Job Description

:

Head of Communications, Generative AI Laboratory

UE08 \xc2\xa345,585-\xc2\xa354,395pa (DOE)

School of Informatics

Full-time (35 hours per week)

Fixed term for 3 years from appointment

We are looking for a creative and results-oriented communications professional with a strong track record in public relations to support our ambition to cement the University\'s position as a global leader in the field of Generative AI and help us meet our ambitious business objectives. The role is based within the School of Informatics but will work closely with the Communications and Marketing department to collaborate and influence across the University.

This post is advertised as full-time (35 hours per week), however, we are open to considering part-time or flexible working patterns. We are also open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that combines a mix of remote and regular on-campus working.

The Opportunity:

The University has recently launched a bold initiative to galvanise our research talents, leadership and ambitions in the area of generative AI. The Generative AI Laboratory will push the forefront of research alongside delivering societal and economic impact through working closely with industry and advising policymakers on regulation and governance of AI. Rooted in the School of Informatics but working across the University, this ambitious initiative seeks to build on our world-leading position in generative AI and create a platform for developing strong local and global connections and ultimately to create new internationally significant opportunities supported by our funding partners.

As Head of Communications, Generative AI Laboratory, you will be responsible for the planning, coordination and delivery of a multi-channel public relations strategy, working with an appointed PR agency and the University\'s Communications & Marketing department to ensure our ambitious communication objectives are met.

This is a pro-active role that will require the post holder to develop relationships with numerous colleagues as well as coordinate across departments to identify and pursue content opportunities from the activities taking place within the School and wider University.

Your skills and attributes for success:

You should have substantial experience in the field of communications, public relations, journalism or marketing with demonstrable experience of delivering strategic, results-driven and evidence-based campaigns.

• You will have strong copywriting/content creation experience across multiple channels and for a range of audiences, preferably in a higher education, research or related environment, and a deep understanding of the opportunities provided by digital communications, the web and social media.
• You will have excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to provide advice to a wide range of stakeholders. You will also have experience producing and delivering strategy within a complex organisation, with excellent leadership and influencing skills.
• You will have a high-level of initiative and be a confident self-starter with experience of working in a complex environment to collaborate and influence at all levels of seniority.
• You should have strong awareness and interest in the field of artificial intelligence, including current trends and key publications, and will ideally have experience of the higher education sector and be familiar with the funding and research landscape.

As a valued member of our team you can expect:

An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. We give you support, nurture your talent and reward success. You will benefit from a competitive reward package and a wide range of staff benefits, which includes a generous holiday entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, flexible working and much more. Click to access our (opens new browser tab) for further information and use our reward calculator to find out the total value of pay and benefits provided.

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our (opens new browser tab)

On this occasion the University will not consider applicants requiring sponsorship for this role. International workers will therefore only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is 30th November 2023.

Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm GMT. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.

Interviews will be held 13 December 2023

About Us: As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow\'s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.

About the Team:

Informatics is the study of how natural and artificial systems store, process and communicate information. Research in Informatics promises to take information technology to a new level, and to place information at the heart of 21st century science, technology and society. The School enjoys collaborations across many disciplines in the University, spanning all three College, and also participates as a strategic partner in the Alan Turing Institute and, with Heriot-Watt University, in the Edinburgh Centre for Robotics.

The School provides a fertile environment for a wide range of studies focused on understanding computation in both artificial and natural systems. It attracts students around the world to study in our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, and currently has approximately 1000 undergraduate students, 320 MSc students and 350 PhD students. Informatics is one of seven schools in the College of Science and Engineering, at the University of Edinburgh. It is recognised for the employability of its graduates (demand exceeds supply), its contributions to entrepreneurship, and the excellence of its research. Since the first Research Assessment Exercise in 1986, Informatics at Edinburgh has consistently been assessed to have more internationally excellent and world-class research than any other submission in Computer Science and Informatics. The latest REF 2014 results have again confirmed that ours is the largest concentration of internationally excellent research in the UK. This contributes to our ranking in the top 15 CS departments world-wide according to the latest Times Higher Education ranking.

We aim to ensure that our culture and systems support flexible and family-friendly working and recognise and value diversity across all our staff and students. The School has an active programme offering support and professional development for all staff; providing mentoring, training, and networking opportunities.

University of Edinburgh