Communications Officer in Bristol

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) is seeking to appoint a Communications Officer to join our Communications team. Reporting to the News and Media Manager, you’ll play a key role in supporting the MCA’s communications and campaigns, helping us communicate clearly and effectively with a wide range of audiences.

We’re looking for a creative, confident and digitally savvy communicator with strong copywriting skills and a flair for producing engaging content. You’ll be someone who understands how to adapt messages for different audiences and platforms, from social media and digital content to media releases and other communications materials. You’ll work across the Communications team, helping to coordinate external communications and support activity that raises the profile of the Mayor and the work of the Combined Authority.

This is a critical time in our transformation and growth journey, and you’ll be pivotal in helping us achieve our ambitions by:

• Creating engaging and accessible content across a range of communications channels.
• Supporting communications campaigns that promote the Mayor’s priorities and the work of the MCA.
• Writing copy for press releases, social media, blogs and digital content.
• Supporting the development of positive relationships with regional media.
• Helping to produce briefings, presentations, reports and other communications materials.
• Ensuring our messaging is clear, consistent and appropriate for different audiences.

Are you someone who can write compelling copy, create engaging digital content and adapt your communication style for different audiences, while working collaboratively and managing competing priorities? As Communications Officer, you’ll support the delivery of communications activity across the organisation. You’ll write and develop content for a variety of platforms, including press releases, social media, blogs and digital channels, ensuring our communications are engaging, accurate and accessible.

You’ll help manage social media channels and websites, creating content that supports campaigns and projects and helps us connect with our audiences. You’ll also support the development and delivery of communications campaigns, bringing creative ideas and helping to promote the activities and achievements of the Mayor and the Combined Authority. Building strong relationships will be an important part of the role. You’ll work with colleagues across the organisation, external stakeholders and regional media, helping to support positive coverage and responding to media queries when required. You’ll also help monitor and respond to issues that could affect the organisation’s reputation, ensuring responses are timely, accurate and appropriate.

You’ll be a communications, marketing or media professional with experience creating engaging content and working across digital and traditional communication channels. We’re particularly interested in people who can demonstrate:

• Excellent writing skills and the ability to adapt copy for a range of audiences.
• Experience creating successful digital content and managing social media channels.
• The ability to translate complex or technical information into clear, accessible plain English.
• Experience working with multiple external partners and internal stakeholders.
• Creativity and the ability to produce engaging content for online and traditional channels.
• Experience planning and supporting integrated communications campaigns across a range of channels.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the confidence to work effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage your own workload and meet deadlines.

You’ll be educated to degree level or have equivalent professional experience, with a good understanding of communication principles, tools and techniques across digital and traditional platforms. It would also be great if you have a recognised professional qualification in communications, PR or marketing, experience using website content management systems, or knowledge of filming, photography and video editing.

This is an opportunity to join a collaborative Communications team at an exciting time for the West of England. You’ll have the opportunity to help shape how the MCA communicates with its audiences, bringing your creativity and ideas to campaigns and content that showcase the work of the Mayor and the Combined Authority. You’ll work across a wide range of communications channels, collaborating with colleagues and external stakeholders to ensure our messages are clear, consistent and engaging. This is an opportunity to make a real difference — using your communication skills and creativity to help tell the story of the work we’re doing across the West of England.

If you have any questions for the recruitment team you can contact us on Resourcing@westofengland-ca.gov.uk.

We offer an excellent benefits package including:

• 26 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years continuous service.
• 2 days of paid leave each year to volunteer.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
• Flexible, family friendly and hybrid working options to ensure you achieve the best work/life balance and career goals.
• Reduced bus fare travel across the West of England.

We believe in fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, empowering you to thrive in your career. We prioritise your growth and success by providing a diverse range of learning and development opportunities. Our goal is to keep you motivated, equipped with essential skills, and confident in delivering excellent services.

The salary for this role is £38,220 - £41,771. This is the full-time equivalent salary, and will be pro-rata for part-time. We advertise salary ranges for job roles, with new appointments for external candidates typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, where higher skill levels or experience are applicable, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate.

As a founding Member of the West of England Good Employment Charter and accredited Living Wage Employer, we’re committed to creating a diverse environment where all our employees can thrive. We make sure all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment and we particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or citizenship status.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, condition or need any additional support that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process, please get in touch with our Resourcing Team at Resourcing@westofengland-ca.gov.uk. We are here to assist and accommodate your needs.

While we recognise that some applicants may use AI tools, these should support your writing rather than replace your own voice. AI can be a helpful aid, but your personal insight and individuality are what matter most to us.

Our roles close at midnight on the closing date. Please note this vacancy may close early or be extended depending on the number of applications so please don’t wait to apply. If you have started your application, we’ll give you notice of the new closing date by email.

We’re not engaging with agencies for this role. Any CVs received from agencies will be considered as unsolicited and the property of the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, with no obligation to pay agency fees.