Head of Corporate Communications, Brand & External Engagement

Job Description

Head of Corporate Communications, Brand & External Engagement

Application Deadline: 8 July 2026

Department: Growth and Income Generation

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Glasgow

Compensation: £61,086 – £66,345 / year

Description

The Head of Corporate Communications, Brand and External Engagement provides strategic leadership for the College’s corporate reputation, institutional voice and external narrative, playing a critical role in delivering the Kelvin Strategic Plan and the External Engagement Strategy .

The postholder will shape how Glasgow Kelvin College is positioned, perceived and trusted-locally, regionally and nationally-ensuring that communications, marketing and engagement actively supports inclusive growth, skills development, sustainability, digital transformation and partnership impact.

Strategic Context

This role is a key strategic enabler across all four Kelvin 2030 ambitions.

• Our Students: promoting inclusive access, aspiration and success
• Our People: supporting values led culture, clarity and engagement
• Our Partners: strengthening influence, employer confidence and alignment to economic priorities
• Our Place: positioning the College as a regional anchor institution for inclusive growth and community impact

It also provides leadership for the Friends of Kelvin programme, a flagship institutional initiative supporting reputation, relationships, opportunity and income diversification.

Key Responsibilities

The postholder will:

• Champion Kelvin’s TIME values and inclusive ethos across all communications and engagement activity.
• Provide professional leadership to communications and marketing staff and external partners.
• Build strong internal partnerships to enable whole College alignment around strategy and narrative.
• Operate with high levels of professional judgement, discretion and autonomy.

Please refer to the attached Recruitment Pack for further details on the specific role responsibilities.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Educated to degree level (SCQF Level 9) or equivalent professional experience in communications, journalism, public affairs or a related discipline.
• Evidence of sustained Continuing Professional Development, particularly in areas such as strategic communications, leadership, reputation management, media relations, public affairs, or stakeholder engagement.

• The Scottish Education landscape, including policy, funding, governance and accountability arrangements.
• Scottish Government priorities, regional economic strategy and the wider public policy environment impacting skills, education, inclusive growth and sustainability.
• The Greater Glasgow economic, social and community profile, including regional labour market and skills priorities.
• The role of colleges as anchor institutions, contributing to place based growth, community wellbeing and economic transformation.
• Corporate reputation management, public affairs and media environments, including emerging risks, opportunities and public discourse.
• The drivers for change within the education and public sector landscape, including skills reform, digital transformation, sustainability, equity and inclusion.

• Proven strategic leadership capability, with the ability to shape institutional narrative, influence senior decision making and deliver complex, high impact outcomes.
• Advanced skills in corporate communications, media relations, public affairs and reputation management, including crisis communications.
• Strong political awareness, judgement and diplomacy, with the ability to manage sensitive, high profile and reputational issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce and oversee high quality editorial content, briefings and executive communications.
• Ability to build and sustain trusted, collaborative relationships with senior stakeholders, partners, employers, communities, media and public bodies.
• Strong analytical and insight driven approach, using data, intelligence and feedback to inform strategy and measure impact.
• Ability to lead innovation, continuous improvement and change within a complex organisational environment.
• Financial and commercial awareness, including oversight of budgets, contracts and external suppliers.

• Relevant senior level experience in communications, brand, media, journalism, public affairs or stakeholder engagement, ideally within a public sector, education or similarly complex environment.
• Demonstrable experience of leading and delivering:
• Corporate communications and reputation strategy
• Media relations, public affairs and issues management
• Brand development and strategic positioning
• Multi channel, digital first communications and campaigns
• Experience of working closely with senior leaders, governance bodies, providing professional advice and insight.
• Experience of managing external relationships, including media outlets, agencies, public affairs advisers or strategic partners.
• Proven track record of leading and developing teams and/or commissioning and managing specialist external support.

• Desirable: Experience of contributing to organisational objectives such as influence, engagement, income diversification or partnership development is desirable.

Terms and Conditions

• Hours of Work: 35 hours per week Monday to Friday 8.00am to 6.00pm, core hours 9.00am to 5.00pm
• Office Location: TBC Hybrid working in place, minimum 3 days on campus.
• Pension: You are encouraged to join (or remain) with the Local Government Pension Scheme. The College is a member of the Strathclyde Pension Scheme. The Scheme changed from a final salary scheme to a career average scheme on 1 April 2015. You will automatically join the Scheme, if you wish to opt out you should contact the Senior Payroll Officer.
• Annual Leave and Public Holiday: 33 days (inclusive of 12 days fixed public holiday) Two-week closure over the festive period supported by 6 days leave from the 45 days entitlement.