"Engagement and Communications Manager"

Be part of the world-renowned WorldPop Research Programme at the University of Southampton (UoS), a global top 100 university (QS World Rankings 2021). WorldPop is a global, award winning, multi-sectoral team of researchers, technicians and project specialists working on producing data on population distributions and characteristics at high spatial resolution. Our mission is to improve the spatial evidence base on where people live, how populations change, and how these patterns affect health, development, and humanitarian outcomes. Combining census, survey, satellite, and mobile data with advanced geospatial and statistical modelling, WorldPop supports governments, UN agencies, and NGOs with accurate, timely data for policy and planning. Our work underpins efforts in public health, disaster response, migration, and sustainable development by delivering detailed insights into human populations at local to global scales.

We are seeking to recruit an Engagement and Communications Manager to serve as a first point of contact between the WorldPop Research Group and its key stakeholders. The role will support the implementation of WorldPop’s engagement strategy through its relationships with the media, users of the WorldPop data and the general public. The successful candidate will bring considerable experience in communication related roles and be able to demonstrate a dynamic and independent approach to developing a communications approach that aligns with wider WorldPop strategies.

They will be an outgoing individual who will identify and nurture relationships with potential partners to help facilitate collaborations and funding that can help our data and methods reach the widest possible number of users. The role will need to monitor and report the engagement with WorldPop communications and may also need to support the coordination of in-person events as WorldPop looks to develop a stronger community of practice around its data.

The individual will deliver a vital component of WorldPop’s external engagement and will therefore have opportunities to work with UN agencies, governments and researchers around the world in drafting content that communicates our impact. The successful candidate will also maintain a number of important internal relationships such as the WorldPop leadership team, project leads and University media and communications contacts to take a holistic view of the WorldPop offer and identify the narratives and mechanisms to enhance the reputation of the research group.

The School of Geography and Environmental Science is committed to fostering a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates, and particularly encourage applications from candidates belonging to groups who are under-represented within academic posts at the University, including, but not limited to: people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, people who identify as LGBTQ+; people with disabilities and from poorer and disadvantaged backgrounds.

The University of Southampton offers excellent benefits including flexible working, a generous holiday allowance of 30 days, 6 additional university closure days plus public holidays. We will support your long-term future too, with access to a generous pension scheme with the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), subsidised health and fitness facilities and a range of employee discounts.

For a full list of the role tasks and responsibilities, please see the attached Job Description & Person Specification.