At a Glance
- Tasks: Create engaging content and strengthen community connections to support children's early years.
- Company: Join Thrive at Five, a dynamic charity making a real difference in children's lives.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, pension contributions, and support for your home office setup.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a supportive and impactful environment.
- Why this job: Be part of an ambitious team driving positive change in West Dunbartonshire.
- Qualifications: Experience in communications, copywriting, and community engagement is essential.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
As Thrive at Five expands into Scotland, this is a fantastic opportunity to join our small but ambitious Scottish team as Senior Communications Officer and to be part of our West Dunbarton journey from the start.
Location: This role is community-based in West Dunbartonshire with a minimum of two days on site in the programme location. There may also be occasional travel to other programme sites (currently Stoke on Trent, Redcar & Cleveland, Middlesbrough and Scotland) or travel to our London office.
We are looking for someone who can demonstrate the following:
- Significant experience in a communications role, including experience with copywriting and content creation.
- Experience producing high quality, clear, compelling and audience appropriate content for a range of platforms.
- Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the local community, including its strengths, needs, and challenges.
- Empathy, cultural awareness, and sensitivity when communicating with and about communities whose voices and experiences are often underrepresented, including those with English as an additional language or limited literacy in English.
- The ability to clearly demonstrate our impact and inspire collaboration among our partners by sharing compelling and meaningful stories.
- Strong knowledge and skills in Adobe Creative Suite such as Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop or Canva.
About the role
The responsibilities of this role include:
- Actively identify opportunities where communications can strengthen programme delivery, support parent outreach and increase engagement with families and communities.
- Develop the local stakeholder engagement approach in line with agreed objectives, proactively identifying opportunities to strengthen relationships and using data and team insight to increase engagement.
- Support effective communications with stakeholders across sectors including community, health, education and local organisations.
- Develop and produce compelling, audience focused content for a range of channels, including newsletters, case studies and promotional materials.
- Work closely with our Director Scotland and the team and colleagues across the organisation to align communications priorities with programme and organisational objectives.
About us
Thrive at Five is a national charity focused on giving every child the best possible start in life. Everything we do is to ensure all children in their early years have the strong foundations they need for life and learning. We bring together and work alongside local communities, families and partners to join up and strengthen the early years system, supporting children to thrive from pregnancy to five.
Thrive at Five is a relatively young organisation but with an already strong national and political profile, having been called out in Parliament for our ways of working in Stoke-on-Trent and invited to be interviewed at the 2025 Civil Society Summit by the Secretary of State for Education.
About our benefits
- Pension contributions – We will contribute 3% and you can contribute 5% towards your pension through NEST.
- 25 annual leave days per year plus bank holidays.
- In addition to your laptop and phone provided by us, you can also receive a £100 contribution towards your home-working set up.
- £100 contribution towards your professional body membership.
Please note that as this role is subject to a successful Basic Level Disclosure check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). If you have any unspent convictions, but wish to apply for this role, please advise us in your application. The successful candidate will also need to provide satisfactory references and current right to work in the UK.
Senior Communications Officer, West Dunbartonshire employer: Thrive at Five
Thrive at Five is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment in Middlesbrough. With a strong focus on employee growth, we offer generous benefits including 25 days of annual leave, pension contributions, and support for professional development. Join us in making a meaningful impact on children's lives while being part of a rapidly growing charity that values community engagement and innovation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Communications Officer, West Dunbartonshire
✨Get Involved in PR Events
Dive into local PR meetups and workshops. Events like these are perfect for getting your face out there, chatting with industry pros, and spotting potential job openings at companies like Thrive at Five. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to learn about trends and make lasting connections.
✨Showcase Your PR Skills
Start building your personal brand as a PR ace. Use platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn to share your thoughts on current events or PR campaigns you admire. Tagging companies you want to work for, like Thrive at Five, can catch their eye—especially if your insights resonate!
✨Leverage Your Network
Reach out to friends, family, or connections in the PR field. Even a casual chat can lead to opportunities. If you've got mutual contacts, ask for introductions when applying. Personal recommendations can give your application a nice little boost!
✨Tailor Your Approach
When applying for a full-time PR role, make sure to research Thrive at Five inside and out. Understanding their campaigns, values, and style allows us to directly align our application and impress during interviews. Don't hesitate to apply through our website—going direct can make a real difference!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Communications Officer, West Dunbartonshire
Some tips for your application 🫡
Get Your Story Straight:In public relations, storytelling is everything! Make sure your CV highlights your experience in crafting compelling narratives and managing media relations. Share specific examples of campaigns you've worked on, and don’t forget to include any press coverage you've generated—it's impressive proof of your skills!
Show Off Your Communication Skills:Since PR is all about communication, we want to see your best writing samples. Include pieces like press releases, blog posts, or social media content that you've created. This gives us a taste of your voice and your ability to convey messages clearly and effectively, which is crucial for a role in this field.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter should be more than just a recap of your CV; it’s your chance to shine! Emphasise why PR excites you and how your background fits with the mission of Thrive at Five. Show us that you’ve done your homework and speak to why you’re passionate about the work we do.
Connect the Dots:When you’re writing your application, think about how your past experiences link to the responsibilities of the role. Mention any internships, volunteer work, or projects that involved public speaking, event planning, or strategic communication. This will help us see how you can seamlessly bring your skills into a full-time position at Thrive at Five.
How to prepare for a job interview at Thrive at Five
✨Master the Art of Storytelling
In public relations, storytelling is key. We should prepare compelling narratives about past campaigns or projects we’ve worked on. Think about how we can illustrate our impact and creativity in those stories—be ready to discuss specific examples that showcase our skills in managing media relationships and crafting messages.
✨Know Your PR Tools Inside Out
Familiarity with PR tools like Cision or Meltwater is crucial. We need to be able to discuss how we’ve used these tools in past roles or projects. If we've worked on media lists, press releases, or analytics reports, let’s have those experiences ready to share along with metrics we’ve achieved to back up our claims.
✨Stay Current with Industry Trends
We’ve got to stay sharp on the latest trends and events impacting the public relations field. Having a few insights ready about recent campaigns or shifts in media landscapes can show that we’re engaged and knowledgeable. This will also help us make connections between our experiences and the current state of the industry.
✨Showcase Our Versatility
As full-time PR professionals, we need to demonstrate our adaptability. Be ready to talk about how we've handled challenging situations, managed crises, or adapted strategies on the fly. Employers will appreciate our ability to pivot and find solutions under pressure, so let’s have those scenarios at our fingertips to discuss.