JOB OF THE WEEK senior communications officer, central bedfordshire council

November 10, 2026 Darren Caveney

Senior Communications Officer

Central Bedfordshire Council

Salary: £42,396 - £45,758 per annum pro rata

Job Family: Providing - CBG11

Hours: 37 hours per week

Location: You will be expected to attend a CBC office location as often as needed to carry out your role, which will be no less than once per month.

Contract Type: Hybrid - Fixed term for up to 18 months (funded)

Closing date: 27 November 2026

Interview date: w/c 7 December 2026

About the role

We're looking for an experienced and proactive Senior Communications Officer to lead communications for our Best Start in Life (BSiL) programme.

Best Start in Life brings together services, support and information for children and families across Central Bedfordshire. Over the next three years, we’ll launch several Best Start Family Hubs, introduce a new digital offer, develop the BSiL brand and deliver campaigns that help families access the support they need.

As the communications lead, you'll help residents, partners and stakeholders understand its vision and benefits. You’ll develop and deliver a long-term communication strategy, create compelling social media content, coordinate campaigns, and produce a range of materials including briefings, promotional assets and stakeholder communications.

While the role is primarily focused on Best Start in Life, you'll also work closely with colleagues across the Communications Team to support wider Council priorities. This will include supporting our busy press office and identifying opportunities to promote Best Start in Life and the Council's wider work through the media.

We're looking for someone who can create clear, engaging communications for a range of audiences. You'll have strong campaign planning skills, excellent writing ability and experience of managing multiple priorities while building positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

You'll join a supportive and creative Communications Team, working alongside colleagues in marketing, branding, digital communications, consultation and internal communications. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference to children, young people and families across Central Bedfordshire.

Our Offer

We have a number of rewards and benefits available to our staff, to view these please visit our Rewards and Benefits page

Our aspiration is to be a truly flexible employer.  We welcome discussion on location, hours and working pattern as part of the application process.

You will be expected to demonstrate how you meet the key accountabilities and competencies in this Recruitment Pack.

Our Competency Framework and Qualification Guidance are to be read in conjunction with our Recruitment Pack.

For an informal discussion about this position, please contact: Kevin Barton at kevin.barton@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or call 0300 300 4620.

To maintain a fair and consistent approach for applicants, it is Central Bedfordshire Council's policy to only consider applications made via our online application system and we therefore thank you for not submitting your application offline.

Your application to us is a reflection of who you are professionally and should give us an accurate and authentic picture of your skills, experiences and if applicable qualifications. Before you submit your application, we will ask you to confirm if you have used AI.

All new starters will join us on a four‑month probationary period. During this time, if you are offered a Hybrid role you will be required to attend a Central Bedfordshire Council office location more frequently to support thorough and well‑supported onboarding into your role. Please keep this in mind if you anticipate extensive travel to Central Bedfordshire.

Please note we are unable to offer sponsorship for our roles. Successfu applicants that may require a visa will need to consider the options for obtaining and/or maintaining the legal right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the contract offered.

Free information, advice and guidance into work or learning

Bedfordshire Employment and Skills Academy (BESA) provides free, impartial, information advice and guidance to those aged 16+ looking to get into work, learning or exploring a change of career.

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JOB OF THE WEEK senior communications officer - internal, central bedfordshire council

November 10, 2026 Darren Caveney

Senior Communications Officer - Internal

Central Bedfordshire Council

Salary: £42,396 - £45,758 per annum pro rata

Job Family: Providing - CBG11

Contract Type: Hybrid - Fixed Term until 1st May 2027 - Maternity cover

Hours: 30 hours per week

Location: You will be expected to attend a CBC office location as often as needed to carry out your role, which will be no less than once per month.

Closing Date: 19 November 2026

Interview Date: Between 24 and 27 November 2026 - Stage one interview (online assessment tasks for one hour). Next stage interview to be confirmed after.

About the Role:

We’re looking for a talented Internal Communications Officer to join us on a short-term contract in our ambitious Communications and Consultation team.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a communicator with experience to make a meaningful impact - supporting colleagues across the organisation and helping ensure staff are informed, engaged and inspired.

You will have proven experience managing your own varied and busy workload, meeting tight deadlines, and communicating effectively with customers at all levels of the organisation. You’ll play an important role in planning, creating and delivering high‑quality communications across our established internal channels, including supporting organisational change programmes.

This is a busy, fast-paced role requiring a strong work ethic, excellent organisational skills, and the ability to work well under pressure. You will demonstrate sound editorial judgement, excellent writing skills and a keen eye for detail to help ensure our messages are clear, consistent and aligned with our organisational values.

Experience in internal communications roles is essential and organisational change experience is great but not essential - but you will need to have the ability and motivation to learn and develop at pace.

What We’re Looking For

Excellent writing, editing and storytelling skills, with the ability to communicate complex information clearly and creatively.
Demonstrable experience leading and delivering internal communications strategies, campaigns and organisational change communications.
Strong ability to identify, develop and manage engaging content across a range of internal channels and audiences.
Experience managing and developing internal communication channels, including digital platforms such as SharePoint intranets.
Ability to use insight, analytics and evaluation to measure impact and continuously improve communication effectiveness.
Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build relationships, influence and provide trusted communications advice to colleagues and senior leaders.
Experience planning and delivering staff engagement initiatives and events that support organisational culture and business priorities.
Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes in a fast-paced environment.

Our Offer

We have a number of rewards and benefits available to our staff, to view these please visit our Rewards and Benefits page

Our aspiration is to be a truly flexible employer. We welcome discussion on location, hours and working pattern as part of the application process.

You will be expected to demonstrate how you meet the key accountabilities and competencies in this Recruitment Pack.

Our Competency Framework and Qualification Guidance are to be read in conjunction with our Recruitment Pack.

For an informal discussion about this position, please contact:  Anna Copperwheat at anna.copperwheat@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or 0300 300 4671 (Tuesday - Friday, 9am - 3pm)

To maintain a fair and consistent approach for applicants, it is Central Bedfordshire Council's policy to only consider applications made via our online application system and we therefore thank you for not submitting your application offline.

Our National Careers Service team offer a free monthly workshop covering CV writing and how to complete the statement sections of the Central Bedfordshire Council online application form. This MS Teams workshop is open to anyone from the UK and lasts around 1.5 hours. Please book your place here.

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JOB OF THE WEEK marketing officer, central bedfordshire council

November 10, 2026 Darren Caveney

Marketing Officer

Central Bedfordshire Council

Salary: £35,960 - £38,802 per annum pro rata

Job Family: Providing - CBG9

Hours: 22.2 hours per week

Location: You will be expected to attend a CBC office location as often as needed to carry out your role, which will be no less than once per month.

Contract Type: Hybrid - Fixed Term - 12 months (funded)

Closing Date: 27 November 2026

Interview Date: W/C 7 December 2026

About the role

Help us create run marketing activities and campaigns that make a difference. This is more than a marketing role. It’s about connecting people with services that matter, inspiring positive change and helping our communities thrive.

You’ll help bring campaigns to life across social media, advertising, websites, email and community outreach. Working with colleagues across the council and partners, you’ll create engaging content, reach new audiences and turn ideas into action.

No two days are the same. You could be sharing real stories that inspire people to consider fostering, encouraging better recycling habits or supporting public health campaigns. Our work includes exciting projects such as supporting a new regional fostering hub to recruit more foster carers through targeted campaigns and engaging content. You’ll also work across a variety of council services, sharing ideas, developing your skills and helping deliver marketing that makes a real difference to our communities. You’ll also track campaign performance, learn what works and help us improve future campaigns.

Why join us?

You’ll be part of a collaborative Communications Team, working on projects that have a real impact on people’s lives.

You’ll work across different services and campaigns, with opportunities to share ideas, develop your skills and learn from experienced colleagues.

If you’re creative, curious and enjoy turning ideas into effective campaigns, this is a chance to grow your marketing experience while doing work that matters.

Experiences

Around two to three years’ experience in marketing, communications or a related role
Experience supporting campaigns across digital and traditional channels, including social media, paid advertising, email and websites
Good understanding of audience targeting, content creation, branding and writing for different audiences
Ability to monitor campaign performance and use insights to improve results
Confidence working with colleagues, suppliers and external partners.

Competencies

Campaign delivery: Plans and delivers campaigns across multiple channels
Creative content: Creates engaging copy, videos, social posts and marketing materials
Audience insight: Understands audiences and targets messages effectively
Digital and non-digital marketing: Understands social media, advertising, email, web, out-of-home, TV and radio
Evaluation: Tracks results and identifies improvements
Organisation: Manages tasks and deadlines with attention to detail
Brand and collaboration: Applies our brand consistently, shares ideas and builds relationships
Creative and adaptable: Brings fresh ideas and enjoys varied projects

The role is being offered on a fixed term basis for a period of 12 months. This role will cease when the funding is withdrawn. The Council cannot guarantee you any minimum or maximum period of employment.

Our Offer

We have a number of rewards and benefits available to our staff, to view these please visit our Rewards and Benefits page

Our aspiration is to be a truly flexible employer. We welcome discussion on location, hours and working pattern as part of the application process.

You will be expected to demonstrate how you meet the key accountabilities and competencies in this Recruitment Pack.

Our Competency Framework and Qualification Guidance are to be read in conjunction with our Recruitment Pack.

For an informal discussion about this position, please contact: Oliver Drackford at oliver.drackford@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or call 0300 300 8310.

To maintain a fair and consistent approach for applicants, it is Central Bedfordshire Council's policy to only consider applications made via our online application system and we therefore thank you for not submitting your application offline.

Please note we are unable to offer sponsorship for our roles. Successful applicants that may require a visa will need to consider the options for obtaining and/or maintaining the legal right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the contract offered.

Free information, advice and guidance into work or learning

Bedfordshire Employment and Skills Academy (BESA) provides free, impartial, information advice and guidance to those aged 16+ looking to get into work, learning or exploring a change of career.

MORE INFORMATION AND APPLY