Communications Officer in Oxford

Oxford is a wonderful city, and the City Council is working hard every day to make it even better. We’re going further and faster than any city in the UK to tackle the climate emergency; we’re spending £9m annually to tackle homelessness; we’re building hundreds of new homes for Oxford’s families and young people; and we’re fighting health and social inequality with millions of pounds of investment in grass‑roots community and leisure facilities. Whether it’s encouraging Oxford residents to take part in consultations, inspiring them to help tackle the climate emergency, or raising awareness for how the City Council’s work is making a difference, we believe communications is key to everything we do.

You will have exceptional written and visual storytelling skills and a creative flair and will be able to employ a range of traditional, social and digital communications methods. But, most importantly, we’re looking for someone who wants to help us make a difference for the people and city of Oxford.

Role purpose

• Design and deliver campaigns to promote Oxford City Council as an effective and efficient council and provider of high quality, value for money services.
• Secure and monitor wide coverage of the council’s decisions, policies and activities in the local, national and specialist media.
• Identify, develop and deliver new and creative communication and engagement opportunities.
• Contribute and monitor the production and development of the council’s corporate publications.

Role responsibilities and main duties

• To support the Communications Team and work in partnership across all service areas to ensure communication activities are planned, sustained and deliver the council’s key messages to external and internal audiences by:
• Protecting and enhancing Oxford City Council’s reputation locally, regionally and nationally.
• Contributing to the development of the council’s external and internal communications strategy and plans.
• Developing and delivering a continuous programme of high quality, value for money publicity campaigns aligned to the council key priorities.
• Delivering an effective, efficient and proactive media relations and crisis communications service building successful partnerships with print and broadcast media.
• Playing a key role in contributing to and assisting in the production of the council’s corporate publications.
• Monitor and support continuous service improvement, challenge existing practice and actively seek innovative ways of improving performance and achieving efficiencies.
• Monitoring the council’s social media accounts, and interacting and updating as required, and monitoring press coverage both locally and nationally.
• Building strong relationships and work collaboratively with partners, including key internal and external stakeholders, to create and deliver joint communications campaigns.
• Advising officers and council members on all matters relating to communications, and acting as an ambassador for the communications service.
• Maintaining a good knowledge of UK current affairs and local government issues.
• Participating in any training deemed necessary to undertake the duties of the post and development of self in order to build capacity for future needs and delivery of service objectives.
• To work in a flexible manner and to be willing to undertake other duties as reasonably requested including outside of office hours.
• Participating in the adoption and promotion of the council equalities and carbon management initiative.
• Any other responsibilities that may be requested by the Communications Manager, Deputy Chief Executives or Chief Executive.