Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council – a forward-thinking authority with community at its heart – has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Communications Officer to lead a dedicated team managing the council’s day-to-day communications and marketing services.
Key Responsibilities
- Ensuring the council’s relationship with local, national and trade media is managed in line with agreed protocols.
- Coordinating media relations activity, maximising the impact of positive stories and minimising reputational damage.
- Ensuring members and senior officers are advised, fully briefed and prepared to deal with communications matters through effective training and guidance.
- Developing communications and marketing plans for new projects, changes in council services, and events.
- Managing the council’s PR-forward calendar and maximising opportunities that arise to improve the council's profile and reputation.
- Supporting the production of the council's corporate literature, such as the borough magazine and newsletters.
- Overseeing the preparation and production of internal communications materials, including the weekly staff e-newsletter and other promotional materials.
- Ensuring the council’s social media accounts are reviewed daily, customer enquiries and comments are responded to appropriately, and relevant messages are sent out in a timely manner.
- Managing, motivating, recruiting and developing the Communications and Marketing team, ensuring associated targets are achieved.
- Playing an active role representing the council at county and regional communications groups and attending national conferences and related events.
Skills and Experience
- Educated to A-level or equivalent professional/vocational qualification in a relevant subject (e.g., Communications, Journalism, Marketing or PR).
- Extensive working knowledge of a communications (PR/marketing/digital) service and experience liaising with local, regional and national media.
- An eye for detail, excellent proofreading skills, and highly developed communication skills (written, verbal and visual).
- Knowledge of online and social media channels in the public sector.
- Good project management skills and the ability to develop and deliver communications and marketing plans.
- Ability to think creatively and bring a fresh approach to sometimes complex communications issues.
- Collaborative skills, with the ability to establish positive and effective internal and external relationships with key individuals and stakeholders.
- Local Government Pension Scheme with an employer contribution of 19.5%.
- Salary sacrifice schemes.
- Free town-centre car parking during working hours.
- Discounts on council-owned leisure facilities.
- Generous annual leave allowance (starting at 25 days plus Bank Holidays).
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
- Family-friendly policies, including time off for special circumstances, enhanced maternity pay and paternal, shared parental and adoption leave.
- Access to 24/7 staff counselling, information and advice services and a range of wellbeing events.
- Long service and employee recognition awards.
Salary: Starting at £41,992 per annum with progression to £45,089 per annum through annual increments, subject to satisfactory service (inclusive of outer fringe allowance).
Location: Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, and hybrid, with the expectation that you will attend the office three days a week.
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