1 BELFAST visitbelfast.com +44 (0)28 9023 9026 Visit Belfast Recruitment Communications and PR Manager (Maternity Post Fixed Term Contract)
2 BELFAST visitbelfast.com +44 (0)28 9023 9026 Contents Introduction 3 Visit Belfast Background & Structure 4 Job Description 7
3 BELFAST visitbelfast.com +44 (0)28 9023 9026 19 th December 2017 Communications and PR Manager Maternity Post (Fixed Term Contract) Salary: 26,177 32,194 Visit Belfast is recruiting a full time, temporary Communications and PR Manager (maternity post) for a fixed term contract for an initial period of 6 months, up to a maximum of one year, starting in January 2018. Reporting to the Director of Marketing and Communications, you will be responsible for the development, implementation, management and evaluation of the PR and communications strategy and operational plans for Visit Belfast. Please visit the Visit Belfast website for more details about this role and our organisation and to download an application and equal opportunities monitoring form: www.visitbelfast.com/corporate/careers Notes to Applicants: Completed and signed application forms must be completed in either typed or black ink (soft copies of application forms, i.e. faxed or emailed, will not be accepted). Please complete and return your equal opportunities monitoring form with your application in a sealed envelope. Attach additional pages only if you require more space. Please do not alter the formatting of the application form. CVs and cover letters will not be accepted. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted. Please note that the Visit Belfast office will be closed on Monday 25 th and Tuesday 26 th December 2017 and on Monday 1 st January 2018. Applications should be returned by 12 noon, on Monday 8th January 2018 to: Human Resources Visit Belfast 9 Donegall Square North Belfast, BT1 5GB Visit Belfast is an equal opportunity employer. Yours sincerely, Gerry Lennon Chief Executive Visit Belfast 9 Donegall Square North Belfast BT1 5GB Northern Ireland T: +44 (0)28 9023 9026 F: +44 (0)28 9024 9026 E: reception@visitbelfast.com visitbelfast.com Leisure Tourism Business Tourism Visitor Information Visitor Information T: +44 (0)28 9024 6609 F: +44 (0)28 9031 2424 E: info@visitbelfast.com Visit Belfast is a trading name of Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau Limited (NI 034953). Registered Office: 9 Donegall Square North, Belfast BT1 5GB
4 BELFAST visitbelfast.com +44 (0)28 9023 9026 Visit Belfast Background & Structure
5 BELFAST visitbelfast.com +44 (0)28 9023 9026 Bringing the World to Belfast Founded in 1999, Visit Belfast (VB) is a public / private sector partnership funded and supported by Belfast City Council (BCC), Tourism Northern Ireland (TNI), Invest Northern Ireland (INI), Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC), Ards and North Down Borough Council (AND) and strategic partners, Translink, Belfast One, Diageo, Victoria Square and Value Cabs, and over 500 industry partners. Visit Belfast is the city region s Destination Marketing Management Organisation (DMMO) dedicated to marketing Belfast as a city break, conference, day trip and cruise ship destination. It also, in its visitor servicing role, manages the operation of three gateway Visitor Information Centres (VICs) and a range of visitor servicing initiatives. Visit Belfast represents over 500 tourism businesses and services across the tourism industry representing all aspects of the visitor experience. Visit Belfast s core purpose is to create and service visitors for Belfast and Northern Ireland in order to generate an economic benefit for the city region, creating jobs and wealth. Marketing and sales activity has delivered nearly 300m to the local economy over the last four years. Our relationships and engagement with our tourism partners is key to the ongoing success of Visit Belfast and central to delivering our tourism, marketing and sales plans for the Belfast City Region. More information about Visit Belfast can be viewed here www.visitbelfast.com/corporate/about-us Location Visit Belfast s head office and the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre (VBWC) are located at 9, Donegall Square North, Belfast, BT1 5GB. Visit Belfast also operates Visitor Information Centres (VICs) at George Best Belfast City Airport (GBBCA) and Belfast International Airport (BIA) and pop up information desks off-site i.e. on cruise ships or during events. Travel both inside and outside the UK may form part of your job.
6 BELFAST visitbelfast.com +44 (0)28 9023 9026 Visit Belfast Organisational Structure
7 BELFAST visitbelfast.com +44 (0)28 9023 9026 Belfast Quarters Job Description / Personnel Specification Communications and PR Manager (Maternity post fixed term contract)
8 BELFAST visitbelfast.com +44 (0)28 9023 9026 VISIT BELFAST JOB DESCRIPTION POSITION: DEPARTMENT: REPORTING TO: Communications and PR Manager Maternity Post (Fixed Term contract) For an initial period of 6 months, up to a maximum of one year Marketing and Communications Department Director of Marketing and Communications SALARY RANGE: 26,177-32,194 PURPOSE: Reporting to the Director of Marketing and Communications, you will be responsible for the development, implementation, management and evaluation of the PR and communications strategy and operational plans for Visit Belfast (VB), leading to the achievement of set targets and Key Performance Indictors, promoting Belfast as a top European tourism destination for business, leisure and cruise in line with Visit Belfast s Strategy 2015-2018 and annual Marketing and Visitor Servicing Plans and organisation wide objectives. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Responsible for the coordination and delivery of excellent, relevant and professional information, publicity services and local and national media management services. 2. Responsible for the coordination of a full range of PR activities and external PR and communications services for Visit Belfast and partner and sponsor organisations as appropriate. 3. To provide centralised communications and PR support to the Marketing and Communications (MarComms) team, the Business Tourism team and the Visitor Servicing management team as appropriate. 4. To coordinate and deliver appropriate evaluation, research and monitoring of all Visit Belfast PR and all related communications activity. 5. To implement the Belfast brand essence and values within all tourism communications and promotions across all media and channels. 6. To assist the Director of Marketing and Communications in the management of strategic relationships relating to sponsorship, funding and commercial activity to co-ordinate evaluation reports of progress against service level contracts and agreements. 7. Develop, implement and evaluate integrated public relations campaigns aimed at improving awareness of Belfast as a city break, day trip, cruise and business destination across key markets and channels. 8. Develop existing CRM and digital investments and assets. 9. Develop and manage media relations with local, national and international journalists and travel writers, ensuring that they are regularly updated with information and images about Belfast and the wider region s new and developing products and themes.
9 BELFAST visitbelfast.com +44 (0)28 9023 9026 10. Deliver support PR activities in respect of campaign advertising and related promotional activities in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, GB and Europe as required, ensuring leisure and business tourism objectives are achieved in line with Visit Belfast s business plan. 11. Work closely with the Marketing and Campaigns Manager, Web and Digital Manager and their respective teams in the development of appropriate content and copy for offline and online marketing channels. 12. To work, as required, with Belfast City Council s Tourism Culture and Arts, Events Departments, Corporate Communications Department and other departments on an ongoing basis, developing and implementing communications plans as appropriate for pre-agreed identified projects which have a wider tourism and marketing remit. 13. Develop and maintain effective working relationships and work in close collaboration with Visit Belfast s Strategic Partners, Corporate Partners and other Partners including Belfast City Council (BCC), Tourism NI (TNI), Tourism Ireland (TI), Regional Tourism Partners (RTPs) and other public or private sector partners to achieve integration of Belfast destination, marketing and communications plans. 14. Assisting the Director of Marketing and Communications in the management of contracts with the external PR agency, including administration, briefing and delivery of PR campaigns and communications activities within set budgets and timescales. 15. Developing and generating promotional and experiential packages from Visit Belfast s partners and for publicity and other promotional platforms which include competitions, sales promotions, web-based and digital promotions. 16. To represent Visit Belfast at events and meetings and to develop and deliver industry and organisation presentations and updates as required. 17. Reporting to the Director of Marketing and Communications in the full management of the communications budget. 18. Contribute to the development, implementation and management of Visit Belfast s digital platforms and marketing plans. 19. To communicate effectively with other Visit Belfast Departments to ensure integrated activity across the organisation. 20. To undertake other duties as required by the Director of Marketing and Communications and Visit Belfast s senior management team. 21. Management and delivery of all press related releases and material, corporate presentations and speech writing on a continuous basis and in line with agreed activities, outputs and outcomes. 22. Coordinate PR activity schedules and action plans in consultation with Visit Belfast s Director of Marketing and Communications and senior management team, ensuring timely and continuous flow of published and broadcast positive coverage supporting the aims and objectives of the marketing and business plans. 23. Manage the planning, co-ordination and evaluation of press visits, both group and individual, to Belfast in a cost effective manner ensuring follow up communication and measurement of outputs.
10 BELFAST visitbelfast.com +44 (0)28 9023 9026 24. Working with the Director of Marketing and Communications to assist in the development and production of media and corporate stakeholder plans and the communication, PR and content aspects of stakeholder engagement events and activities. 25. Review and evaluate media and PR campaigns on an ongoing basis for effectiveness, efficiency and value for money. 26. Ensure comprehensive Belfast and Northern Ireland product and campaign knowledge is fully developed and maintained keeping abreast of all new products, initiatives, events and festivals. 27. To ensure 24/7 availability of a Visit Belfast representative for media related enquiries and contact working with the Director of Marketing and Communications and nominated PR agency. 28. Assisting the Director of Marketing and Communications in the development and maintenance of the crisis communications plan and ensuring that it is appropriately and continuously updated. 29. Maintaining and updating centralised and departmental activity and evaluation schedules to demonstrate progress against KPIs and set objectives for campaigns and publications. Completing regular monitoring reports and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for BCC, TNI, and RTPs. MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION: OTHER: 1. To assist with the recruitment, management and development of staff within your team and undertake appraisals and identify training needs as required. 2. To participate fully and contribute effectively in the marketing and communications management team of Visit Belfast and contributing as required to other teams and areas of work. 3. Reporting to the Director of Marketing and Communications, prepare, monitor and control the budgets of the key result areas relating to communications within the marketing and communications department. 4. Assist in the preparation of reports and submissions for the Board, its committees and the Chief Executive. 1. To undertake work out of normal office hours as required. 2. To carry out all duties with full regard to Visit Belfast s equal opportunities and fair employment policies. 3. Travel on behalf of Visit Belfast is an essential part of the job. 4. Clean driving license and access to a car for work purposes is desirable. 5. To undertake any other duties as required by Visit Belfast.
11 BELFAST visitbelfast.com +44 (0)28 9023 9026 Essential Criteria Desirable Criteria Qualifications Degree level qualification, or equivalent. Post graduate diploma in a relevant discipline such as marketing, communications or public relations. Relevant Experience Special Aptitudes Circumstances Minimum three years communications / PR and campaigns management experience that has led to successful outcomes. Experience of strategic communications and marketing planning and implementation. Demonstrated ability and track record of meeting set targets and KPIs. Extensive press and media management experience to deliver effective consumer and corporate PR (print and digital). Proven media relationship management experience. Experience of delivering presentations at a senior and Board level. Experience of producing press releases, speech writing and other communications copy. Experience of budgetary control and financial planning. Experience of managing resources staff and financial. Experience of evaluating media and PR campaigns. Excellent communications and PR management skills with a proven track record of achieving positive PR outputs. Creative thinking and ability to implement innovative strategies. Results orientated individual. Excellent interpersonal skills. Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with local, national and international media contacts. Ability to build and support internal and external communications relationships. Excellent planning and organisational skills. Excellent leadership skills. Excellent written and oral communication skills including, report writing, presentation and sales skills. Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure. Self-starter, energy, drive, enthusiasm and team player. Available to work outside normal hours as required. Available to attend industry events and attend client meetings and social events which may be out of hours. This role may require some travel throughout Northern Ireland, UK and Europe. Five years communications and PR management experience. Knowledge of Belfast as a tourism destination. Previous experience of managing marketing and PR agencies. Demonstrated ability to manage reputation and brand. Experience of web content management systems and digital e-communications. Full license and access to own transport is desirable.
12 BELFAST visitbelfast.com +44 (0)28 9023 9026 Please direct queries to: Lorna Cowan Office Manager (PA to CEO) lornacowan@visitbelfast.com