• Location: London & Remote Hybrid
• Job type: Full time / Permanent, 35 hours
• Salary: £30,300 – £34,845

The Role

At the ACU, events are instrumental in creating effective virtual and in-person engagement opportunities for member universities and partners across the Commonwealth, on the key issues and priority areas for the organisation and the international higher education sector.

The post holder will support the Events Manager in planning and executing key events in the ACU’s annual events calendar. Target audiences for these events range from ACU members, university staff, students, and policymakers from across the Commonwealth.

As part of the role, the Events and Content Officer will be responsible for creating a wide range of multimedia content for teams across the organisation, including the CEO and Secretary General. This might include slide decks for public speaking engagements, infographics visualising the ACU’s and its programmes impact, and video and/or audio editing.

This is an exciting opportunity to help strategically communicate the organisation’s priorities and support a new vision and roadmap for ambitious growth across membership, scholarships, programmes, and business development.

Main areas of responsibilities

• Supporting the Events Manager in developing an ACU-wide virtual and in-person events strategy that supports the organisation’s strategic priorities.
• Planning and delivering events, supporting on the entire lifecycle of an event, including invitations, registrations, and payments.
• Working with teams across the organisation to identify strategic collaboration opportunities with key audiences through events.
• Supporting and implementing communications and engagement plans, using events as a strategic communications channel.
• Setting, communicating, and maintaining project timelines and priorities. • Reviewing, evaluating, and making recommendations to improve the impact of future events.
• Creating impactful visual collateral, such as PowerPoint slide decks, and infographics.

Applied knowledge, skills and expertise

Essential:

• Experience of devising and delivering creative and effective virtual and in-person events.
• Experience of using online event platforms, with a view to continuously improving processes and seeking learnings from the latest developments.
• Experience of planning and delivering events as a proactive strategic communications channel, with an understanding of using different approaches to reach target audiences with key messages.
• High proficiency in the use of Canva graphic design software.
• Experience in creating impactful PowerPoint slide decks and graphics, translating written sources into visual formats.
• Experience in editing audio and video formats.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, with strong attention to detail.
• Excellent time management, project management and organisational skills.
• Ability to balance competing priorities under pressure of deadlines and workload.
• Experience of working with external partners to design and deliver events. Desirable:
• Interest in or experience of the higher education and/or international development sectors.
• Knowledge of event procedures and industry practice, including health and safety, GDPR, insurance, VIP protocols, and contracts.

Desirable: 

• Interest in or experience of the higher education and/or international development sectors.
• Knowledge of event procedures and industry practice, including health and safety, GDPR, insurance, VIP protocols, and contracts.
• Knowledge of Umbraco and/or Wordpress CMS systems, and Civi and Microsoft Dynamics CRM systems.

We offer a fantastic package of benefits including:

• 27 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays (pro rata – part time employees) and 4 Christmas closure days
• Generous pension scheme – 5% employee contribution, 10% employer contribution
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave
• Significant investment into your personal and professional development
• Regular social activities
• Health and wellbeing programmes
• Give as you earn charitable donations scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Interest-free travel season ticket loan

If you’re interested in joining The Association of Commonwealth Universities team then please click ‘apply now’ below to apply through Enna, one of the team will be in touch within 24 hours.

You will need your CV (maximum 2 pages) and online application form (maximum 1000 words) outlining how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the criteria for the role, including your motivation for applying.

Closing date: 17.8.2023