Communications and Social Media Manager at National Paralympic Heritage Trust

Job Title: Communications and Social Media Manager
Term: Two year contract, May 2021 to end of April 2023
Location: National Paralympic Heritage Trust, Aylesbury
Closing date: 5:00 pm 17 March 2021

By 2023 we want to significantly build loyal live and virtual audiences with the work of the National Paralympic Heritage Trust being widely recognised to be at the forefront of a digital approach to audience development in the heritage sector.

We are looking to appoint a dynamic communications and social media consultant to help us on this exciting journey, who shares our inclusive values and with energy for positive change.

Background

The National Paralympic Heritage Trust was formed in 2015 to gather, protect and share the unique, and inspirational heritage of the British Paralympic Movement, the remarkable story of driven individuals and human endeavour that changed the World for disabled people, their friends and families, and the wider public.

Our purpose is to celebrate, cherish and bring the heritage to life, in a compelling and evocative way, securing a legacy, feeding a growing public interest since London 2012, changing attitudes and instilling national pride.

Although our remit is ‘National’ there is considerable international interest in our work as we hold all the early collections of the Paralympics being the birthplace of this inspirational movement.

The NPHT is a registered Charity 1165416.

The Trust received a 5-year National Lottery Heritage Fund grant in April 2017 to create:

  • An accredited collection and archive is our priority.
  • A permanent heritage centre at Stoke Mandeville Stadium (recognised worldwide as the birthplace of the Paralympic movement and opened in April 2019
  • A virtual museum (website)
  • Modular regional exhibitions
  • Engagement and outreach programmes

We are now approaching the end of our 4th year in this programme of work with an additional year of activity taking us through to January 2023, we need to take stock, look at our achievement to date, review our audience development plans, and implement a revised approach that will ensure we deliver our funders outcomes including future sustainability and commercial support going forward.

The founding partners are the British Paralympic Association, WheelPower – British Wheelchair Sport and Buckinghamshire Council. Our key funders are the National Lottery Heritage Fund, HS2 and the Rothschild Foundation Impact Grants.

Our wider partners are numerous but central to delivery of our outcomes are Bath University and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park London (QEOP). Looking to the future the QEOP is where we would like to develop further permanent displays (2023-27) celebrating the UK’s unique Paralympic Heritage and in particular sharing the exciting collections from the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The Audiences:

The audiences we are aiming at, in order of priority are:

  • Disabled people, their families and friends
  • Disabled associations and trusts and their members
  • Disability sports organisations
  • Specialist spinal injury hospital centres
  • Sporting heritage interest groups
  • Further Education (with a focus on universities offering sports degrees and research)
  • Schools (special, primary and secondary)
  • The general public

Purpose of the Contract – Objectives, information needs, methodology, outputs and timescales

We are seeking a person with communications and social media expertise to help us build our audiences physically and virtually over the next two years.

In order to delivery this work you have the following skills:

  • Strategic planning in communications and marketing
  • The ability to meet the access needs of our audience
  • The ability to create, plan and implement exciting social media campaigns
  • Writing and distribution of press releases for exhibitions and events
  • Production of marketing literature

The work will be supported by the NPHT team including the Website Digital Content Manager.

Objectives Information needs Methodology Outputs and dates
Review and development of the marketing plan
  • Reviewed marketing plan
  • Desk research
  • Discussion with team
  • Revised development of the plan 2021-23 by the end of May 2021
  • Annual report
Utilisation and development of the Social Media toolkit
  • Threepipe review
  • Threepipe toolkit
  • Desk research
  • Liaison/working with Threepipe
  • Social media and Comms planning July 2021 to end January 2023
  • Monthly KPI and social media narrative reports
  • Annual report
Support of fundraising and corporate campaigns
  • Fundraising and corporate campaigns
  • Planning meetings and liaison
  • Ongoing ideas and support
Input into a revised general strategy and sustainability planning
  • Feedback of relevant findings and needs including KPI’s
  • Documentation sharing
  • Meetings
  • Support of audience development planning

Threepipe is an external digital agency.

Reporting Requirements

You will be part of the overall NPHT team, liaising with other consultants especially the Digital Content Manager (Website). You will report to the CEO, providing monthly updates.

Timescales

May 2021 to end of April 2023

Budget

Up to £15k inclusive of VAT over two years – equates to at least a day a week. Some expenses will be payable in addition. Please apply a charity discount when quoting.

Submission of Proposals

The deadline for submission 5pm Wednesday 17 March 2021

Respondents are asked to outline:

  • Their relevant skills and experience including case studies of similar work carried out for other companies/charities.
  • Proof of professional indemnity insurance.
  • The details of two references.
  • A quote for fees.

Proposals and enquiries should be emailed to the Administrator at the email address: [email protected]

Enquiries and informal conversations with the CEO at the email address [email protected]

Successful respondents will be invited to an interview on Thursday 25 March 2021.

Supporting documents

Supporting documents that can be made available:

  • Audience Development Plan and research documents
  • Draft Strategy 2022-27
  • Digital Strategy
  • Communications Calendar and KPI reports