Communications and Engagement Lead - Transport in Chesterfield

Reports to: Head of Communications

Location: East Midlands

Politically Restricted Post: Yes

About the role

We’re seeking an experienced Communications and Engagement Lead – Transport to lead how EMCCA communicates and engages on its transport priorities across the East Midlands. In this strategic role, you’ll coordinate and deliver a wide range of communications and engagement activity to support major transport programmes and plans. Working across digital, print and traditional media, you’ll ensure our transport vision, initiatives and progress are communicated clearly and compellingly to residents, partners and stakeholders. You’ll work closely with senior transport colleagues, the Communications Team, constituent councils and external partners to develop and deliver innovative communication and engagement strategies for high-profile, region-wide transport initiatives.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading the development and delivery of communications, engagement and consultation strategies that support EMCCA’s transport vision and priorities.
• Planning and delivering effective campaigns, media relations, events and engagement activity across the EMCCA region.
• Producing and implementing organisation-wide and project-specific engagement and consultation plans, including local delivery plans.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with constituent councils, internal teams, elected members, partners, stakeholders and opinion-formers.
• Proactively managing media relations, including pitching stories, arranging briefings, negotiating deadlines, and coordinating media events and photo opportunities.
• Working collaboratively across the organisation to deliver high-quality communications outputs, including media releases, digital content, email communications, responses to media enquiries and events.
• Using insight, data, evidence and best practice to shape communications activity, monitoring and evaluating impact to drive continuous improvement.
• Ensuring EMCCA branding and messaging are applied consistently, liaising with the Mayor’s Office and wider organisation as appropriate.
• Keeping up to date with developments in communications, engagement, PR and digital channels, and attending relevant training and out-of-hours events when required.
• Ensuring all communications activity complies with legal requirements, codes of practice and organisational policies, including equality, diversity, data protection and governance.

This role does not currently include direct line management responsibility.

What we’re looking for

• A strong track record of developing and delivering long-term engagement strategies or consultation programmes with demonstrable impact across multiple projects.
• Considerable all-round communications experience, including strategy development, media relations, copywriting, campaigns, events and digital content creation.
• Proven organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple campaigns, meet tight deadlines and perform effectively under pressure.
• Experience of working closely with senior leaders and managing complex internal and external stakeholder relationships.
• Strong partnership-working and stakeholder management skills, with experience delivering campaigns alongside partner organisations.
• A relevant degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience delivering public engagement activity, including both digital and in-person events.
• Experience working in local government, the public sector or the third sector.
• Strong digital and analytical skills, including use of CMS platforms, email marketing tools, digital advertising, design software and analytics such as Google Analytics.
• A qualification in marketing, communications, business or a related field.

Our values

We are a values-based organisation, guided by four core values that shape our culture and how we work:

• Lifting our region – putting wider outcomes first and being passionate advocates for place, policy and people.
• Working together – building strong relationships, offering constructive challenge and bringing partners together.
• Making an impact – turning ideas into action and delivering meaningful system-wide change.
• Being human – valuing diverse perspectives and engaging with people in an authentic, empathetic way.

About EMCCA

Our mission is to deliver long-term, systemic impact for the people, businesses and places of the East Midlands. Our vision is a region that is more prosperous, sustainable and fairer — built on strong partnerships and systems leadership.