At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic communications team and shape impactful messages for the community.
- Company: Join Epping Forest District Council, a forward-thinking organisation making a difference.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hands-on experience, and the chance to influence local governance.
- Other info: Great opportunity for career growth and exposure to strategic change.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a varied role while supporting your community.
- Qualifications: Experience in communications and team leadership with a proactive attitude.
The predicted salary is between 56413 - 56413 £ per year.
We are delighted to be working with Epping Forest District Council to recruit a Corporate Communications Team Manager. Are you an experienced communications professional ready to step up and make a real impact? We’re offering a 12-month secondment or fixed term contract opportunity to cover maternity leave within our communications team as Corporate Communications Team Manager. This is a great opportunity to lead a high-performing team, shape service delivery, and play a key role in wider organisational priorities, including exposure to Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) activity.
It’s a busy, varied, and hands-on role, ideal for someone who enjoys working at pace, getting involved in all sorts of communications activity, and working closely with colleagues across the organisation. You’ll be leading a talented comms team, but this isn’t just about management; you will be right in the middle of things, helping shape messages, jumping on reactive issues, supporting senior leaders and making sure we’re communicating clearly and confidently with our residents.
About the role
Reporting to the Service Manager, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day leadership and management of the Corporate Communications function, ensuring delivery of high-quality outcomes for our residents. You’ll be part of the wider management team, working collaboratively across the Council to drive continuous improvement, innovation, and transformation. Alongside leading the team, you’ll also be actively involved in delivering communications, helping to shape messages, support services, and respond to emerging issues.
No two days are the same, but you can expect to:
- Lead and support the comms team day-to-day
- Get stuck into the detail as well as the bigger picture
- Work closely with services across the Council
- Manage a mix of planned and reactive communications
- Support senior leaders and Councillors
- Oversee our digital channels
- Play a key role in wider organisational work
- Keep an eye on what’s working (and what isn’t)
What you’ll be doing
You’ll be working in a fast-paced Communications team, where service delivery and clear, effective communication are at the heart of what we do. You’ll work with a great team who are supportive, proactive and happy to get stuck in. It’s the kind of role where you can genuinely make a difference, both in how the Council communicates and how people experience our services.
No two days are the same, but you can expect to lead and support the comms team day-to-day, get stuck into the detail as well as the bigger picture, work closely with services across the Council, manage a mix of planned and reactive communications, support senior leaders and Councillors, oversee our digital channels, play a key role in wider organisational work, keep an eye on what’s working (and what isn’t).
About you
We’re looking for a confident, organised and forward-thinking communications leader who can motivate and support a team to deliver excellent services for our communities. You’ll set clear expectations, create a positive and accountable culture, recognise success and address performance issues constructively. With strong organisational skills and sound judgement, you’ll be comfortable deputising for the Service Manager, balancing strategic priorities with hands-on communications activity, and making effective decisions in a fast-paced environment.
You’ll bring experience of customer-focused, multi-channel communications, including websites, digital platforms, social media and internal channels, and use insight, technology and continuous improvement to strengthen how we communicate and deliver services. An excellent communicator, you’ll build strong relationships with colleagues, stakeholders, partners, senior leaders and elected Members, representing the Council professionally while maintaining high standards of governance, risk management, safeguarding and compliance.
Previous experience in communications and team leadership is important, but your attitude is just as important. We are looking for someone who’s proactive, levelheaded, and enjoys working as part of a team.
Why this role?
This is a fantastic opportunity to lead a high-performing Communications team, gain valuable experience in strategic and organisational change work, work across a wide range of communications activity in a genuinely varied role, play a key part in how the Council communicates with and supports its residents, get exposure to strategic and change work, including Local Government Reorganisation, build experience across a wide range of communications activity, make a real impact in a short space of time.
Please submit your application here by 27th August (deadline at 23:59). If you have any questions, feel free to contact Sarah Kits 01992564000. Epping Forest District Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Team Manager - Corporate Communications - Epping Forest District Council employer: Essex County Council
Essex County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises the well-being of its employees while making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and young people. With flexible working arrangements and opportunities for professional development, staff are encouraged to grow within their roles, all while contributing to a vital service in the heart of Chelmsford.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Team Manager - Corporate Communications - Epping Forest District Council
✨Join PR Communities
Get involved in local PR groups or online communities where professionals gather to share opportunities and insights. Engage in conversations on platforms like Twitter or LinkedIn—spotting temporary roles often happens in these spaces.
✨Attend PR Events
Look for industry events, workshops, or conferences that focus on public relations. Not only will you learn from the pros, but you might also meet someone who's looking for temporary help, which is perfect for a gig like this!
✨Showcase Your Skills
Create a portfolio that highlights any past PR work, campaigns, or even university projects. Share it on your social media or PR forums—you want to make sure your great work is visible when the right temporary role comes up.
✨Apply Directly on Our Website
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We think you need these skills to ace Team Manager - Corporate Communications - Epping Forest District Council
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:When you're applying for a temporary role in public relations, your cover letter is your chance to show off your passion for the field. Highlight any relevant PR experience you have, even if it's just through internships or volunteer work. Tell us why you're excited about the opportunity at Essex County Council and how you can help make an impact, even in a short time!
Showcase Your Communication Skills:Public relations is all about communicating effectively, so make sure your CV reflects this! Use clear, concise language and showcase any writing samples you might have, such as press releases, blog posts, or social media campaigns. Including a link to a portfolio could really set you apart from other candidates.
Demonstrate Flexibility and Adaptability:Since this is a temporary role, we want to see how quickly you can jump in and start contributing. Mention past experiences where you successfully managed multiple tasks or quickly adapted to changing situations. It’s these qualities that will show us you can thrive at Essex County Council even on a short-term basis!
Research Essex County Council and the Industry:Before submitting your application, take some time to learn about Essex County Council and its approach to PR. Mention anything specific you like about their campaigns or strategies in your cover letter. This extra effort shows us you're genuinely interested and ready to bring your unique perspective to the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Essex County Council
✨Brush Up on Your Crisis Management Skills
In public relations, handling crises is key. Be ready to discuss past situations where you managed communication challenges effectively. Bring examples that showcase your quick thinking and strategic response – they want to see you in action!
✨Show Off Your Portfolio of Campaigns
Since this is a temporary role, showcasing your portfolio is crucial. Make sure you have a collection of your best press releases, campaign plans, or media coverage. You want to prove you can hit the ground running and bring valuable experience to Essex County Council right away!
✨Know Your Media Landscape
A strong PR candidate should be familiar with the media landscape. Brush up on key journalists, publications, and current trends in communications. Think about how you’d tailor messages to different media outlets – you might get asked about this during the interview!
✨Be Ready to Discuss Networking Strategies
Networking is a big part of PR work, especially in a temporary role. Be prepared to chat about your previous networking experiences or how you plan to build key relationships quickly at Essex County Council. They’ll want to know you can create buzz and leverage your connections immediately!
