Communications and Engagement Lead

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) is seeking to appoint two Communications and Engagement Leads, one to support our Strategic Growth & Place Team and another, our Mass Transit Team. Your key responsibilities would be to build public understanding, stakeholder confidence and political support for some of the region’s most significant programmes, shaping how the West of England grows over the coming decades. We’re looking for a dynamic, strategic communicator who is passionate about inclusive, sustainable growth and the future of our region. This is your opportunity to help craft the story of how we deliver new homes, jobs, infrastructure and a transformational mass transit system.

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

• Supporting the development of compelling narratives around growth, infrastructure, transport and place making.
• Developing and delivering proactive engagement and consultation activity across major programmes.
• Ensuring consistency of messaging and engagement approaches across strategic growth initiatives.
• Completing high quality public consultations that reach diverse communities across the region.
• Providing expert advice to senior leaders on communications risks, opportunities and reputation management.

What You’ll Be Doing

Are you someone who can translate complex technical information into clear messages, build strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, and ultimately always focuses on inclusive, meaningful engagement?

• Lead communications, engagement and consultation activity across major growth or transport programmes.
• Build and manage relationships with local, regional and national stakeholders to secure confidence and support.
• Work closely with delivery teams to ensure a coherent, coordinated regional narrative around economic growth.
• Plan and lead public consultations from design and promotion to analysis and dissemination.
• Manage external consultants delivering communications, engagement and consultation work.
• Operate effectively within a matrix managed environment, collaborating across directorates and programmes.
• Support senior leaders with briefings, advice and insight.
• Develop brand identity for major programmes.

What You’ll Bring

You’ll be a confident communicator with:

• Strong understanding of communications, engagement and consultation principles in a public sector environment.
• Experience delivering communications and engagement for complex, high profile transport or infrastructure projects.
• Proven ability to develop and implement communications and engagement strategies.
• Experience delivering or overseeing public consultation and community engagement activity.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, political sensitivity, tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to develop compelling narratives around complex policy and delivery programmes.

We’re particularly interested in people who bring:

• Understanding of local, regional and national context around strategic growth, place or transport.
• Knowledge of how major projects are developed, approved and funded.
• Experience managing consultation related contracts or project workstreams.

Why choose us?

This team sits at the heart of shaping the future of the West of England, from new homes and innovation districts to a transformational mass transit system. You’ll join a collaborative, forward thinking organisation committed to inclusive, sustainable growth. This is an opportunity to make a real difference: helping communities understand, shape and support the projects that will define our region for generations.

Our offer

We are based in a new bright and airy office, with all the latest technology, close to Bristol Temple Meads Train Station. 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.

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 £52,413 - £55,722. 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.

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.

Fair and Inclusive Recruitment

As part of our commitment to fair and inclusive recruitment, we provide interview questions to all shortlisted candidates in advance/on request. This approach helps ensure everyone can demonstrate their skills, knowledge and experience fully, and supports our duties under the Equality Act 2010. You will also be asked follow-up questions during the interview to explore your responses in more detail.

Reasonable Adjustments

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.

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We want to understand the real person behind each application. 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.

The interviews are planned to be held w/c 1st September 2026 but please note the date may change. The closing date for this role is midnight on Sunday 16th August.

Closing dates

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.

From a recruitment agency? 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.