Head of Strategy and Communications in Bath

At Bath & North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose to improve people’s lives. Our UNESCO-listed heritage city, with its six million annual visitors, needs little introduction; but there is so much more to Bath and North East Somerset. You will find a rich variety of rural towns, villages, landscapes, plus plenty of opportunities and challenges, and examples of innovation and creativity everywhere you look.

We are building a fair, green, creative and connected place where we help to improve people’s lives. Our unshakeable commitment to tackling the climate and ecological emergency and giving people a bigger say underpins everything we do, and you will find an inspiring level of energy for progress and improvement across the council.

The Head of Strategy and Communications is a key role sitting at the heart of the council. Reporting to the Executive Director of Resources you will be a member of our corporate management team and have a seat in the rooms where the big decisions are taken. The role brings together our corporate engine room. You will lead on policy, communications and community engagement with a brief to shape and own our corporate strategy and bring it to life both within the council and through putting resident voices at the heart of the decision-making process.

Communications will be among your top priorities. We are transforming our approach with a clear, cross-council strategy focused on human stories, strengthening our corporate communications capacity and making better use of digital channels. And you will help to drive our partnership working, supporting senior decision makers in their engagement with local partners and the West of England Combined Authority.

This is a challenging, diverse role with scope for significant influence within and beyond the council. You will need to be a collaborator, an innovator and a trusted advisor who commands the confidence of senior officers and politicians.

We are open-minded about your background; you do not need to have worked in a local authority before. The strongest candidates will be those who can show a good balance between strategy and communications expertise, or those with deep experience in one area and a clear ability to quickly grow into the other.

If you are interested in this post and require more details or just to chat through the role and what’s involved, please contact Simon Parker, Executive Director Resources on 01225 477103 or email simon_parker@bathnes.gov.uk.

Interview date: Tuesday 10th February 2026.

No agencies please.

Please note, BANES Council operates a policy of prior consideration for roles for any individual on the Council’s at-risk register (redeployee). This means should a redeployee express an interest in this role, providing they meet the essential criteria for the role they will be considered ahead of external applicants.

Please note that this advert may close earlier than the stated closing date due to high demand. We advise all interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Working at Bath and North East Somerset provides an opportunity to contribute to your community and make a positive impact on the lives of residents. Our values shape how we work to deliver public services, and how we communicate with the residents we serve. We care about the best outcomes for local people, through our public services.

We offer a wide range of benefits, to ensure that you are paid fairly for your work, have the flexibility to enjoy a great work/life balance, and have the support you need.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join us. We are a Disability Confident Employer and the Council is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce. Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.