Work with us

JOB DESCRIPTION 

Job title: Digital engagement creative  

Job purpose: To create and stimulate digital content with our charity and grantees.  

Contract: Part time (28 hours per week), fixed term for 12 months 

Salary: £32,000-£38,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience 

Location: Bournemouth 

BENEFITS: 

29 days’ holiday entitlement (pro rata) 

Hybrid working arrangements 

JOB DESCRIPTION 

Are you passionate about how voluntary organisations can lead and shape their own narratives? Do you want to work for a progressive charity that is committed to South East Dorset? Are you looking for a role that will stretch your communication skills, creating momentum by sharing both positive news and eye-opening perspectives from the front-line of our communities? 

Talbot Village Trust, one of Dorset’s largest grant-giving charities, has an exciting opportunity for a new post of Digital Engagement Creative to pilot working alongside our grantees to build their capacity to devise and deliver engaging communications, sharing the stories of their impact more widely and effectively.  

The Digital Engagement Creative will be integral to strengthening our grantees’ approach to their profile and storytelling with key partners and audiences. This will include helping them shape their narratives, create appropriate content such as mini documentaries, shorts, press releases and beyond. 

We are looking for a dynamic creative professional who is excited about working with charities to build their skills and creative capacity, keeping them in the driving seat, celebrating the impacts they make in our area of benefit. It is not essential that you have recent experience of working in a charity, but skills in working with those who don’t have a background in digital creativity, using coaching skills, is an advantage. 

Working alongside our Community and Engagement Lead you will craft and deliver this pilot project, working with a small number of charities to help them assess their current digital engagement approach, and develop their skills in sharing their impact more widely, coaching them in creating stimulating and impactful content. We’re aware that we need to deepen our understanding of charities in our area of benefit, so you will also help map activity and need, especially in East Dorset and Purbeck areas, as well as ensuring that the Trust shares its story too.  

We’re keen to make digital engagement approaches more accessible and within reach of small charities. To stimulate and inspire across the sector, you will also create content to tell the story of our pilot project, and the impact it has. 

The role offers hybrid working. 

Applicants should note that only those responding in full to the request will be considered i.e. providing CV, covering letter, link to showreel and short video application. We are not able to respond to incomplete applications. 

Key responsibilities include: 

Creating and curating engaging digital content 

• Create fresh and engaging person-centred digital content, showcasing the impact of our grantees, and leading its publication across multiple channels. 

• Write, commission and edit content for key publications e.g. annual report, impact and research reports, publications.  

Engaging with the voluntary sector and our grantees 

• Working with our Community and Engagement Lead, extend our engagement with the voluntary sector across our area of benefit, leading on our digital engagement with these groups 

• Help identify and build relationships with emerging activists and change-makers, ensuring we are well placed to offer appropriate support and allegiance as they require it 

• Working with our team, supporting conversations with charities and others to stimulate new ways to address deeply embedded challenges faced by our communities. 

Developing understanding and skills within our grantees 

• Employing an asset-based co-production approach, support our grantees in developing their own communications strategies to help define and realise their charity’s strategic objectives.  

• Oversee the distribution of a small capacity-building grant scheme to charities within our digital project, helping them gain access to equipment and skills where required. 

Supporting our brand and communications 

• Embed the charity’s brand across our ethos-driven communications activity, rolling out brand guidelines towards developing and maintaining a strong, impactful brand, encompassing website, social media, PR, newsletters and events. 

• Monitor our digital KPIs to measure our engagement. 

Management 

• Advise on our commissioning of a range of high-quality digital engagement assets including photography, video and other content 

• Contribute to effective oversight for a range of communications-related suppliers and advisors 

• Overseeing events related planning, programming and quality management. 

Data and reporting 

• Support the design and management of communications analytics, ensuring outcomes are monitored and evaluated for their reach and impact, generating lessons learned towards continual improvement 

• Contribute to our systems and processes for contact management ensuring compliance with our data protection obligations including photography, video, and other media. 

• Prepare regular reporting and data analysis to inform content decision-making 

• Support trustees and senior management by preparing presentations and conference materials.  

General 

• Attend occasional events related to the charity outside of office hours 

• Undertake any other duties in support of the charity as may be reasonably required. 

PERSON SPECIFICATION 

Essential 

• Minimum of three years’ experience of creating digital content to a high standard 

• Demonstrable commitment to the principles and practice of equity, diversity and inclusion 

• Experience of contributing to the development and management of a multi-channel communication strategy, measuring impact and success 

• Highly developed written and oral communication skills, and an ability to identify, distil and convey key messages in a succinct and clear manner 

• Strong understanding of the different digital media platforms and the ways in which digital media can be used to deliver strategic priorities 

• Experience conceptualising, editing and publishing engaging and impactful video content 

• Understand the importance of brand recognition and how to develop and maintain a strong, impactful brand 

• Highly professional and personable attitude, comfortable managing external stakeholders and partnerships, engaging with grass-roots community groups and volunteers and representing to a senior level 

• Strong IT skills including Office 365 

• Experience of budgetary management ensuring commissions deliver on brief and to deadline 

• Excellent planning and organisational skills with a passion for attention to detail and a strong ‘can do’ work ethic. 

• Clean, valid driving licence and access to a car 

Desirable 

• Experience of working with the press and media, both local and national 

• Experience of sharing skills in formal or informal settings 

• Experience of co-producing content with non-professional/community members 

• Sound working knowledge of WordPress 

• Professional marketing/ communications qualifications 

• Understanding of UK charity law and governance 

• Experience of charitable work 

• Experience of working in small teams taking accountability for your area of work 

ABOUT US 

Talbot Village Trust is a charity with a vision for communities in South East Dorset to live well. We exist to support people to transform their own lives for the better. We do this by providing grants to charities and other local impact organisations delivering much needed services in Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, Purbeck and east Dorset. We also manage an estate combining the historic Talbot Village, residential and commercial lettings, woodland, and an urban heath. We have distributed over £10 million in funds through 650 awards across South East Dorset over the past decade. 

How to apply 

Please apply with a covering letter outlining why you are suitable for this role along with your CV including names of two referees (none of whom will be contacted without your consent and only if you are offered a position), a link to your showreel or portfolio, and a short video (no more than 2 minutes long) telling us why you make a great candidate for this role. Email your application to martha@talbotvillagetrust.org 

As a small team, we are not able to provide individual feedback at the initial stage of the application process. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

This is a part time role of 28 hours per week. The post is offered on a hybrid arrangement, with the option to work from home on an agreed number of days per week. 

Applicants should note that only those responding in full to the request will be considered i.e. providing CV, covering letter, link to showreel and short video application. We are not able to respond to incomplete applications. 

Deadline for applications is 9am on Monday 13th January 2025. Interviews will be held during the week commencing 10th February. However, we will review applications as received and reserve the right to hold interviews for shortlisted candidates on an ongoing basis. We hope the successful candidate will be able to join us from Monday 10th March. 

Should you be interviewed for one of our vacancies (either virtual or face to face), you will always receive considered feedback from us once a decision has been reached. 

We warmly welcome applicants from all parts of our diverse community, particularly those from under-represented groups. 

Thank you for showing an interest in the opportunity.