Communications Officer – Marketing

Interim Communications Officer – Marketing

Reference no:  Cambridge 5228814

Pay Rate: £300.00 per day PAYE 

This opening assignment is for 3 months

Hybrid working

Enhanced DBS disclosure is listed as a requirement for this role

The successful candidate will work as part of the Transformation Team in providing effective communications that meets the needs of programme, including but not limited to, supporting the organisation through the Senior Management Review, owning the Town Hall comms and working with senior leaders to ensure communications are clear and effective.

Key Responsibilities:

• Working with colleagues at all levels to develop, shape and agree key messages and the best way to communicate them.
• Writing and editing copy for news releases, the council’s internal and external publications and online channels including the website, intranet and social media.
• Commissioning and overseeing the design of graphics, short videos, and other digital and non-digital products occasionally from external suppliers to agreed specifications
• Leading on communications on specific topics (this will include Our Cambridge/the transformation programme), managing planned activity, producing external and internal marketing products, supporting specific projects, initiatives and special events
• Providing a media handling service, including providing advice to colleagues and non-experts and working with colleagues to formulate and agree responses to media enquiries that ensure the council is fairly represented
• Contributing to the analysis of performance by using metrics to monitor and evaluate effectiveness and efficiency.
• Working with partner organisations and council colleagues to deliver communications activity (particularly on pandemic matters) that meet shared objectives, attending meetings virtually and in person, as required;
• To deputise for the Corporate Marketing & Communications Manager on occasions and to carry out any other duties as required from time to time in accordance with the grading of the post.

“Role Requirements” – to give yourself the maximum chance of success please try and ensure your CV addresses the following essential criteria:

Qualifications:

1. CIPR or CIM qualification or equivalent, or a strong communications, marketing or PR background with demonstrable practical experience desirable.

Experience:

1. Minimum of 12 months recent experience in a similar role, or context and ideally within a public sector organisation.
2. Proven, in depth experience of working in communications, marketing or PR for a sizeable organisation and of using the range of internal and external communications channels.
3. Experience of working with colleagues to develop key messages on particular matters and best way to communicate them.
4. Experience of writing and editing copy to a high standard for news releases, internal and external publications and online channels such as a website, intranet and social media, using plain English standards to demanding deadlines.
5. Experience of leading on specific communications matters, managing planned activity and working in a structured manner to deliver digital and non-digital communications products targeting different audiences.
6. Experience of providing media handling advice to colleagues and non-experts and working with others to formulate and agree responses to media enquiries that ensure the council is fairly represented.
7. Experience of working to demanding deadlines and of working in a flexible way, switching tasks and priorities as the situation demands.
8. Experience of managing external suppliers.
9. Experience of working on organisational transformation programmes.

Skills & Abilities:

1. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
2. Excellent knowledge of writing and editing to plain English standards and adapting writing styles to different audiences and media
3. Good knowledge and understanding of media relations and responding to media approaches
4. Knowledge of creative techniques that can maximise opportunities for innovative digital communications such as video, GIFs, infographics, animations
5. Excellent prioritisation skills and the ability to work with accuracy, sometimes at pace.
6. Strong IT skills including Microsoft packages or equivalent (e.g. G Suite).

NB: Please feel free to apply to us direct via [email protected] by quoting the job reference and job title exactly. SEE DETAILS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS AD.

If you have previously applied to one of our vacancies and have already sent the required supporting documentation to us, please make this clear when you re-apply as this will help speed up your application.

To help speed up the process of uploading your CV to the client we would suggest that you send us your CV in Word format (or equivalent) if possible, rather than as a PDF

If you are successful in securing this role, please note that for the entire duration of this contract, regardless of extension you will be working this role at the PAYE rate that has been advertised. For absolute clarity, we only work on a PAYE basis, rather than entertaining umbrella pay terms, we do not offer Ltd/umbrella or outside IR35 rates. If you wish to understand PAYE vs Umbrella more, please let us know and we can send you some additional information for clarity.