Interim Senior Communications & Engagement Officer – Marketing

Reference no:  Oxfordshire 5224981

Pay Rate: Up to £225.00 per day PAYE depending on experience

This opening assignment is for 5-6 months

The postholder will be responsible for supporting the communications and engagement manager (strategic programmes) in the development and coordination of communications and engagement strategies for a range of priority council strategic programmes. Working closely with key stakeholders, including programme and project managers, the postholder will ensure that gathered insight informs and supports communications and engagement planning.

The postholder will deliver and evaluate effective and engaging activity to improve the understanding of local priorities and needs relating to the council’s strategic programmes, utilising a range of channels including media and digital campaigns, internal communications, stakeholder engagement and public consultation and engagement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan, develop and implement communications and engagement strategies and plans for projects and programmes to meet corporate and service priorities.
• Provide the highest standards of professional communications, engagement and consultation advice and support to service leads and members.
• Protect and promote the strategic programmes’ work and reputation using the full communications, marketing and engagement mix.
• Ensure effective, legal and safe management and delivery of relevant consultation and engagement activity.
• Develop and deliver strategic communications and engagement plans covering media and public relations, stakeholder engagement, public affairs, campaigns, marketing, digital and social media, consultation and engagement, internal communications (staff and councillor) and engagement, in line with project and programme requirements.
• Work with the communications and engagement manager (strategic programmes) to manage and prioritise incoming work requests from service areas, managing expectations and demand.
• Deliver high-quality communications and consultations that increase public understanding of and engagement with the council’s priority strategic programmes.
• Support and upskill council services to improve consultation and engagement practice including: providing advice and guidance, promoting self-service and quality assuring service area-led activity.
• Analyse and report the findings of consultation and engagement activity in appropriate formats for different audiences, working together with the council’s wider engagement and consultation team. Quality assure the outputs from third party agencies if they are leading.
• Develop and maintain strong links with partner organisations, particularly their communications teams.
• Represent the communications and engagement team at internal and external meetings, writing and presenting reports and delivering presentations as necessary.
• Ensure all communications and engagement material is of the highest professional quality.
• Support project and programme managers to horizon scan potential communications ‘opportunities’ and ‘problem’ areas and lead and support communications and engagement officers to develop and agree corresponding communications and engagement strategies, prepare briefs and statements if required.

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

Qualifications:

1. Education to degree level or equivalent in another qualification or significant relevant professional experience.

Experience:

1. Minimum of 12 months recent experience in a similar role, or context and ideally within a public sector organisation.
2. Significant experience of working within communications, marketing and engagement teams.
3. Significant experience of working on and using a range of communication, marketing and engagement methods and channels.
4. Experience of working on large and complex infrastructure or regeneration projects or programmes that include significant consultation and engagement activity.
5. Experience of working in a high pressure, deadline driven environment.
6. Experience in working with senior representatives and advising them on how best to communicate and engage.
7. Experience in developing effective news management strategies and working with the media at all levels.

Knowledge:

1. Understanding and knowledge of national and local government, working in partnership regionally and locally.
2. Knowledge of the effective management and implementation of the full mix of communications, marketing and engagement channels and activities.
3. In-depth knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of consultation and engagement methodologies including surveys, focus groups, workshops and in-depth interviews.
4. Understanding of the news creation process and the culture and structure of the local, national, trade and broadcast media.

Skills & Abilities:

1. Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage a large number of tasks to multiple deadlines.
2. Excellent, speedy and accurate copywriting skills with experience of writing in different formats and for different audiences, including digital channels.
3. Ability to think strategically in managing sensitive and important issues.
4. Ability to consult/engage a wide range of people including residents, service users, children and young people, people with disabilities, carers, older people, staff and stakeholders.
5. Ability to write and deliver communication and engagement strategies and plans.
6. Ability to work under pressure and cope with heavy workloads.
7. Ability to prioritise and work to tight deadlines.
8. ICT Skills: 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.