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Take a Virtual TourWith 19 Open Youth Zones, supporting 66,000 young people, OnSide is moving into a period of steady growth towards our long-term goal of 35 Youth Zones by 2035, at the rate of two new developments going ‘live’ each year. This role will take sole responsibility for communications activity across live and established projects including those currently in development.
We are looking for an experienced, hands-on communications all-rounder with a breadth of skills to lead all regional and local communications activities in the areas where we are developing new Youth Zones. This role will take sole responsibility for communications activity across live and established projects including Thurrock, Wakefield, Burnley and Wrexham.
This is a key role within the OnSide communications team that will see you create understanding and awareness between OnSide and the key local and regional audiences that matter to us as.
This role will involve managing a portfolio of end-to-end integrated communications and PR programmes across multiple Youth Zones at various stages of development. You will work closely with OnSide teams, each Youth Zone’s relationship managers and fundraisers, as well as its CEO, and Trustee Board, and Young People’s Development Group, acting as their trusted communications advisor. You will also collaborate with local stakeholders including Local Authority communications leads and supporters, to help establish the new Youth Zones as independent charities within our vibrant Network to key local audiences.
The breadth of this role means no two days are the same, which is why we are seeking somebody organised, dynamic and self-motivated with exceptional project management and stakeholder management skills.
It is important to note that this role lays the foundations for each new Youth Zones’ ongoing communications approach. For each project you will be required to effectively and smoothly handover to the Youth Zones full time communication resource once in place while continuing to provide light touch ongoing support – so some experience mentoring or coaching and supporting others is beneficial.
We will be looking for someone that can demonstrate a broad range of communications skills from brand development to working with local media to place newsworthy, positive stories around the Youth Zone development, to supporting the development of new Youth Zone websites and the launch of social media channels.
If you are as confident pitching a story to media as you are managing a branding project or overseeing an event, then this could be the role for you.
A key new element of the role is to lead the OnSide Network Communications Forum, developing a new community-led approach to communications that enables a regular and effective flow of information, content and best practice to Communications Leads across the Network via established and new channels. You will play a key role in amplifying national communications priorities across the Network, making it easy and accessible for Youth Zones to engage with and deliver campaigns locally. Working closely with the Director of Communications and wider team, you will also support training and skills development to build confidence and capability – playing a central role in delivering our ambition for excellent, communications across all Youth Zone
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