Head of Communications

Staff are contracted to work 37.5 hours. However, Live Here Live Here operates a 4-day working week of 30 hours with staff benefitting from a paid “non-working day”. 

Given the seniority of this post, the post-holder will be expected to work additional hours when necessary.

Live Here Love Here seeks to appoint a skilled and enthusiastic Head of Communications to develop and implement the organisation’s communications strategy. The post holder will work towards positive environmental action by managing all communications across the organisation, delivering specific programme communications.     

You will be expected to support other staff as you develop a bold approach to internal and external communications and events to stimulate action, using story-telling to increase engagement in our work. Monitoring of outputs and outcomes will be critical to gauge and improve the effectiveness of our communications and events. 

The post holder will develop relationships with relevant stakeholders including central government, local councils and other partners to cascade communications across Northern Ireland to grow the number of people involved in our work and our programmes. 

As a member of the Senior Management Team, the Head of Communications will work collaboratively with colleagues, encouraging joined-up thinking across the organisation. The Head of Communications will also provide project management oversight to specific areas of work, including the myEARTH digital platform.

The Head of Communications will be responsible for developing and implementing Live Here Love Here’s communications strategy. The role also requires both the management and delivery of specific work programmes on a range of environmental issues. 

Travel to different parts of Northern Ireland will be necessary to support launches, significant photocalls, and major events.

A. Management 

• Contribute actively as a member of the organisation’s Senior Management Team.
• Attend Live Here Love Here Board meetings and provide communications updates.
• Directly manage staff within the sphere of responsibility (currently 4 staff)
• Provide communications support and advice for staff across programme teams.
• Develop and manage organisational relationships with external stakeholders including funders, partners and suppliers.
• Operate suitable processes to secure external media requirements including running tendering processes where required.
• Manage the organisation’s websites and social media channels to support the organisational strategy.
• Manage the organisation’s event delivery.
• Provide oversight for the www.myearth.org platform, through line management of a project manager.
• Support delivery of specific programmes of work as required as well as ongoing management of communications requirements for major programme areas, including but not limited to: community engagement activities, climate awareness training, Eco-Schools, Blue Flag, Seaside and Green Flag Awards and annual litter reports.

B. Business Development 

• Support income generation activities to meet resource requirements for current and new programmes.
• Provide communications input to business development proposals.

C. Communications

• Develop and implement a new communications strategy to support the 2026-2030 organisation strategy.
• Implement and manage newly developed Live Here Love Here brand.
• Manage organisation’s reputation, including risk management.
• Play an active role in developing organisation’s policy and advocacy positions and engagement strategies.
• Lead on organisation media relations- drafting and issuing press releases and spokespeople quotes.
• Deliver Live Here Love Here’s communication outcomes agreed with DAERA, councils and other funding partners.
• Co-operate with government press offices, stakeholders, funders, sponsors etc re joint external communications activities.
• Complete quarterly communications reports for DAERA and the Live Here Love Here Board of Trustees.
• Design and deliver impactful communications campaigns intended to lead to societal behaviour change.
• Secure opportunities/platforms to increase the visibility, thought leadership and storytelling opportunities of the organisation and to expand the audience reach and diversity.
• Lead communications team to deliver integrated communications activity including developing comms plans, content creation, digital activity, media activity and post-campaign evaluation.
• Develop and implement systems to effectively monitor the outputs and outcomes of all communications across multiple channels.
• Support other staff in effective communications through guidance, training etc. as required.
• Competency to deputise for the CEO on occasion and generally represent Live Here Love Here as required.

D. Administration

• Meet all contractual obligations on time and within budget.
• Manage other staff, interns and volunteers as required.
• Respond to and initiate media contact for Live Here Love Here on relevant topics.
• Cover all general office duties.

This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties but sets out the principal responsibilities and expected outcomes of the Head of Communications. We ask applicants not to rely on AI tools when preparing their application, we want to see responses reflecting your own experience and voice, demonstrating your understanding and suitability for the role.
Qualifications, skills and experience
Essential

• A high standard of written and spoken English
• One year’s staff management experience with proven ability to effectively motivate staff.
• Demonstrable experience of developing and maintaining productive external relationships.
• Project management skills showing you can manage workloads to tight deadlines.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills, in a range of settings, with proven ability to produce effective content for different audiences across a range of media.
• Demonstrable understanding of reputation and issues management.
• Experience of developing and implementing a communications strategy in the NGO sector.
• Experience of using a content management system, updating websites, and digital communications.
• Full current driving licence and access to suitable transport to enable the duties and responsibilities of the post to be carried out.

Desirable

• A relevant degree level qualification in one or more of the following subject areas: communications, media, digital media, marketing, public relations or journalism.
• Well-developed ICT skills, especially using the Microsoft Office suite, excel, on-line CMS, MailChimp and Canva.

Knowledge & Understanding
Essential

• Know how for data gathering, interrogation and presentation in a range of formats alongside an understanding of the need to constantly learn from data to influence future delivery.
• An understanding of how local and central government operates.
• General understanding of GDPR, HR processes and management reporting.

Desirable

• Knowledge of environmental matters.
• Understanding of the communications approaches used and available to the eNGO sector.
• An understanding of how to effect pro-environmental behavioural change, for example using nudge theory.

Personal Qualities
Essential

• A high level of integrity, discretion, and common sense alongside energy and drive to meet and exceed expectations.
• A natural enthusiastic communicator/storyteller who can create clear, compelling narratives.
• Has creative ideas.
• Pays attention to detail.
• Is a constructive team player who is also self-motivated and can work independently.

The person appointed will work from our office in Belfast a minimum of 2 days per week and may work from home the rest of the week. You will also be expected to travel to schools, sites, events, photocalls, meetings etc as required.  
IT support and hardware is provided for all staff to enable them to be efficient and effective in their work.

• Transport: The post-holder must have access to a form of transport to allow them to effectively fulfil the travelling duties of the post.
• Vetting: The post-holder may at times be in contact with children and vulnerable adults. Finalisation of the contract of employment is dependent upon the successful outcome of Access NI checks.
• Flexibility: Normal days of work will be Monday to Friday, and the non-working day will be a nominated day. Flexibility will be reciprocal to accommodate occasional weekend or evening commitments.

This position is funded through the DAERA Environment Fund. 

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
 Live Here Love Here is a community focussed organisation with a commitment to reducing its impact on the planet. A key approach in achieving this is through Carbon Literacy training for all employees.  This programme, delivered in partnership with the Carbon Literacy Project, raises awareness about the climate change challenge that we all face as well as the commitments we can make to behaviour change that will help reduce emissions. 
 New employees will be expected to attend Carbon Literacy training as part of their induction process and contribute to an ongoing dialogue within the organisation about how we can reduce our carbon impact and improve levels of sustainability. 
AUTHORITY
All staff are expected to comply:

• Procurement: Commission work only in line with company procedures and obtain best value at all times.
• Only commission marketing channels (especially print) in line with those agreed by CEO.
• Media & PR: Refer significant (e.g. Ministerial, reputational) media interest or potential news stories to the CEO.
• Compliance: Operate within the organisation’s policies and procedures at all times.

Live Here Love Here is an independent charity established in 2000. Through education, engagement and empowerment, we seek to inspire change by connecting people to nature. Activities include:
Community Engagement is a positive, people-powered campaign that encourages volunteers to appreciate and care for their local areas through regular clean-ups, biodiversity and community gardening projects. Some of the key Community Engagement programmes are Adopt A Spot, The BIG Spring Clean and Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds.
Environmental Education that focuses on educating children, young people, communities and businesses on environmental issues and inspiring climate action. This includes Eco-Schools and the 30 Under 30 Northern Ireland Climate Change Makers programmes.
Local Environmental Quality work that recognises and rewards well managed green and blue spaces across Northern Ireland, particularly through the Green Flag for Parks and Outdoor Spaces, Blue Flag for Beaches and Marinas, and Seaside Awards.