About the job

Summary

Our people are at the heart of everything we do and we aim to be a great place to work with a culture of trust and openness in which everyone feels engaged, listened to and valued. Our annual staff surveys show consistently high levels of engagement and strong commitment to our vital scientific and horticultural work. How we communicate is key to this and we aim to be approachable and inclusive across all our internal channels. This new post offers the chance to work with amazing people from across all parts of Kew, helping to ensure our internal communications are clear and engaging whoever we’re talking to.

Job description

Many of our staff are not desk-based so part of the role will be to help develop new channels so we can reach people wherever they work: from our offices and laboratories at Kew and Wakehurst to our two outstanding botanical gardens and even in our office in Madagascar and those working in the field worldwide. The breadth of the work Kew does gives us a rich source of content to draw on to tell our stories to our staff and students, just as important as ensuring they have the tools and information they need to do their jobs.

Responsibilities

Good written English and verbal communication skills are a must for this job, and a basic understanding of writing for the web principles and tailoring content for different channels and audiences is an advantage. You’ll be educated to degree level or have previous relevant experience in a communications role, ideally internal facing.

A key part of the role is helping to ensure consistency with the Kew brand and editorial guidelines, and conformity with usability and accessibility principles, so attention to detail is important.

This is a busy area of work so you should be able to plan and manage your own workload, and you’ll be working with people at all levels so the ability to build good working relationships is a must. Some knowledge of and experience of using relevant software for photo manipulation, ideally Photoshop, and content management systems, preferably WordPress, is also required.

The successful candidate will also have a passion for nature and the environment and an interest in sustainability and our mission to understand and protect plants and fungi.

This role is based at Kew with the option of regular home working, subject to operational requirements.

Benefits

Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.

Things you need to know

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

If you are interested in this position, please submit your application via the Kew Gardens website.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

No agencies please.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria