Community and Communications Associate

The Role's Purpose

This varied, hands-on role combines the day-to-day operation of our Reading innovation hub, with a particular focus on professional communications, community building through activities including hackathons, ideation sprints, maker workshops, group learning activities etc), and support for innovation projects and programmes. This role helps create and sustain an environment which encourages innovation so that it feels like a natural behaviour, rather than administering it.

You will work alongside our Community and Innovation Associate. Together, these two Associate roles share community, front-of-house and operational responsibilities, providing cover for one another. For this vacancy, we particularly seek communications and event-delivery experience, strong organisation skills and an interest in developing skills across innovation and programme delivery from conception to handover / execution.

This fast-paced, collaborative role suits someone with sound judgement and excellent people skills who is equally willing to undertake the practical tasks that keep a busy innovation hub running well.

What You'll Do

Communications and Content

• Draft newsletters, social content and event communications using agreed templates and guidance on the key messages to convey. Develop new styles to keep the hub brand fresh and exciting.
• Draft project updates, blogs, event write-ups, case studies and community stories for agreed channels, adapting material for different audiences with input from innovation and communications colleagues where needed.
• Plan and maintain the communications and content calendar, plan their workload and source the information and materials needed to deliver agreed content by the required deadlines.
• Use agreed platforms and templates, and online tools, to create and send emails and set up events, including using SharePoint, seeking advice or approval where required.
• With guidance on the feedback required, create and use suitable feedback methods, such as forms, email and in-person conversations, then gather the results and provide trends and summaries to the wider team.

Events

• Coordinate event logistics – e.g. creating registration pages, joining instructions, writing event copy, manage RSVPs, organise and set up the location including catering, liaise with speakers and other key stakeholders.
• Support delivery on the day.
• Monitor engagement and other agreed communications metrics, sharing results with the team to support future planning and improvements.

Community and Hub Operations

• Share responsibility with the other Community and Innovation Associate for in-person hub cover, including an agreed early/late pattern.
• Create a welcoming and inclusive hub experience for members, clients, visitors, partners and colleagues, building positive relationships and encouraging people to connect and take part.
• Manage visitor bookings, access and practical arrangements for meetings and events.
• Open, prepare and close the hub as required, ensuring it is ready for the working day and planned activities.
• Maintain a presentable, organised and stocked environment, including room preparation, supplies and kitchen sundries.
• Coordinate shared spaces, respond to routine requests and resolve straightforward operational issues, escalating facilities or IT problems where needed.
• Share practical suggestions for improving the community and hub experience, based on feedback and day-to-day observations, for the wider team to consider.
• Suggest methods / approaches that further nurture and grow the hub community, advancing reach and cultural impact.
• Provide reasonable cover for the other Community and Innovation Associate during annual leave, absence and periods of increased activity.
• Build relationships across clients, partners and delivery teams to connect people, share information and maintain momentum.

Programme and Project Support

• Support project, programme and community activity by gathering updates, coordinating communications and keeping stakeholders informed from challenge triage and definition, through each project’s duration.
• Maintain high-quality project documentation, communications and reporting materials.
• Support regular project and programme reporting and meeting governance, including written status updates, stakeholder briefings, inputs, papers, actions and follow-up.
• Proactively identify information gaps, blockers or emerging issues that could affect engagement or delivery, escalating where appropriate.

Your Skills

• Strong written communication, with the ability to tailor messages, channels and timing to different audiences.
• Excellent relationship-building and interpersonal skills; confident engaging diverse stakeholders and creating a welcoming community.
• Highly organised and reliable, able to plan and prioritise multiple activities, deadlines and stakeholders.
• Good judgement and attention to detail; able to take ownership and know when to seek advice or escalate.
• Proactive and flexible, comfortable combining professional stakeholder work with practical hub administration.
• Strong Word and PowerPoint skills, good working knowledge of Excel and ability to learn new digital tools quickly.
• Develop metrics / objective key results to show and evidence effectiveness of actions against pre-agreed goals / objectives.

Your Experience

• Practical experience planning and delivering events, workshops, meetings or community engagements.
• Experience creating professional communications for different audiences.
• Experience gained in events, communications, marketing, community engagement, hospitality or a comparable environment.
• Experience developing communications or engagement plans and content across newsletters, digital platforms, social media, case studies or similar channels.
• Experience supporting projects or programmes through trackers, actions, risks, reporting or governance.
• Experience working at pace with multiple stakeholder groups, ideally in innovation, technology, defence, government or another complex environment.

Who You Are

• Energised by working in a fast-paced, high-growth organisation and innovation environment.
• Confident engaging with diverse stakeholder groups.
• A natural community-builder who enjoys connecting people, creating energy and helping others feel welcome and able to contribute.
• A motivated self-starter who takes initiative, exercises good judgement and is comfortable operating with ambiguity.
• A collaborative team player who is equally willing to lead an activity or undertake routine tasks that support colleagues and the hub.
• Curious, adaptable and interested in developing broader innovation and programme delivery capability.
• This is a predominantly site-based role because the team provides in-person operational cover for the Reading innovation hub.
• The Associate team covers the hub’s approximately 08:00–17:30 operating day through an agreed early/late rota. Individuals are not routinely expected to work the full period
• Flexibility is required to cover colleague annual leave and absence and occasionally support activities outside normal hours. Additional hours are managed through Plexal’s TOIL arrangements.
• The majority of the working week will be based at the Reading hub. Some home working may be possible where operational requirements and Associate cover allow.
• May require business travel across Plexal sites.
• Ability to manage and influence through face-to-face and virtual team environments.
• Must be able to achieve a minimum of SC clearance.
• This job profile is not exhaustive; the post holder may undertake other reasonable duties as directed by the Line Manager.

Why us?

As a start-up, we thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced work environment dedicated to empowering innovators. We embrace individuals who leverage technology and creativity to tackle our greatest challenges head-on. We strongly advocate for maintaining a harmonious work-life balance, our goal is to ensure every member of our team can authentically be themselves and live their best lives. We firmly believe that innovation and creativity flourish when we cultivate a diverse workforce, comprising highly skilled individuals with a wide range of perspectives to contribute.

In return we will offer you:

• Salary: Circa £35,000 depending on skills and experience
• Annual bonus scheme
• A generous pension scheme (with a company contribution of up to 10%)
• Private healthcare, life assurance and critical illness cover
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Volunteering day

Plexal is an equal opportunities employer and we actively encourage applicants from individuals from all backgrounds. We are a Disability Committed employer and are willing to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.