Communications Officer (Social Media and Content)
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Services
Location: Kempston
Salary: Starting salary £31,067 per annum rising to £33,366 per annum (plus an additional allowance for on-call rota)
Contractual hours: 37
Basis: Full time
Package: 37 hours per week, Hybrid Working, Flexitime scheme, Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), Holiday allowance of 25 days (plus public holidays) on joining.
Job reference: REQ000335
Closing date: 17 February 2025
Attachments
attachment Job Description - Communications Officer (Social Media and Content).pdfattachmentConditions of Service.pdf
This is a new and exciting role! Are you a creative and driven individual who likes to make content, tell great stories visually and wants to make an impact? We are seeking a content creator and social media whizz to support us in telling our story to a range of audiences to achieve better understanding of the work of the fire service and enhancing the reputation of its role in the community.
We need someone who can capture a great bit of footage, keep a finger on the pulse of latest social media trends, digital communication preferences of the public, understand audience intersectionality and the needs of our stakeholders, alongside planning campaigns and content to meet their needs. You need to be able to deliver packages and campaigns to suit internal and external channels.
About the role
This role is all about crafting engaging, innovative, and impactful content—whether that’s through compelling writing, striking photography, or engaging video production. You will be responsible for translating complex operational and organisational information into clear, accessible, and engaging content across a range of internal and external platforms.
You will play a key role in shaping our digital presence, keeping up with the latest social media trends, and ensuring our campaigns resonate with diverse audiences.
Key Responsibilities
Create insight-led materials using a variety of tactics across multiple platforms to support organisational objectives.
Collaborate with the Senior Communications Officer (External) to plan, develop and evaluate campaigns.
Manage all social media platforms and community engagement tools, including community ventures like NextDoor and email marketing platform.
Produce photography, video and visual products, including designing, animating, branding, scripting, storyboarding and editing.
Design simple corporate graphics and marketing materials, ensuring brand consistency and effectiveness.
Act as a brand guardian, managing visual assets and ensuring diverse and inclusive representation.
To pro-actively gain knowledge from operational colleagues and Translate into compelling stories and creative content for engagement.
Support communications during major incidents, including media handling and stakeholder briefings, as part of an on-call rota.
Assist in planning and delivering corporate events, awards, open days and staff engagement activities.
About You
You will have:
GCSEs, or equivalent qualification or equivalent experience in one of the following:
Public relations, media communications or marketing
Photography/videography
English
Significant experience using social media proficiently such as, Facebook, X, Flickr, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Instagram and NextDoor.
Some experience creating multi-platform content and campaigns for a range of audiences using insight, industry best practice and evaluation.
Some experience in content creation, photography, videography, digital communications and social media and the ability to edit using design applications.
High level of creativity and ability to demonstrate where this has been used to get messages across to different audiences, particularly external audiences.
Understanding and interpreting information, rewriting complex or technical/management information into plain English. Ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English.
Good working knowledge of Microsoft 365, especially Sharepoint, Teams, Outlook, and other M365 apps that support internal communication (Viva Engage, Sway etc) and design applications such as Canva and Adobe.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues from all areas of the organisation and at all levels.
Good time management skills and an ability to manage conflicting demands and workloads, balancing reactive and proactive work.
Current full driving licence with no pending issues.
In this role, you will participate in a 1 in 4 rota out of hours media service, dealing with requests for information from the media and advising Service personnel on communications with the media and other communications-related matters.
For more details on the essential criteria required for the role, please see the attached job description and person specification.
Why work with us
We recognise that you are looking for more than just a career. A few of our benefits include:
Hybrid working patterns
Flexi-time scheme including flexible start and finish times, variable lunch breaks and flexi-leave days
Local Government Pension Scheme
Holiday allowance of 25 days* (plus public holidays) on joining; increasing to 30 days* after 5 years' service and 32 days after 10 years' service (*pro rata if part time or irregular working pattern)
Free onsite parking
Instant access to ‘Lifestyle Savings’ platform includes a range of discount cards from well-known and independent retailers
Eligible to sign up to ‘Blue Light Card’ with access to thousands of amazing discounts online and on the high street.
Next steps
If this role is of interest, please visit our website https://www.bedsfire.gov.uk/careers/search for further information and to make a formal application. We ask that you include your full career history and reference your skills and experience in line with the job description and person specification within your application and supporting statement.
The interview / selection process will take place on Monday 24 February 2025
If you are a self-starter, thrive under pressure, and love delivering high-quality content across multiple channels, we would love to hear from you!
This is a public-facing role and it is essential to have the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English.
This post will be exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2023. Therefore, applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are ‘spent’ under the provision of the Act.
The appointment will be made subject to satisfactory pre-employment clearances, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance at the level required for the role.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is an equal opportunities employer that welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Adults, Children, and Young People, and all staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.
