Diabetes Stories Officer
Job Introduction
4 million people live with diabetes – and more than 11 million people are at risk. Every single one of these people has an authentic story to tell about their diabetes journey that may help inform and inspire others.
Reporting to the Senior Media Manager in the Content & News team, you’ll be a really organised self-starter with a flair for proactively and sensitively searching out people with powerful diabetes stories to tell. You’ll be keen to shape and grow the organisation’s capacity for producing these stories. And you will want to ensure our key supporters ‘know diabetes’ and ‘fight diabetes’, through the telling of real-life stories in a mix of formats on our website, in social media, in videos and our printed publications.
Role Responsibility
- Develop a consistent and powerful approach to telling real-life stories through copy, images and videos
- Interview and write up new stories for use on our owned and earned channels
- Curate and commission visual assets linked to each diabetes story, including videos and images for use on our website and in appropriate social channels
- As part of the Media team, keep up-to-date with all real-life stories being gathered for media use – identifying and repurposing those stories with potential for wider distribution through our magazines, website and social channels
- Work collaboratively across MarComms to create the most appropriate content assets that help to tell stories in copy and visual formats in a range of online and offline
- Tell real-life stories that support our key charitable activities including fundraising, research, clinical and volunteering
- Play a key role in supporting the development ofa consent and contact process that is sensitive to the individual at the heart of every story, and ensure the organisation uses them in the most appropriate way
- Support teams across the organisation with best practice around real-life story telling to ensure consistency and excellence
- Provide regular updates on story data and insights in the spirit of ‘test & learn’ to showcase what works and learn from what doesn’t
- Support our IT team in building an appropriate database for diabetes stories
- Build and maintain relationships with the people behind the individual stories to ensure they feel valued and clear about how their personal stories are being used
- Regularly review and evaluate the impact of diabetes stories across online and offline channels
The Ideal Candidate
The best person for this job will be able to:
- Draw out stories and be great at re-telling them in copy, commissioned videos and images, and repurposing them for our print, social and website channels
- Understand the sensitivities around representing personal stories to the wider public and the importance of ensuring individuals are clear about how, when and where we are using their stories.
- Manage safeguarding issues where relevant, and building and maintaining close relationships between individuals and Diabetes UK
- Support the development of a Diabetes Stories Database, and a clear and robust consent process which you’ll help to set up and manage.
The best person for this job will have experience in:
- Knowing how to spot – and tell - a great story
- Understanding the requirements essential to multi-channel content creation and repurposing
- Working under pressure to meet deadlines
- Project management, including time planning, time management, and resource
- Commitment to producing quality work with an eye for detail
- Gathering insights and evaluating impact to constantly test and learn what works and what doesn’t
- Writing sharp, engaging copy for a variety of audiences
- Video editing software – preferably the Adobe suite – and/or a willingness to develop these skills
The best person for this job will be:
- Engaging with strong interpersonal skills
- An excellent and highly effective communicator
- Organised and pay close attention to detail and accuracy
- Well-organised, proactive and able to prioritise own work
- Able to inspire and influence individuals and teams at all levels of the charity
- A team player
- Innovative and creative
Package Description
What we can offer you:
- Generous annual leave starting at 25 days plus bank holidays
- A Cash Healthcare Plan (giving you up to £1,600 towards a range of out of pocket health expenses like new glasses, dentist, chiropractor or osteopath appointments)
- Early finish Friday and flexible working
- Discounts on gym membership and days out
- Employee assistance programme to give you support on any issues that come up in life
- Annual Season ticket loan
- Very active social scene including sport teams, gardening and other activities
- Generous pension provision, life assurance and permanent health insurance
About the Company
Diabetes is the most potentially devastating – and fastest growing – health crisis of our time, requiring ongoing high-quality care and support. There are currently 4.5 million people in the UK living with diabetes, and 11.9 million more at increased risk of getting Type 2 diabetes. Those diagnosed face the risk of life-changing, and life-limiting, complications, unless they are given the very best care and the support they need to manage their condition well. As a society we need to work together now – and take action now – to fund critical research, improve healthcare and treatment, and prevent yet more people developing this potentially life-threatening condition.
Diabetes UK is a forward thinking and commercially focused organisation, and is the leading charity for the 4.5 million people with the condition in the UK.
As we continue to improve our processes, through continual development and change, this is an exciting time to join us. With established funding streams and following on from the success of our previous five-year plan, we are in a strong position to continue developing and responding to changing environments.
We rely heavily upon the expertise and motivation of our staff in order to work towards our many aims and meet objectives. We aim to be an equal opportunity employer; the organisation recognises and respects the value and diversity of all. We gladly make the adjustments required for people with disabilities to join us. Our diverse functions mean that we can offer you a wide range of rewarding career opportunities.
Diabetes UK is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable and expects all staff and volunteers to actively support this commitment.
Diabetes UK recognises and respects the value and diversity of all.
We have a vision of a world where diabetes can do no harm – if you’d like to be part of that, why not join us?
To Learn more about the work we do - Click here
Diabetes UK