Communications Manager - SWROCU in Almondsbury

As Communications Manager, you will devise and deliver impactful internal and external communication strategies aligned to regional and national priorities. You’ll work closely with senior leaders, officers and staff from across our capabilities to ensure the specialist services provided by the unit are promoted effectively to relevant audiences, including key stakeholders. Partnerships are central to our work, and you’ll be linked in with a huge range of organisations across law enforcement and other sectors to help deliver the unit’s strategic objectives. You’ll provide expert advice on the best communications approach for sensitive investigations and tactics and be confident in working collaboratively with the media. Importantly, you’ll know the value of internal communications and thrive on supporting initiatives to recognise our brilliant people and ensure they feel informed and supported.

SWROCU is a collaboration of police officers and police staff from the five South West regional forces. We’re part of a national network of nine ROCUs covering England and Wales. We have more than 20 capabilities that staff and officers work in to pursue offenders, protect and prepare individuals and organisations, and prevent people from engaging in serious and organised crime. Our capabilities are here to advise, to assist, or to fully adopt investigations. We work with local forces and national partners to target and disrupt criminals posing the greatest risk of serious and organised criminality (SOC). This includes offenders involved in cyber threats, economic crime, drug conspiracies, modern slavery and human trafficking, and child sexual abuse and exploitation.

What we can offer you:

• Flexible working – with many of our roles we can be flexible regarding working hours.
• Continuous professional development – we encourage and support career growth, giving you the opportunity of a flourishing career.
• Well‑being support – we have many support mechanisms in place to assist in improving your personal health and wellbeing.

Skills, experience and qualifications required:

• Substantial experience of developing and delivering high impact, integrated and significant communications and/or campaigns.
• A natural communicator with exceptional writing skills and ability to develop compelling content for different audiences.
• Experience of managing a portfolio of communication channels, including the intranet and or operating web and/or internet‑based content management systems.
• Have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Significant experience in a fast‑paced journalistic, press office and / or communications role operating at a strategic level in a large and complex organisation.
• Experience of devising and implementing media and reputation management strategies.
• Experience of working with senior leaders to devise and deliver accurate communications.
• Experience of managing queries from local and national media, preparing media releases, statements, briefings and guidance.
• Experience of writing for external websites and social media using appropriate tone of voice.
• Organised with a good network of relationships with local/national media.

Vetting and safeguarding:

This post is subject to a higher security clearance at MV and SC – Management Vetting and Security Clearance Level. To be eligible to apply for this role you must have a five‑year ‘checkable history’ in the UK – ideally this means that you would have been resident in the UK for the last five years. In accordance with the National Vetting Policy, SWROCU are committed to safeguarding and operate safer recruitment processes, to ensure a police service that employees are proud to work for because they feel safe, valued and part of a happy and supportive work environment. All employees and volunteers therefore will be subject to background checks including vetting and references.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

SWROCU is working hard to increase diversity and inclusion where communities are currently under‑represented including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, people of all ages, abilities, faiths, religions, gender, LGBTQ+ communities and those from disadvantaged or marginalised backgrounds who share our values and wish to make a difference to the communities we serve. All applications will be treated on merit, based on the evidence provided in your application and suitability for the role you have applied for.

Flexible and Part Time Working:

All requests for flexible working patterns and part‑time working will be considered and be dependent on the role, this includes job shares and part‑time hours.

Blended Working/ Hybrid Working:

Avon and Somerset Police encourage flexible working where operationally possible. This role has been identified as a blended role. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work from home whilst also at a secondary work location, which will be a police premises. The successful applicant will have the option to discuss working arrangements with their line manager. All applicants must reside within the UK.