Senior Communications Officer

Senior Communications Officer
Location: Harrow / Hybrid
Pay rate: £36 per hour umbrella
Contract: Temporary
Working pattern: Hybrid – a mixture of home working, Council offices and client premises
Directorate: Resources
Division: Strategy and Partnerships
We are currently recruiting for an experienced Senior Communications Officer to join the Communications team at a London local authority.
Reporting to the Head of Communications, you will play a key role in developing and delivering strategic communications campaigns that promote Council services, policies and objectives. You will support reputation management, resident engagement, behaviour change and effective communication with internal and external stakeholders.
This is a senior role requiring excellent media, digital communications, stakeholder-management and political awareness skills.
Key responsibilities

• Develop, deliver and evaluate integrated communications and engagement campaigns.
• Provide strategic communications advice to senior officers, elected Members and external partners.
• Manage media enquiries and develop positive relationships with journalists.
• Advise on reputational risks, media handling, public affairs and sensitive communications issues.
• Produce press releases, news stories, case studies, speeches, reports and promotional materials.
• Manage and create content for social media and other digital communications channels.
• Contribute to internal and external publications, including newsletters, magazines, websites and intranet content.
• Identify positive stories about Council services, staff and community impact.
• Support and lead consultation and resident-engagement activity.
• Brief and support senior officers and Members for press and broadcast interviews.
• Coordinate design, photography, video and print production.
• Monitor and evaluate communications, social media and campaign performance.
• Support internal communications and staff engagement.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders on joint communications projects.
• Participate in the out-of-hours press office rota, including weekend and emergency communications cover.
• Attend meetings, events, press conferences and interviews as required.

The successful candidateYou will have:

• Proven experience working in a senior communications role.
• Experience developing, implementing and evaluating communications campaigns.
• Strong media relations experience, including handling reactive and sensitive enquiries.
• Experience creating engaging content for press releases, publications, websites, social media and internal communications.
• Experience working with senior managers, elected Members and external stakeholders.
• Excellent writing, storytelling, editing and communication skills.
• Experience managing social media channels and digital content.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities and tight deadlines.
• The ability to identify reputational risks and provide clear advice and recommendations.
• Experience handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Strong ICT skills and the ability to analyse and present information clearly.
• Flexibility to work outside normal office hours when required.
• A degree or equivalent relevant professional experience.

Experience of working within local government or another complex political or public-sector environment would be advantageous.
The role involves travel around the borough and between Council offices, as well as participation in out-of-hours media duties, including weekend cover and Member-level meetings.
To apply, please submit your up-to-date CV as soon as possible.

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