View Vacancy -- Science Communications Officer (External) LMS 2430

The LMS is a world-class research laboratory where scientists and clinicians collaborate to advance the understanding of biology and its application to medicine. Funded by the MRC as part of UK Research and Innovation, the LMS has a collaborative working culture and new state-of-the-art building based in the heart of West London in the Hammersmith Hospital Campus (W12).

The LMS aims to deliver transdisciplinary team science, in synergistic interaction with Imperial College and the wider national research environment.

Grants, Engagement and Communications (GECo) facility:

As our new Science Communications Officer you’ll be based in the GECo team at the LMS. GECo provides communications support across the LMS for both external communications and internal communications. We create and disseminate news around our scientific research, sharing it via our website and Imperial’s website, manage a raft of social media channels and engage in large-scale public engagement projects. In addition we ensure that communications flow transparently and efficiently inside the LMS through staff newsletters, frequent events, both scientific and social and run the intranet and digital screens including a large video wall.

The LMS is a world-leading facility, and GECo’s role is make its science meaningful for more people, reach wider audiences, and build our brand.

Science Communications Officer:

The Science Communications Officer is central to the GECo team. They’ll champion scientific writing and content creation and engagement, by taking research findings to communicate exciting discoveries to broad audiences, via news outlets, social media, Institute’s website, and public engagement.

The LMS is world-leading, and the Science Communications Officer will tell the world about the amazing research done at the Institute. They will help make science meaningful for wider audiences, whilst simultaneously building the LMS brand. Big ideas and creativity, for the greater good of science and research, will be crucial for this role.

Team structure:

1 FTE x Head of Comms

1.4 FTE x Comms Manager

2 FTE x Science Communication Officers

Overall purpose of the role:

The Officer meets tight deadlines to create and deliver thought provoking news articles and press releases about LMS research and internal activities.

The officer role involves writing news articles, running social media accounts, arranging events, attending festivals, pop-ups, schools outreach events, and other creative engagement opportunities. They’ll support the Institute’s focus on widening participation in research and developing a diverse pool of outstanding scientists, working with them to engage publics with their research.

Stakeholders include, senior scientists, post-doctoral staff, facilities and operational staff and PhD students. Other important external stakeholders include Imperial College London, UKRI and MRC as well as many charitable and education partners. Occasionally the Science Communications Officer will liaise with journalists.

Main duties:

1. Science Communications:

• Create content and copy for science communications, including public engagement, both online and live
• Manage science publications via news outlets, social media and directly with journalists
• Use channels to raise awareness of LMS science research with key audiences
• Maintain internal communications, newsletters, articles, update the intranet and website
• Promote LMS activities, events and achievements internally and externally

2. Digital Communications:

• Create content and manage internal digital screens and the foyer digital wall
• Help develop and maintain the staff intranet leading on content audit and re-design
• Design engaging graphics and imagery for use on digital and print media
•  Update and maintain the LMS website

3. Research Environment:

• Stay aware of areas of research, provide necessary outcomes to support a multidisciplinary and translational approach to science
• Promote and raise awareness of LMS science research
• Support LMS develop and sustain effective engagement across multiple committees, attend meetings, take minutes and action points, and manage the Committee Teams Channel
• Provide writing support for the Institute’s marketing materials

4. Project management:

• Provide effective project management support for external and internal projects
• Develop guidance documents and templates, assign tasks and deadlines, audience targeting, format development, speaker recruitment, and brand awareness for the LMS, event management, collection of feedback and evaluation, and learning tasks

5. Stakeholder relationships:

• Support GECo to develop and maintain relations with the MRC, UKRI and Imperial College communications teams and influential journalists
• Support public engagement events with creative and administrative input

6. Science outreach:

• Provide creative input for public engagement and educational community outreach projects

Education / Qualifications / Training required (will be assessed from application form):

Essential:

• Educated to a BSc degree level (or equivalent experience), in a science related subject

Desirable:

• A post-graduate degree in a relevant subject or Science Communication

Knowledge and experience (will be assessed from application form and at interview):

Essential:

• Experience in website and social media management
• Experience of delivering tasks to a high standard within timelines and budget
• Experience of supporting the delivery of effective internal and external events, including science outreach activities
• Experience of using digital tools for project management
• Good written communication skills in English

Desirable:

• Experience of Wordpress and Sharepoint to support internal and external communications
• Experience of working in a science research environment

Skills and abilities (will be assessed from application form and at interview):

Essential:

• Skilled in social media management and content creation
• Skilled in all aspects of MS Office Software
• Skilled in Web Editing and design
• Skilled in Excel
• Skilled in formatting and proofreading

Desirable:

• Competence in Adobe Photoshop, Canva and InDesign
• Skilled in software packages, such as Adobe Creative Suite software, to prepare and produce documents, reports, and grant applications

Personal / Behaviours / Qualities (will be assessed at the interview):

Essential:

• To work as part of a team and independently
• To prioritise workload, manage multiple projects and meet agreed deadlines
• To work and deliver when under pressure
• To form collaborative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Good verbal communication skills in English

Please upload your CV (including details of two references) along with a covering letter stating how your experience is suited for the job, and why you would like to work for LMS. Please quote reference number LMS 2430.

Applications without a supporting covering letter will not be considered.

Please submit one application for our internal or external post, not both.

Interviews will be held week commencing 15 July 2024.