Remote working, UK
Communications specialist
at Architype
Architype is hiring a communications specialist to join its team in remotely/ in the West of England or South Wales.
The communications specialist role is a fantastic opportunity to join our team, contribute your ideas to the UK’s most sustainable design practice, and gain experience in a practice that cares about you and our impact on the planet.
About Architype
We are an award-winning architectural practice collaborating from home hubs across the UK and three studios in Hereford, London and Edinburgh.
We have steadily grown over the last 37 years and are now a team of 90, with a rich history of pioneering low carbon design and a clear focus on creating beautiful buildings that work for people and the planet. We design homes, schools, visitor centres, universities, archives and a wide range of public buildings. Our consultancy service PERFORM+ allows us to share our insight and expertise with clients and we have won the AJ100 sustainable practice of the year award three times. We employ architects, engineers, certified Passivhaus designers, researchers and makers and are currently recruiting for a communications specialist role within our communications team to cover activity in the west of the UK, including Wales, the South West, Midlands, Bristol and Bath, and our studio in Hereford.
The communications team works closely with the senior management team and is responsible for marketing, PR and bid activity, including social media channels, video, website, events and identifying and securing opportunities for new and exciting projects. Working in a team of four, you will be an experienced and effective communicator and organiser, comfortable working with directors and clients, and excellent with sometimes fast turnaround writing and bid projects.
We operate under an Employee Ownership model. Employees currently own 30% of Architype, with a commitment to be 100% employee owned in the future. Working culture at Architype is creative and caring. We work in a collaborative and supportive way that encourages fresh ideas and career progression, and we support flexible working for all. Our Hereford studio is based in an idyllic countryside location, and is an award-winning sustainable building that was once a barn. There are regular social events, with an outdoor pizza oven and allotment, and chats over cups of tea. This role is flexible, with opportunities for home working as well as opportunities to work in our Hereford studio, and occasional travel to our other studios. We have been shortlisted for AJ100 Employer of the Year four times and won the Building Magazine Employer of the Year.
Application process
Architype is an Equal Opportunities employer. We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and staff engagement forums, to support staff from different backgrounds. Please can you complete our equality and diversity monitoring form by clicking here.
To apply: Please send a covering letter and your cv outlining why you are suitable for the role and how you meet the job specification. This post will be offered as a permanent contract, subject to a probationary period.
The closing date for applications is 10am on Monday 28 February. Potentially, brief VC interviews will be held from w/c 28 February. Final shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview at our Hereford studio on Wednesday 9 March and a writing test will be arranged. Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications we are sorry we cannot respond to all applications, so if you do not hear from us after the interview date please assume that you have been unsuccessful. Please review our privacy notice on our website before applying.
Job description
Winning new work:
- you will understand the process of tendering for new work and be able to support the whole team in bidding for new work as necessary. This can mean tracking and researching opportunities across the UK, co-ordinating bids, writing bid content and assembling bid and tender documents in Adobe suite. Training in InDesign/Adobe can be provided, but excellent writing skills are essential
- you will work closely with the communications and Hereford management team to promote business development for the Hereford and wider team. This will include: supporting client and lead development using a CRM system; tracking and providing information on networking and insight events of interest to encourage attendance or securing speaker slots; attending events on your own if required; and support for presentations
- you will manage our own events and help identify new opportunities to contact clients and potential clients through event attendance and speaker opportunities
- you will be able to provide support and guidance to the team for new work interviews and presentations and be able to develop effective PowerPoints
- you will be a confident proofreader and be able to review and critique bids and other materials
- you will attend regular cross-studio meetings with the communication team
Communications, marketing and PR activities:
- you will be responsible for creating written and visual communication content for projects and practice promotions – including digital and print content
- development of media and social media communication strategies and collateral, including press releases, case studies, social media or promotional material
- responding to media enquiries and developing pro-active media strategies
- co-ordinating photography/film of key projects and assembling award entries
- supporting the management of our visual assets through Open Asset
- using Trello to track and manage your own workload and projects
- general communications and new business activity as required by the team
Job specification:
- graduate or equivalent level qualification (desirable)
- two to three years’ experience in a communications/marketing environment (essential)
- experience in architecture/design/built environment sector (desirable)
- an understanding of how to win work in the Welsh and west of England markets (desirable)
- excellent communication skills. Able to adapt appropriate tone of voice in verbal and written language to suit different audiences (essential)
- excellent writing skills (essential)
- excellent organisational and project management skills. Able to regularly update management team and colleagues on progress against key activities and plan work to complete tasks to agreed deadlines (essential)
- excellent team member. Able to support the rest of the communication and architectural teams in achieving key goals, sharing information regularly and supporting fellow team members (essential)
- computer literacy (essential in MS Word/email – desirable in Adobe and other systems)
- an interest in design and sustainability (essential)
- enjoy working in a busy team environment – able to juggle differing priorities and workloads to meet key deadlines (essential)
Benefits:
- salary £25,000 – £35,000 depending on experience
- 33 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays)
- 37.5 hour week – flexible working possible
- pension benefits of 3% employer contribution and access to a company health scheme
- opportunity to join an employee owned practice and one committed to employee training and development
- opportunity to work with a team who care about people and the planet