Senior Manager, Audiences and Communications

We’re looking for a strategic and imaginative communicator to lead our Audiences and Communications team as we launch a bold new vision: to grow and deepen our audiences through work that is audience-focused, data-informed and values-driven.

As Senior Manager, Audiences and Communications, you’ll shape inclusive, creative strategies that connect people to powerful stories - from local experiences to global conversations. Working across exhibitions, learning, civic engagement and more, you’ll ensure the Whitworth’s voice is clear, compelling and grounded in care.

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape how a cultural institution speaks, listens and grows.

Key Responsibilities, Accountabilities, and Duties:

• Develop and implement an integrated communications and audience development strategy that aligns with Whitworth's vision and engages with diverse audiences and partners both physically and digitally.
• Create and deliver a data-informed audience development plan and execute measurable media campaigns to shape and enhance the gallery's reputation and reach.
• Develop and manage integrated press, media relations, and public relations activities, including collaboration with PR agencies to raise the museum's profile.
• Drive social media engagement, ensuring alignment with Whitworth’s values and commitment to inclusive communication. Develop engaging content from gallery collections to foster deeper visitor connections.
• Ensure that inclusion, equality, and transparency are central to all communications, branding, and media efforts.
• Lead and manage direct reports, focusing on their personal and professional development to meet current and future organisational needs.
• Oversee communications projects to maintain a consistent tone and messaging across all channels, managing budgets and contracts to support strategy implementation.
• Advise the Executive team and develop plans and proactive responses on media and advocacy strategies, managing sensitive issues and crisis communications.
• Collaborate with colleagues and external partners to track communications metrics and ensure compliance with funder acknowledgment requirements.

Appointment Details

This post involves occasional evening and weekend commitments. Appointees must be pre-pared to work outside regular office hours and support an out-of-hours rota as necessary. The University has arrangements in place to recognise this working pattern and to ensure an appropriate balance between working and non-working time.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience

• Significant experience in a senior management role within with a gallery, museum, visual arts organization or visitor attraction.
• Significant experience in a senior communications role, including audience development strategies and brand development.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with a background in managing and developing high-performing teams.
• Demonstrable expertise in editorial and copywriting, engaging with press and media, and leading multi-channel marketing campaigns.
• Proven leadership in setting and achieving objectives, with strategic planning and implementation skills in communications or PR.
• Experience managing confidential issues and crisis communications, with a strong grasp of digital media and innovative practices.
• Project management skills to prioritise effectively under pressure, alongside budget management.

As an ideal candidate you will have:

• Experience working collaboratively across languages and cultures, within the arts and culture sector.
• Proficiency in communicating complex narratives and engaging with diverse audiences on contemporary debates.

As one of the leading Universities our employees enjoy exclusive access to excellent benefits and schemes including:

• Generous annual leave allowance, including Christmas/New Year closure
• Pension scheme membership to provide benefits for you and your family
• Well-being programme with counselling, fitness and leading sports facilities
• Learning and development opportunities
• Season ticket loans for public transport
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Workplace nursery scheme
• Staff recognition schemes
• Staff discounts on a range of products and services including travel and high street savings

Founded in 1889 as the first English gallery in a park, the Whitworth has been transformed by a £15 million development. This is a gallery whose visitor numbers have climbed spectacularly in the past five years, whose contemporary exhibitions programmes have given new life to international collections, and whose risk-taking curatorial team has gained global attention.

Part of the University of Manchester, the Whitworth is a gallery that is a place of research and academic collaboration, and whose education and learning teams have generated new approaches to working with non-traditional arts audiences. Yet despite its ambition and change, the Whitworth is also a gallery that has retained a sense of the personal, the intimate and the playful. It is a place that its visitors love and feel that they own. For them and for us, the Whitworth is simply the gallery in the park, one of the most remarkable galleries in the north.

As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

Our University is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here

Blended working arrangements may be considered

Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.

Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Name: Jen Pass, Talent Acquisition Business Partner

Email: Jennifer.pass@manchester.ac.uk

General enquiries:

Email: People.Recruitment@manchester.ac.uk

Technical support:

Jobtrain: 0161 850 2004 https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.

Please see the link below for the Further Particulars document which contains the person specification criteria.