Media and Communications Lead

Do you want to join a team that provides outstanding leadership, strategic direction and support to some of the best schools in the country? Do you want to play your part in delivering outstanding learning and teaching to young people in disadvantaged communities? If so, joining the Star team might just be the best career move you ever make.

About Star Central

Star Central, which is based at our head office in Blackburn, Lancashire, provides leadership, strategic direction and support to Star Academies, Star Institute and our schools.

The Star Central team includes experts from a range of professional backgrounds, who work together to provide an outstanding support service to the Star community. We support our schools to provide educational and operational excellence and to cultivate a strong Star community, with the aim of nurturing today's young people and inspiring tomorrow's leaders.

Who we're looking for

We seek an outstanding individual to provide a professional and effective media relations service on behalf of the Trust and its schools. The successful candidate will manage the Trust's social media channels to grow their reach and engagement and produce compelling content for a range of communications channels, including websites.

The key objective of this post is to create a positive media profile and positioning for Star Academies and its schools. The postholder will also support in the development and implementation of a PR plan for the Trust, as part of the wider communications strategy.

You will have:

• A degree or equivalent in English, communications, PR, marketing or related discipline
• At least 3 years working in a PR, communications or marketing role
• Experience of researching, editing and writing press releases
• Extensive knowledge of how the media operates including local, regional and national media
• Best practice of internal and external communication, including social media

About Star Academies

Star Academies is a high-performing multi-academy trust that runs more than 20 primary and secondary schools. We are a values-based organisation that works to improve the life chances of young people in areas of social and economic deprivation to help them succeed at the highest levels of education, employment and the professions. Every single day you'll be rewarded with the opportunity to shape a young person's future - our STAR values embody what we believe is needed to succeed.

Professional development is key to our ongoing success, so we continually invest in our employees through our learning and development centre, Star Institute. With a wealth of training, mentoring and progression opportunities across a growing group of academies, joining our team of leading education experts could propel your career to the next level.

We can also offer you a range of rewards and benefits, including competitive salaries and pension schemes, generous holiday entitlements and healthcare cash plans.

Find out more

Please download the job description and person specification below for further information about the role. For an informal and confidential discussion about the role please contact Star Central by calling .

Key Dates

Closing Date: Sunday, 1 September 2019 at midnight

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Proposed Start Date: As soon as possible

Our Commitment

Star Academies is committed to safeguarding, safer recruitment and promoting the welfare of pupils. Our comprehensive recruitment and selection processes aim to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Successful candidates are subject to rigorous pre-employment checks.

We are equally committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity. We aim for our workforce to be representative of society and that each employee feels respected and able to give their best. We are committed to providing equality and fairness in our recruitment and employment practices and not to discriminate on any grounds. We oppose all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.