At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead media relations, create engaging content, and manage communications campaigns.
- Company: Join the ambitious Communications team at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.
- Benefits: Attractive salary, hybrid working, 26 days leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Supportive culture with opportunities for growth and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact through creative communications and support your community.
- Qualifications: Experienced in media relations, campaign delivery, and excellent communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 39148 - 39148 £ per year.
Tell our story. Protect our reputation. Make a difference. Some roles write about what an organisation does. This role helps ensure people understand the services we provide, the decisions we make and the difference we deliver to our communities.
We're looking for an experienced communications professional to join our Communications team. This is a varied and rewarding role leading media relations, delivering communications and marketing campaigns, managing internal communications channels and providing trusted advice on sensitive and high-profile issues. Working closely with senior officers, elected members and colleagues across the organisation, you'll help ensure our communications are clear, accurate and effective. You’ll also play a key role in emergency communications planning, support the delivery of the Council's Community Lottery and deputise for the Communications Manager when required.
What you’ll be doing
- Lead the Council's media relations and public relations activity.
- Deliver creative communications and marketing campaigns across multiple channels.
- Provide expert advice on complex, sensitive and reputation-impacting issues.
- Create engaging content for media, digital, social and internal channels.
- Coordinate communications during emergencies and major incidents.
- Manage day-to-day internal communications channels, including the intranet and all staff communications.
- Manage and promote the Council’s lottery, attracting new good causes and increasing participation.
- Support and develop members of the Communications team.
About you
We're looking for someone who combines creativity with sound judgement. You’ll be an experienced communications professional with a strong background in media relations, campaign delivery and reputation management. You’ll have exceptional writing skills, excellent political awareness and the confidence to advise senior leaders and elected members. Most importantly, you’ll be:
- An excellent communicator who can explain complex information clearly and effectively.
- Calm under pressure and comfortable handling sensitive issues.
- Organised, adaptable and able to manage competing priorities.
- A collaborative leader who motivates and supports others.
- Passionate about delivering communications that make a genuine impact.
Experience in local government, public sector communications, crisis communications or organisational change communications would be advantageous.
Our Communications team is small but ambitious. We work on everything from media relations and corporate campaigns to social media, internal communications, emergency response communications and reputation management. Team members enjoy the variety of the work and the supportive culture that comes with it.
What we offer
- An attractive salary within a clear pay structure: salary starting at £39,148, rising to £40,178 after one year and £41,208 after two years (subject to manager’s approval).
- 26 days annual leave, increasing to 29 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays and three additional days in December.
- Local Government Pension Scheme with employer contributions.
- Hybrid working, with 1-2 days working from home following probation.
- Access to HAPI benefits, wellbeing support and employee discounts.
- Ongoing professional development and learning opportunities.
If you're an experienced communications professional looking for a role where your ideas, judgement and creativity can genuinely make a difference, we'd love to hear from you.
Tunbridge Wells – Working for Equality. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.
Safeguarding
The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
Senior Communications Officer in Royal Tunbridge Wells employer: Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that values transparency and accountability. Employees benefit from opportunities for professional growth within the public sector, while contributing to meaningful governance initiatives that impact the local community. Located in the picturesque Royal Tunbridge Wells, staff enjoy a vibrant environment that fosters collaboration and innovation.
Contact Details:
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Communications Officer in Royal Tunbridge Wells
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We think you need these skills to ace Senior Communications Officer in Royal Tunbridge Wells
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 Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. 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 Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.
How to prepare for a job interview at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
✨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.
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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.
