Northampton Saints is now recruiting a Communications Manager and a Graphic Design Executive to work within the club's expanding Communications and Marketing Department.
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Reports to: Director of Marketing & Communications
Direct reports: Communications Executive
Nature and scope: Reporting to the Head of Marketing & Communications and working closely with a wide variety of stakeholders, the Communications Manager delivers internal and external communications for Northampton Saints ensuring the Club has a market-leading approach to its communications and media operations.
Responsible for developing and implementing strategies for broadcast, digital, social and print media that are in line with the Club’s overall strategy.
Managing proactive and reactive issues with the media and engaging with existing media stakeholders to grow wider awareness of the Club, its values and, in particular, its strong community ethos.
Location: Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
Compensation: Competitive base salary + bonus
BACKGROUND
Northampton Saints is one of Europe’s leading professional rugby clubs. It has a proud tradition as a club going back over 100 years and in the modern era of professionalism has consistently performed at the highest level winning both the key European and English Championships. The Club has also been highly successful in its off-field activities, both developing its infrastructure into one of the best dedicated rugby grounds in the country as well as being the only English Premiership Rugby Club to have been profitable for 16 years from 2000 to 2016. For more information visit: www.northamptonsaints.co.uk
REMIT
Responsible for delivering the communications strategy and ensuring positive and consistent messaging across all Northampton Saints communications platforms and channels. A confident communicator, you will have the skills and ability to build and influence relationships with a strong desire to provide excellent service both internally and externally.
This role will involve working at home and away matches throughout the rugby season.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Help develop and deliver an integrated, season–long communications strategy to secure regular, consistent, positive media coverage
2. To build and maintain effective professional relationships with the media and other key stakeholders in the game to ensure that Northampton Saints messaging is given appropriate priority and the Club’s viewpoint is adequately and accurately communicated.
3. To work closely with the rugby department, community department and Executive Team to deliver the Club’s key messages and values, and advise on proactive and reactive communications tactics and strategy.
4. Manage and develop relationships across the Club with key figures, including players, coaching staff and senior management, to ensure media opportunities are facilitated, developed and maximised.
5. To plan, provide and deliver exclusive content for use in match programmes, website, digital, marketing and social media channels.
6. Be capable of generating creative, proactive PR activity.
7. Ensure the Club’s media obligations to competition organisers and club partners are met while striving to exceed expectations.
8. Manage all aspects of the club’s media obligations at home and away match days.
9. Work closely with the Content Manager, Marketing Manager and Community department to deliver the Club’s engagement plans – and celebrate all relevant success stories from the Club, both on and off the field.
10. Work in colaboraion with the Club’s sponsors and partners to help assist in marketing & PR campaigns and generate positive media coverage.
11. Contribute to weekly departmental meetings and actively participate in other meetings (internal & external) as and when required.
12. Manage budget when required for media activity and projects in line with departmental budget planning. Assist in the annual departmental budget planning.
13. Be aware of current trends and best practice in Public Relations and continually look for ways to develop and improve the Club’s media operations
The duties and responsibilities outlined above are not exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake additional duties to meet the needs of the organisation.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Rugby/Sport
· Candidates must have a love of sport and an understanding of Rugby and its environment.
· Previous experience in a PR /communications / media role at a high performance sports club, rights holder or relevant agency would be advantageous but is not a necessity
Experience
· Graduate with a strong academic track record
· Experience working within fast paced sports media and/or communications agency environments
· Experience working in or with various media outlets, including television, print, online and social media.
· Demonstrable track record of building effective relationships and manageing experienced journalists
· Significant experience in creating or producing media content, including drafting/editing editorial copy, creating social media content and working with television, radio or online production
· Proven ability to work effectively with professional athletes or similar
· Strong media contacts
Personal Attributes
· Excellent written and oral communication skills along with a flexible and highly organised approach to working in fast-paced, media environment
· Excellent interpersonal skills
· Ability to work to deadlines and to prioritise workloads.
· Good organisational and administration skills
· Diplomacy and ability to work well under pressure
· A team player, but able to work autonomously
APPLICATION PROCESS & TIMINGS
· Northampton Saints is an equal opportunities employer and would welcome applications from a fully diverse range of candidates, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.
· Please email a CV, covering letter (including details of current remuneration), and the names and contact details of two referees to [email protected]. Referees will not be contacted until final interview stage.
· Applications must be received by 5pm on 12th October 2017. Interviews will take place in shortly thereafter.
GRAPHIC DESIGN EXECUTIVE
Reports to: Content Manager. Close working relationships with Marketing Manager, Communications Manager, Director of Marketing & Communications, Operations Manager and other commercial functions.
Direct reports: N/A
Nature and scope: To assist the Marketing and Communications department with the creation of engaging and on brand visual assets for use both digitally and in print
Location: Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
Renumeration: Competitive
REMIT
To create best in class design assets to support the Club’s full suite of marketing and communications activities, as well as ensuring Franklin’s Gardens has a look and feel to support a compelling match day experience.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES
· Creation of print assets for fixtures, events and commercial activity
· Creation of visual assets for online marketing
· Creation of stadium branding and signage
· Modification/creation of design templates
· To enhance an already strong brand, embracing modern style while maintaining elements of Northampton Saints’ tradition
PERSON SPECIFICATIONS
In short, this role would suit a recent graphic design graduate or candidate looking to make an impact at one of professional rugby’s most prestigious clubs.
Specifically, we are looking for the following attributes:
· Advanced knowledge of Adobe CC a must (Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator)
· Creative, forward thinking, pro-active
· Ability to work to deadlines and prioritise key projects
· Ability to work to a brief, with a degree of creative license
· Ability to tailor designs to best suit different platforms (eg. print, online, social)
· Appreciation of social media and graphic design trends
· Strong portfolio of previous work for both print and digital projects
· Strong academic track record
· Video editing capability a significant advantage
· Knowledge and passion for rugby/sport preferred but not essential
APPLICATION PROCESS & TIMINGS
· Northampton Saints is an equal opportunities employer and would welcome applications from a fully diverse range of candidates, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.
· Please email a CV, covering letter (including details of current remuneration), two examples of work and the names and contact details of two referees to [email protected]. Referees will not be contacted until final interview stage.
· Applications must be received by 5pm on 5th October 2017. Interviews will take place shortly thereafter.
