Communications Officer in Bristol

Communications Officer in Bristol

Bristol Full-Time 38220 - 41771 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Create engaging content and support communications campaigns for the Mayor and MCA.
  • Company: Join the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority's dynamic Communications team.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 26 days annual leave, flexible working, and a generous pension scheme.
  • Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping how we communicate with diverse audiences.
  • Qualifications: Strong writing skills and experience in digital content creation are essential.

The predicted salary is between 38220 - 41771 £ per year.

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.
  • What you'll be doing

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.

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 (for example, you might need to submit your application in a different format), please get in touch with our Resourcing Team at Resourcing@westofengland-ca. gov. uk.

We are here to assist and accommodate your needs.

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.

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.

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.

Alongside the opportunity to make a real difference to the people who visit, live and work in the West of England, we offer an excellent benefits package including:

  • 26 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years continuous service.

There is also the option to increase your annual leave with our annual leave purchase scheme.

  • 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.
  • We follow a hybrid working model with typically 2 or 3 days in the office each week
  • Reduced bus fare travel across the West of England, 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.

This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees.

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Communications Officer in Bristol employer: West of England Mayoral Combined Authority

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises collaboration and innovation in the heart of Bath and North East Somerset. Employees benefit from professional growth opportunities, a commitment to public value, and the chance to make a tangible impact on regional development. With a focus on strategic investment and commissioning, this role provides a unique platform for those looking to drive meaningful change in their community.

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Contact Details:

West of England Mayoral Combined Authority Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Communications Officer in Bristol

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We think you need these skills to ace Communications Officer in Bristol

Copywriting Skills
Digital Content Creation
Social Media Management
Audience Adaptation
Communication Principles
Interpersonal Skills
Organisational Skills

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 West of England Mayoral Combined Authority. 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 West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.

How to prepare for a job interview at West of England Mayoral Combined Authority

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.

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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.

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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.