DMEx Communications and Events Manager

Join a national centre shaping the future of defence materials research

This is a new and exciting opportunity to join a growing team in the Defence Materials Centre of Excellence (DMEx), a major Dstl-funded programme hosted at the University of Manchester. DMEx leads the UK higher-education sector in defence materials research, working with 25 partner organisations, including leading universities, Catapults, and RTOs on a nationally significant mission.

We are seeking an accomplished and strategically minded Communications and Events Manager to lead high-impact stakeholder engagement across the programme. Reporting to the DMEx Operations Manager, you will shape the Centre’s narrative, showcase achievements, and drive a professional communications and events programme that captures the scale and ambition of our work.

About the role

As Communications and Events Manager, you will:

• Lead the development of clear, targeted, audience-centric stakeholder
• communications.
• Produce high-quality content including written copy, graphics, photography, and
• short-form video.
• Manage organic digital channels, newsletters, campaigns, and internal/external
• updates.
• Build strong relationships across our broad defence-and-materials community,
• ensuring messaging aligns with stakeholder positions on sensitive issues.
• Design and deliver the Centre’s key events programme from small specialist
• workshops to large-scale engagements and our flagship annual Partner Forum.
• Maintain and develop the Centre’s contact database and support wider
• engagement activity across the consortium.
• Line-manage the Executive Assistant to the DMEx Director.

You will thrive in a fast-paced, multi-stakeholder environment and be comfortable producing polished content independently while collaborating across complex organisational boundaries.

Successful candidates may be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks and potentially undergo Security Clearance. Due to the nature of this clearance, candidates will need to have sole UK nationality. DMEx has an ethnically diverse team of UK nationals.

What you will get in return:

• Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
• Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
• Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
• Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
• Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers

As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

Our University is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here

Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.

Please be aware that due to the number of applications we unfortunately may not able to provide individual feedback on your application.

Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.

Any recruitment enquiries from recruitment agencies should be directed to recruitmentservices.people@manchester.ac.uk

Any CV’s submitted by a recruitment agency will be considered a gift.

Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Name: Len Williamson

Email: len.williamson@manchester.ac.uk

General enquiries:

Email: recruitmentservices.people@manchester.ac.uk

Technical support:

0161 850 2004 https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.

Please see the link below for the Further Particulars document which contains the person specification criteria.