*JOB OF THE WEEK* director communications and engagement, qualifications wales

Director Communications and Engagement

Qualifications Wales

Salary: Band 6 - £76,715 - £88,023 per annum

Contractual hours: 37

Basis: Full time

Location: South Wales

Package

In addition to salary, we offer 31 days annual leave (in addition to public holidays and up to three days office closure at Christmas), flexible working arrangements and membership of the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Job reference: REC000050-26

Closing date: 15 October 2026

Attachments

Director Communications and Engagement

Cyfarwyddwr Cyfathrebu ac Ymgysylltu

Job description

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer the Director of Communications and Engagement is responsible for providing strategic leadership and advice on communications, public relations and stakeholder engagement. The post holder will be expected to continually develop and deliver a communications and engagement strategy on behalf of the organisation, thereby supporting one of its principal aims of promoting public confidence in qualifications and the qualifications system in Wales.

The post-holder will manage a function that currently has 12 employees who carry out a range of different activities including: media relations; content creation, publishing and editing; social media and website strategy ; social media publishing and monitoring; newsletter production; campaign management; stakeholder engagement, relationship management and support to examination centres. It is the role of the post-holder to bring together and align these different activities in a cohesive manner so that they support the organisation’s communications strategy. They will also oversee a budget of around £250k for event sponsorship and external support services, including the translation of content into Welsh.

The post holder will be a member of Qualifications Wales’ Management Board and senior leadership group and as such will have a shared responsibility for embedding the organisation’s corporate values and its approach to continuous improvement.  As a manager of staff the post holder will be expected to maintain a consistent and effective approach to the management of people, processes and resources.

This role requires excellent oral and written bilingual (Cymraeg and English) communication skills, including being able challenge constructively and influence others.  Verbal Cymraeg ability will take precedence over written ability.

Hybrid – our employees work on a hybrid basis, this means that the contractual base is our office at Imperial Park, Newport, NP10 8AR, but that employees can work flexibly with a balance between home and office, for a full-time equivalent this usually amounts to 40% of the working week in the office.  This role is not considered to be suitable for a homeworking arrangement.

We anticipate that the new Director of Communications and Engagement may need to work from the office more regularly at the outset of the appointment to build working relationships and knowledge.

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*JOB OF THE WEEK* senior comms and campaigns officer, ealing council

Senior Comms and Campaigns Officer

Ealing Council

Location: Ealing, Ealing, Greater London W5 2HL

Salary: £53,919 to £56,058 per year

Permanent - Full-time

Job reference: AD1680039EalSCCO

Closing date: Friday 25 September 2026

Making change 

Our borough is amazing, but we know it can change for the better.

It’s an exciting time to join us, here at Ealing Council.  We have just launched our new 4-year council plan and we are continuing to develop our connected communities approach by working with the people of the borough, to unlock the potential and the creativity of our communities and our towns.

Our Children’s Services Directorate is also entering a significant period of change and transformation.

We are reshaping how we work with children, young people and families so that support is provided earlier, services work more effectively together and every child has the opportunity to thrive.

At the heart of this work are three core reform programmes:

• Best Start in Life: improving our earliest help and support for children, young people and families, including through family hubs, parenting support and the early years

• Families First Partnership Programme; bringing together early help, family help and child protection through more joined-up, relationship-based practice.

• SEND reform; making sure children and young people with SEND needs are supported as early as possible, have inclusive support and better outcomes

Our work aims to strengthen multi-agency working, involve children, young people, parents, carers and wider family networks in decisions that matter to them, and help families receive the right support before difficulties escalate.

We are also improving the coordination and quality of communication between education, health and social care services, children and young people, and their families.

We are looking for a Senior Communications and Campaigns Officer who can help staff, partners and families understand these changes and play an active part in shaping them.

This is a unique opportunity to support one of the council’s most important transformation programmes. You will develop clear, accessible and engaging communications that connect strategic reform with the day-to-day experiences of children, young people, families and the workforce.

Working across Children’s Services and the corporate communications team, you will:

• develop and deliver joined up communications and engagement plans for Best Start in Life, Families First, SEND reform and the wider Children’s Services transformation programme

• turn complex policy, service and practice changes into clear, inclusive and audience-focused content

• support leaders and managers to communicate change openly, consistently and with empathy

• engage staff, schools, health partners, community organisations, parents, carers, children and young people

• create opportunities for meaningful listening, participation and co-production

• use insight and feedback to shape communications and improve how change is delivered

• produce high-quality content across internal, digital, campaign and stakeholder channels

• evaluate communications activity and use evidence to improve reach, understanding and impact

You will be excited by the opportunity to communicate change in a complex environment. You will understand that successful transformation depends on listening as well as informing, and on building trust with the people affected by change.

You will bring sound judgement, creativity and the confidence to work with senior leaders, frontline practitioners and partners. You will be comfortable handling sensitive issues and communicating with clarity, care and accuracy.

Above all, your work will help ensure that colleagues and partners understand the direction of Children’s Services, families can access clear and useful information, and the voices of children, young people, parents and carers influence how services develop.

No two days will be the same. You will have the opportunity to work across early help, family support, safeguarding, education and SEND, while helping to tell the story of a service committed to learning, improvement and better outcomes.

For a full breakdown of the role and its responsibilities, please view the role profile and person specification.

You must have the right to work in the UK.  Evidence for the right to work in the UK will be requested at the interview stage.

It is an exciting time to join us, here at Ealing Council. If you would like to make a positive difference to our residents and borough, then we’re looking forward to hearing from you.

We’ve tried to make this website as accessible as possible. You can use the accessibility widget on the right hand side to make it more accessible to you and your needs.

Ealing Council is committed to creating good jobs and delivering on its connected communities’ agenda. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive.

We therefore welcome applications from all residents of the borough, we particularly welcome applications from candidates who are entering the employment market in the early stages of their career and mid-career professionals, who are currently underrepresented in Ealing’s workforce.

Please note all applications will be determined on merit.

To have an informal conversation about the role, the direction of Children’s Services and the transformation taking place, please contact Charlotte Billington-Salarkia email cbillingtonsalark001@ealing.gov.uk

This role is subject to Ealing Council’s enhanced vetting process.

Closing date: Friday 25 September 2026

Interviews: to take place week commencing 12 October 2026.

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digital media assistant, ashfield district council

Digital Media Assistant

Ashfield District Council

Salary - £27,274 - £29,071 per annum

Full Time (37 hours a week, Mon-Fri, with occasional weekend/evening work) 

 Closing date: 28 September 2026

Are you passionate about creative and effective digital content? Can you craft imaginative and engaging digital media for a variety of audiences on a variety of platforms? If so, this is the role for you. Join us and help us tell our stories through photo and video.

Ashfield District Council’s ambition is to be ‘Great’ across all our services. Our focus is to look forwards and make positive change. As a result, there are so many great things happening in Ashfield which we want to shout about and we need your help to do it.

This exciting role will play a key role in delivering and communicating our vision and ambitions across our various channels. We’re raising our sights, looking to the stars – are you ambitious like us?

For further information and to apply, visit Job search. Please ensure you cover all points of the person specification when submitting your supporting statement. As part of the interview process shortlisted candidates will be asked to bring examples from their portfolio of videos, photos and social media campaigns.

For an informal chat about the role please contact Sarah Curtiss at sarah.curtiss@ashfield.gov.uk on 01623 457570.

Closing date: 28 September 2026

Interview date: 15 October 2026