Communications Manager - Place in Oldbury

Join us at this exciting time as we build on our rapid improvements made over the last few years and set our sights on becoming an outstanding council. In this role you will play a key part in leading our communications team and delivering effective campaigns and guidance to support the achievement of council priorities, aims and objectives. Deliver innovation and improvement that maximises the impact of communications.

Our organisation has been on a successful journey of change over the last four years. We have made huge progress in service delivery for the residents of Sandwell, a vibrant Black Country community with a young, diverse and rapidly growing population. We’re now telling a new story about Sandwell and a strategic communications service is critical to the next phase of our development, driving forward further internal improvements and increasing trust and confidence with our residents and partners.

You will work with our Head of Communications to maximise the effectiveness and impact of our communications service provision, ensuring it is aligned with our organisational‑wide commitment to modernisation and innovation.

Your role

• Bringing fresh thinking and new ideas, you will play a proactive and influential role in managing our communications team and resources across the council.

Key responsibilities

• Leading on all communications activity within Place directorate – to support the delivery of council objectives and priorities.
• Embedding a campaign‑led approach to communications, working with the Head of Communications to deliver a strategic communications service that measures impact and learns lessons.
• Taking a forward‑thinking approach to planning communications to create, update and maintain an organisational narrative that can be deployed tactically to optimum effect.
• Developing and maintaining a clear forward plan for communications and resident engagement.
• Adopting a collaborative, supportive, challenging and hands‑on approach to providing advice, support and guidance to senior leaders.
• Bringing an impactful approach to wide‑ranging aspects of communications such as stakeholder management, media relations, audience research/mapping and behavioural change.
• Acting as a role model within the team for effective communications, and for the council’s values and behaviours.

Your profile

• Educated to degree level and qualified to Chartered Institute of Marketing Level 4 or Chartered Institute of Public Relations Level 4 (or demonstrable relevant experience).
• A proven record of working in a complex environment, including experience of advising senior leaders, negotiating with stakeholders and planning services within a political and partnership context.
• Experience of leading employees, allocating workloads and developing clear content briefs.
• Experience of negotiating and consulting with internal and external stakeholders.
• Knowledge of campaign planning frameworks and a passion for creating meaningful narratives and delivering communications activities that make a tangible difference.
• A well‑developed understanding of the workings of a local authority and how it operates at a corporate and community level.
• The ability to motivate, influence and inspire others through positive relationship‑building, your commitment to excellence and your desire to gain the best possible outcomes for residents.
• An understanding / previous experience of marketing communications is desirable.

Our hybrid working involves a minimum three days a week in the office. There will be a requirement to travel to attend meetings, including public meetings and occasional working outside normal hours.

Closing date: 10th May.