(Part Time – 0.8 FTE)
Location: Hay Castle, Hay-on-Wye
Salary: £30,369 per annum pro rata (actual salary £24,295 per annum)
Hours: 32 per week, to include weekend work (one weekend in three to be agreed)
Welcome
Hay Castle Trust is a young charity with big ambitions, and we’re looking for someone who wants to grow with us.
Hay Castle was built by a Medieval giantess and was most recently occupied by the self-declared King of Hay, who appointed his horse as Prime Minister. Rescued, restored, and renewed, Hay Castle now serves as a unique centre where centuries of Welsh heritage meet the creative spirit of Hay-on-Wye, and its surrounding rural communities. We’re steeped in history, but not stuck in it. We celebrate our years in ways that are sometimes playful, always surprising, thoroughly contemporary and often joyously offbeat.
We are not any old castle, and this is not any old job. As our Communications & Engagement Manager, you’ll have the chance to shape the role and make a real impact on how we connect with our audiences and build our community, both online and in person.
About the role
The overall purpose is to
- enhance, protect, and widen Hay Castle’s reputation among key audience groups
- help to attract more visitors
- engage and grow the Castle’s community (including online)
The role will include
Strategy
- work with the Director and relevant Trustees to develop the castle’s communications and audience development strategy
- develop the Castle’s social media strategy
Digital
- develop digital content to engage people in the Castle and its programme of events
- manage the Castle’s social media platforms including:
- planning and timetabling posts and content – ensuring consistent tone of voice and standards across all channels
- monitoring and responding to reviews and comments on Google and Trip Advisor
- working with colleagues to ensure effective promotion of activities across digital platforms
- help to keep the Castle’s website up to date and engaging
- collaborate with the Director to produce engaging and accessible quarterly newsletters
- manage Hay Castle’s overall external communications so as to protect and enhance its reputation
Media & communications
- develop a communications plan to raise awareness of the Castle and its programme of events
- research, write and distribute press releases to targeted media – including listings for Castle events
- organise publicity events for major exhibitions
- collate and analyse media coverage and evaluate impact of marketing and communications activity.
- collaborate with the Director on scheduling communications with our membership
Other
- review and refine the Trust’s CRM systems and processes to more effectively manage and segment audience/visitor information
- collaborate with the Director on development efforts – including updating funders and telling supporter stories
- manage delegated marketing budget
- manage occasional communications volunteers and consultants
We are a small and friendly team, picking up roles to support each other from time to time.
What we are looking for
Essential
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Experience managing social media platforms
- Strong organisational skills
- Ability to work independently and as part of a small team
Desirable
- Experience with press/media relations
- Basic design or video editing skills
- Experience with CMS/CRM
- Understanding of cultural/heritage audiences
Don’t worry if you don’t tick every box on the job description. What matters most is that you’re creative, smart, confident with digital platforms, and can write in a way that engages people. We’re recruiting as much for attitude as experience, so if you’re full of ideas, love telling stories, and want to be part of our creative and ambitious team, we’d love to hear from you.
How to apply
To apply for this role, please send a CV and a cover letter to helen.furnell@haycastletrust.org. If you would like to include any examples of previous written, web or social media work, we would be happy to see these.
The closing date for applications is 5pm on 10 October.