Communications Manager in Coventry

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

Our Values are:

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias. The Communications Team is at the heart of Council work, helping to promote decisions, publicise events and keep everyone informed and up to date. The team works closely with councillors and senior managers to ensure all areas of the Council’s work get the publicity they need to help residents in their daily lives – from bin collections to staging the Godiva Festival and roadworks to fostering and adoption. It works with local and national media organisations and across a broad range of communications tools to promote the Council’s work, including social media, digital and photography, as well as being responsible for areas such as internal marketing and graphic design. The City Council provides vital services to thousands of residents and needs to make sure they know exactly what’s being planned and why. The Communications Team makes sure that happens, as well as keeping staff across the authority informed and able to carry out their roles equipped with the latest knowledge.

As a Communications Manager at Coventry City Council, you'll lead a range of communications projects and campaigns that promote our policies, services and events to local, regional and national audiences. You'll act as a trusted advisor to Cabinet Members and senior officers, helping them communicate key messages effectively to residents and stakeholders. You'll project manage communications initiatives, developing innovative and creative solutions across digital, social and traditional channels, while supporting delivery of our internal and external communications strategy, campaign plan and public affairs work. You'll co-ordinate cross-cutting projects involving a wide range of internal and external partners, lead on key publications, and produce evaluation reports for Elected Members and senior officers. You'll also guide and support colleagues within the Communications Team, including line management of at least one Digital Content and PR Officer, and flex across portfolio areas as priorities change - bringing creativity, resilience and sound political judgement to a fast-paced local government environment.

We're recruiting to two Communications Manager positions and are looking for two candidates with broad, creative communications and marketing expertise, alongside a detailed understanding of the political sensitivities, rules and protocols governing local government communications. You'll be educated to degree level or equivalent, with a strong grasp of modern local government and partnership working across public and private sectors. You'll bring excellent all-round communication skills - written, oral and presentational - with the ability to influence effectively at all levels, including senior politicians and officers. You're a natural problem-solver, comfortable drawing up strategies to meet communications objectives, and confident managing and developing junior colleagues. You'll have a track record of delivering complex projects to tight deadlines, working with a wide range of partners, and evaluating the impact of marketing and promotional campaigns. Budget planning experience and the flexibility to work across multiple portfolio areas are essential, as is a willingness to work some evenings, weekends and bank holidays when required.

Please note this post is subject to political restriction.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

Interview date(s): W/C 14th September 2026

About Coventry: Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change. We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse. At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things. To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.