundreds of acres of beautiful, secluded woodland for get-away-from-it-all walks, as well as space for cycling and running.

Twickenham and the adjacent River Thames also provide lots of opportunities for outdoor activities.

Culture, history and heritage

Flood Lane and Church Lane lead down to the river where you can enjoy a drink in one of the riverside pubs or cross the bridge on to Eel Pie Island. Many musicians began their careers or played sets at the Eel Pie Island Hotel and recorded material at Eel Pie Studios.

In 2017, St Mary’s became the proud operator of The Exchange in Twickenham – a newly built community venue that boasts a 300-seat theatre, six studio rooms, a café and a bar. St Mary’s students benefit from teaching and training at the site, with drama students staging performances in the theatre.

The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace, museums, galleries and other historic houses open to the public are also among unique features of the local area. On St Mary’s campus itself is Strawberry Hill House, Horace Walpole’s Gothic Revival villa.

Sport

The rugby capital of the world, Twickenham Stadium is the home of the Rugby Football Union. Seating 82,000, it is the 5th largest stadium in Europe and hosts the Six Nations matches and the Rugby World Cup, as well as the annual varsity match between rival universities Oxford and Cambridge. The prestigious matches attract fans from around the globe who celebrate in Twickenham’s pubs and bars, creating an unrivalled atmosphere. The area is also home to Harlequins and London Irish rugby clubs.

The stadium has a state-of-the-art fitness centre attached, as well as a world-renowned rugby museum. The stadium is also regularly used as a venue for concerts.

Find out more at www.stmarys.ac.uk/location

The role

Director of Marketing and Communications (AQ2161)

Apply now

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Director of Marketing & Communications
Department: Operations
Reports To: Chief Operating Officer
Salary: Dependent on experience
Hours: Full time – At this level, the post holder will be expected to work flexibly, including evening and weekends as necessary.
Contract: Permanent

Overview

St. Mary’s University is a Catholic university founded in 1850. Our values of excellence, generosity of spirit, inclusion and respect inspire us to create an academic community in which everybody is welcomed and which puts the student at the centre of all our endeavours. We provide a high-quality professional environment, inspired by our distinctive ethos and values. As the University builds on its proud heritage, we are looking for exceptional people to help shape our future.

With over 6,000 students, the University makes significant contributions to its local community and the wider society, empowering its staff and students to have a positive impact on the world. The University’s academic structure is focused around three Faculties, each comprising two to three Schools. Our academic portfolio embraces the Social Sciences, Allied Health and Sport, Teacher Education, and Theology and the Liberal and Creative Arts.

St Mary’s is committed to providing our students with a transformational experience. The University’s Vision 2030 outlines our approach and guides our supporting strategies, operating plans, and team and individual targets for achieving this. This includes extending our impact through growth to ensure future sustainability. We are focused on delivering outstanding teaching and pastoral support to our student population, as well as expanding and internationalising our academic portfolio of programmes. As we continue to expand our reach, our shared goals and values underpin a flourishing network of trusted partners, both at home and overseas, enabling us to promote our global profile and reach diverse communities.

We look forward to receiving applications for this exciting University-wide leadership role from candidates who share our values and support the ambition for what St Mary’s University can be and is committed to achieving those benefits for our students, our staff, our partners and our community.

The role and purpose

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Director of Marketing & Communications will lead the marketing, communications and digital teams to increase their impact and influence, developing the University’s brand and profile through integrated, data-driven marketing and communications.

In conjunction with the Vice-Chancellor and COO the postholder will be the “owner” of the University brand.

The post holder will be accountable for developing and delivering an integrated marketing and communications strategy with activities to build brand awareness, grow market share, and enhance our reputation amongst key stakeholder groups and audiences. This will include the following areas and activities:

Marketing Campaigns
External Relations, PR & Communications (Staff, Student & External)
Brand Identity & Development
Internal Communications (staff & student)
Digital Channels & Experience (Social Media, Website, CRM, St Mary’s App etc)

Main duties and responsibilities:

Leadership and management

Provide strategic leadership to the team, with the aim of developing a culture of innovation, forward-thinking and empowerment.
Develop and implement forward-looking plans, including prioritisation of initiatives, the provision of market intelligence, trend data and preparation of budget estimates.
Ensure that the services offered by the team are efficient and effective, offering value for money, return on investment and tangible benefits realisation through regular benchmarking, external engagement, data analysis and other means.
Actively identify and deliver areas for strategic improvement, development or change to enhance our service.
Lead negotiations on competitive and flexible deals with suppliers.
Plan and deliver a sustainable balanced budget in partnership with University planning and finance teams.
Ensure that the team, its plan and services have the University’s values at the heart of what they do, recognising the diversity of our student and staff body and wider community.

Marketing

Define, develop and lead the brand strategy for the University to include the brand identity, narrative/messaging, and associated resources, communications, training and governance.
Working with academic colleagues, develop and outline a compelling value proposition that differentiates the University from its competitors.
Partner with the University’s Director of International Engagement, Student Recruitment and Admissions to develop a marketing strategy to deliver effective student recruitment and conversion campaigns.
Support the development of future portfolio and commercial activities by analysing market research, providing insight to facilitate decision making and advising on market launches for commercial products/services.
Develop and deploy data insights to enhance planning, establishing effective reporting and monitoring to ensure a robust return on investment.
You will also be responsible for identifying and managing relationships with partner agencies and creatives to drive campaigns and design from inception to delivery.

Communications and PR

Work with senior colleagues to devise and deliver an effective communications and public relations strategy for the University, which both protects and enhances the reputation of the University, supporting senior staff undertaking communications and PR activities.
Responsible for all internal and external communications (including digital) from the University in order to achieve specific market position and power, commentary and analysis, and crisis/emergency communications.
Ensure that the University maximises opportunities to promote key activities, including the positioning of staff as key opinion leaders in their areas of expertise.
Ensure that our internal communications drive measurable improvements in our staff and student engagement which is monitored via the Staff Survey and the National Student Survey.

Digital engagement

Overall responsibility for all internal and external communications and channels including the University website, Student App, CRM and social media channels. Ensure that these are relevant, drive staff and student engagement, and are focused on shaping the University’s reputation and increasing market share.
Understand and communicate insights from digital data to improve the reach and impact of future campaigns and activities.
Ensure all areas of the department deliver continuous improvement through design and technological development – including horizon scanning of web and social media developments to ensure the University maximises relevant new developments, user experience and functionality.

Other duties

Chair and participate in committees and working groups as requested by the COO.
Collaborate with colleagues to drive impact for the University.
Provide subject matter expertise in marketing, communications, brand and reputation in support of
the University mission and values.
Manage budgets and contracts with external suppliers in line with St Mary’s financial regulations.
Support the COO in the production of Executive reporting including, but not limited to, University
Executive Committee (of which the postholder will be a member).
Undertake any other activities assigned from time to time by the COO as commensurate with the role.

The above list of duties is not exhaustive and is subject to change. The post holder may be required to undertake other duties within the scope and grading of the post.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

All of the follow criteria is essential unless otherwise noted

Knowledge and qualifications

Extensive experience of directing and leading a Marketing and/or Communications department within a complex organisation.
Experience of working within the higher education sector. (Desirable)
Experience of developing and implementing effective and innovative marketing strategies across an organisation with demonstrable business benefits, including financial.
Strong experience of digital marketing and engagement strategies, using data to inform decisions.
Experience of crisis management and in managing sensitive issues.
Creativity and problem-solving in the conceptualisation, design, development, implementation and evaluation of marketing and digital initiatives.
Driving service outcomes and organisational culture in response to customer needs and experience.
Strategic and operational planning and performance management.
A senior professional with strong business and commercial awareness, financial acumen and a customer service focus.

Skills and abilities

Excellent written and oral communication skills to engage people effectively with complex issues and ideas.
Creativity and flair in addressing complex challenges and opportunities.
Ability to build effective partnerships and collaborations between individuals, teams and stakeholders to leverage resources, expertise and capacity to execute strategic projects.
Ability to plan, organise and manage multiple complex projects, activities and resources across teams, on time and within budget.
Proactively supports change initiatives across the organisation.
Confident, evidence-based decision making, balancing opportunity and risk. (Desirable)
Ability to negotiate with and influence key stakeholders across the University to inform strategies and plans, and to obtain agreement to proposals. (Desirable)
Organised, data-driven, utilising insights to identify opportunities and improve operations. (Desirable)

University policies and procedures

All staff are expected to undertake their work in an inclusive, fair, safe and respectful manner, particular consideration should be given to the University values.
St Mary’s University reserves the right to change and amend this Job description/Person Specification in accordance with the changing requirements of the organisation.

COO organogram

Marketing and communications organogram

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Terms of appointment

The salary is dependent on experience and will be negotiated with the preferred candidate.

Holiday entitlement is 30 days annual leave, plus public holidays and University closure days between Christmas and New Year.

The successful candidate will be eligible to join the Group Life Assurance Scheme.

St Mary’s offer a range of additional benefits including the Cycle2Work scheme, season ticket loan and on-site gym and sports facilities at a discounted rate.

More information on employee benefits can be found at http://www.stmarys.ac.uk/jobs/benefits.htm.

We promote applications from all sections of the community, irrespective of background, belief or identity, recognising the benefits that a diverse organisation can bring and particularly encourage applications from groups which are underrepresented in the University workforce.

We recognise the benefits and importance of an environment that supports flexible working and are open to conversations about this throughout the application process.

How to apply

Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to the University, an executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.

The closing date for applications is noon on Monday 9th October 2023.

Applications should consist of:

A full CV.
A covering letter (maximum of two pages) outlining how you meet the essential experience criteria of the person specification.
Please include details of two referees in either your CV or covering letter, though please note that we will not approach your referees without your prior consent and only should you be shortlisted.

Should you wish to discuss the role in strict confidence, please contact Elliott Rae on +44 (0)7584 078 534, elliott.rae@andersonquigley.com or Sophie Rees on +44 (0)7719 313 982, sophie.rees@andersonquigley.com.

Timetable

Closing date	9th October
Preliminary interviews	Mid-late October
Final interviews	Mid-November TBC

Appointment of the Director of Marketing & Communications