Senior Communications Officer (0.4FTE/FTC until June 2026)

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Glasgow Caledonian – the largest and leading modern university in Scotland – is a vibrant, values-led university with campuses in the heart of Glasgow and London. With a strong commitment to high quality education and research which supports the communities we serve, we have strong partnerships with employers to ensure our students get the careers they dream of and deserve.

Named UK Modern University of the Year in the latest Daily Mail University Guide, we have entered into the top 50 universities in the UK in the highly regarded Times and Sunday Times University Guide, and the Guardian's latest guide. We are the top performing modern University in Scotland in all three guides. We are the only Scottish university with EcoCampus Platinum accreditation and were ranked first in Scotland for sustainability in the most recent People and Planet league table (2024).

With a wide range of professionally accredited courses and links with over 300 industry partners, we have the highest proportion of employed graduates in highly skilled occupations (82%) compared to other Scottish modern universities - with 91% of our students in employment and/or further study within 15 months of graduating (HESA 2024). We are Scotland’s leading provider of Graduate Apprenticeships. We are committed to widening participation, helping more people from diverse backgrounds into university. Our modern campuses support nearly 23,000 students from 119 countries.

Our research is addressing many of today’s biggest global challenges. We are unsurpassed by any other Scottish modern university for the level of research (72%) considered to be world leading or internationally excellent, and our health research is surpassed only by King’s College London for outstanding impact (REF2021).

Guided by our values – integrity, responsibility, creativity and confidence – we transform the lives of the people and communities we serve.

Our Corporate Communications team plays a vital strategic role in supporting Glasgow Caledonian University’s mission by protecting and enhancing its reputation and engaging key audiences through clear, consistent, and impactful messaging. We focus on building trust, fostering community and supporting student recruitment by reaching out to audiences that include prospective students and their families, the media, university staff, policymakers, donors and other key stakeholders.

Our core functions span media relations, internal communications, crisis response, executive communications and staff training, all delivered in close collaboration with social media channels. We are the voice of the University in the public space and a trusted internal partner for leadership and teams across GCU.

Key outputs include the staff intranet and newsletter, official all-staff emails, media stories, and video content. We also contribute significantly to the University’s corporate social media presence.

The team is seeking an experienced and creative Senior Communications Officer (0.4 FTE, fixed term). This is a part-time, temporary opportunity to help maintain consistent communications capacity in the School of Health and Life Sciences during a 10-month period, backfilling a working pattern adjustment.

We are looking for a strategic communicator who is passionate about storytelling, media engagement and making a meaningful impact in higher education and society. You will play a key role in developing and delivering communications that promote the University mission, research, partnerships and academic experience, with a focus on the School of Health and Life Sciences.

Working closely with senior leaders, academic experts and professional services colleagues, you will help shape compelling narratives that strengthen the University’s reputation locally and globally. The role includes proactive media relations, reputational risk management, content creation and advising stakeholders on communications best practice.

You’ll bring excellent writing, planning, and stakeholder engagement skills, along with sound judgement and a confident understanding of the digital and media landscape. Able to operate with autonomy and pace, you’ll contribute to delivering high-impact communications aligned to the University’s strategy and values.

This opportunity is ideal for a communications professional seeking flexible, meaningful work that supports the University for the Common Good.

As the University for the Common Good, we are committed to embedding equality, diversity and inclusion, as well as our values in everything that we do.  As such, we welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates who demonstrate the GCU Values.

Glasgow Caledonian University is committed to a fair and transparent recruitment process that is free from bias so that we can attract and retain a high performing workforce which makes a critical contribution to our success​.

The University holds the prestigious Athena SWAN Silver institution award, which recognises our significant record of activity and achievement in promoting gender equality across different disciplines.

As a Disability Confident 'Committed' employer, we are striving to ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to disabled people. Although the Disability Confident 'Committed' level does not guarantee an interview for disabled applicants, we will make reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants during the recruitment process.

The University also holds the ‘Carer Positive Established’ employer award, which recognises our commitment to supporting staff with caring responsibilities.

Glasgow Caledonian University are committed signatories to the Armed Forces Covenant. 

The University offers a range of benefits including opportunities for professional development, family friendly policies, cycle to work scheme and onsite childcare facilities.

Please note that the appointment will be made on the first point of the salary scale (unless by exception).