Communications Officer

Salary: £17.14 per hour

Communications Officer role with Basildon Council. 

£17.14 per hour PAYE / £18.04 per hour Umbrella PAYE

MAIN PURPOSE

To support the work of the communications team in delivering effective, value for money campaigns and marketing activities.

Work to the Senior Account Manager and provide support for designing campaigns for service areas of the council.

The post holder will have specific responsibilities for the management and development of the council’s social media channels and for event organisation and support.

They will use their skills creativity to develop and edit written content, photography and video.

Promote a positive and open working relationship with the media.

Assist the production of core council publications and enewsletters, by providing content.

Produce news summaries for distribution to the organisation.

Monitor and measure press coverage.

Agree statements, responses and quotes with relevant officers, senior managers and members.

The post holder will also provide administrative support, including responsibility for invoicing and processing payments.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Borough of Basildon is undergoing an enormous amount of change. With millions of pounds being invested in the area, there will be significant opportunities for the council to improve residents’ satisfaction and help strengthen the local economy.

The council is also changing to ensure its resources are best deployed to achieve the outcomes set out in its corporate plan.

The Communications Team plays an important role, making sure staff, residents and business people are kept informed of what is happening and why, and of the positive results the council is achieving across all its services.

DUTIES

1. Use a variety of communication channels to promote a positive image of the council and promote its policies to residents, businesses, visitors, employees, tourists and other key audiences.

2. Generate and manage content for use in the council’s maintained communications channels, including social media accounts, website, residents’ magazine, enewsletters, and for placement in third party channels. This will include photographic, graphic and video content and authoring and editing written copy.

3. Design and implement plans to grow the council’s social media reach using creativity and best practice from other organisations.

4. Monitor and measure reaction to council generated content and content generated about the council.

5. Use insight and data from a variety of sources to develop creative communications plans that support the achievement of the council’s objectives.

6. Support the Communications team to deliver effective, value for money campaigns and marketing for Basildon Borough Council services.

7. Deliver marketing campaigns and monitor their effectiveness.

8. To build relationships with external suppliers and support the Creative and Brand Manager with commissioning where appropriate.

9. To advise on most effective channels according to a brief.

10. Assist in raising sponsorship and advertising for key channels such as the residents’ magazine, enewsletter and other key events, like the Staff Awards.

11. Coordinate use of the communications workflow system to monitor and schedule work, maintain accurate records and manage the delivery of communications including print.

12. Liaise with external service providers, as required.

13. To manage budgets for specific projects and day to day responsibility for monitoring the communications budget, issuing invoices and processing payments.

14. Support the designer in artworking / text updates to promotional materials.

15. To research, write and publish news releases and respond to media enquiries in line with Council procedures and quality guidelines.

16. Develop contacts and build relationships throughout the local media, but also trade and national press.

17. Provide advice to senior council officers, senior members, client departments and contractors on a range of communications issues, attending committees and other meetings when required.

18. To manage approvals of responses, quotes and statements with relevant officers, senior managers and members.

19. Participate in the copywriting and development of promotional materials and campaigns.

20. Upload press releases to social media and the website.

21. Develop and keep updated a press contacts list.

22. Measure and monitor press coverage in line for evaluation.

23. Log all press enquiries onto a database for ease of reference

24. To attend meetings and events, including those in the evening and weekend, as directed by the Head of Communications.

25. Undertake all the duties within the framework of Equal Opportunities.

26. Any other duties appropriate to the post: These other duties must be equivalent to or below the salary and status of the role and, where appropriate, under the Equality Act 2010, due consideration must be given to any employees with a “protected characteristic”.

27. You must cooperate in all matters relating to Health and Safety and implement all procedures for your job role. The identification of Health and Safety related risks within the working environment must be highlighted to your management.