Head of Communications and Distribution

DETAILS:

• Full-time
• London office based (Will consider a home-based person who can occasionally travel to our office, if beyond reasonable commuter distance)
• Salary according to skills and experience 

SUMMARY:

The British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust is a young, successful charity with an ambitious agenda. Funded by commercial broadcasters, we commission television programmes made in British Sign Language and we support the companies and Deaf programme-makers who produce them.

Working closely with the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive, the postholder will lead the Communications and Distribution team, maintaining a rolling three-year plan to deliver both the Communications Strategy and the Distribution Strategy, and taking overall responsibility and accountability for the Trust’s internal and external communications and distribution.

Role Description

• This role reports to the Deputy Chief Executive and will be a member of the BSLBT senior management team. This role will work closely with the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive. The Head of Communications and Distribution is expected to lead the Communications and Distribution team under the Deputy Chief Executive.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• To work with the Chief Executive (CE) and Deputy Chief Executive (DCE) to lead and maintain a rolling three-year plan to deliver both:
• The Communications strategy (which includes Audience Engagement)
• The Distribution strategy

• To have overall responsibility and accountability for the Trust’s internal and external communications and distribution, including:
• The line management of the PR Executive, Distribution Executive and Audience Engagement Manager
• Financial and budget planning, monitoring and reporting in Communications and Distribution.
• To provide strategic counsel to the SMT and Board on reputation management, issues management, communications and social media tactics:
• This involves managing and working with the Commissioning and Audience Engagement teams
• To create and communicate the organisation's messages and ensure overall continuity of the
• brand consistency and image with key stakeholders with the support of the PR Executive
• To lead on the rebranding of the organisation
• In conjunction with CE and DCE, to advise the Board and staff in developing and maintaining strategic partnerships with external stakeholders
• To work with the CE and DCE on developing strategic business relationships with broadcast distributors (linear and non-linear)
• To plan and strategize BSLBT’s film submissions and participation in UK and international festivals with the support of the Distribution Executive
• To lead and support the Audience Engagement Manager and their team in the next stage of further audience engagement, which includes initiatives to improve our data collection and analysis to evaluate future plans
• Any other duties within the broad scope of the role as may be reasonably required
• Employees are also required to comply with all BSLBT policies and relevant legislation.

Person specification

Essential skills, experience and competencies:

• At least 6 years’ varied experience at managerial level of working across communication and/or distribution business units with skills and expertise in:
• Developing and maintaining strategic business relationships
• Seeing new initiatives through from idea to implementation, within deadlines
• Setting, monitoring and managing budgets
• With good planning and line management skills, including the ability to manage performance.
• Has a strong network of contacts in the communications and/or distribution field
• Experience of managing complex relationships with tolerance, resilience and sensitivity
• Commitment to delivering greater diversity and inclusion across BSLBT, its programming and programme-makers
• A BSL user or, if not, a commitment to learn
• Experience of building a team of different skills and levels to achieve SMART objectives
• Rounded experience in financial and budget planning, management and reporting across an organisational department
• Experience of working on strategy within different organisations/areas of an organisation
• A naturally collaborative working and communication style
• Clear communicator, able to express information and opinions clearly and consistently
• Commitment to and support for the aims, values and work of BSLBT.

Desirable:

• Experience of working with Deaf people involved with making television programmes
• An understanding of sign language, Deaf culture and history
• Current knowledge of broadcast industry practices and standards.

This is a description of the job as it is presently constituted. It is the practice of BSLBT to examine job descriptions from time to time and to update them to ensure they relate to the job as then being performed, or to incorporate whatever changes are being proposed.  This will be conducted in consultation with you. 

Click here for the full role description and person specification. Please also look at our website and social media to get a full picture of who we are and what we do.

TO APPLY:

Please send a relevant CV plus a letter (no more than two A4 pages) explaining how you are suitable for this role online, via grapevinejobs by midnight on Monday 6th May 2024.  

Interviews will be held remotely by Zoom or face-to-face in London on Tuesday 14th May.

BSLBT particularly welcomes applicants from people of Black, Asian and minority ethnic heritage.