external affairs and influencing manager, maudsley charity

External Affairs and Influencing Manager

Maudsley Charity

Salary: £48,000 per annum

Contract: Full time, permanent role

Location: Hybrid role between home and London office, with two days per week in the Denmark Hill office

Closing date for applications: 9am on Tuesday 28th July
First round interviews will be held remotely on: Thursday 13th August
Second round interviews will be held in person on: Thursday 20th and Friday 21st August

Charity People is delighted to be partnering once again with Maudsley Charity to recruit an External Affairs and Influencing Manager.

A hugely exciting new role within the Communications team at the charity, the postholder will work across media, external affairs and influencing to engage with key stakeholders, boost the charity’s profile, and promote learning and adoption of the solutions the organisation funds. You will be responsible for sharing evidence and learning in order to influence the people who fund, adopt and commission mental health care and services, and will work closely with the CEO to increase engagement with policy work which the Maudsley Charity undertakes through it’s work in coalitions.

About Maudsley Charity

Maudsley Charity funds and supports clinical, academic, and community partners to ensure that everyone experiencing mental illness can access the right care, while using insights from their work to drive wider improvements across the UK.

Recognising the profound impact of mental illness and the inequalities in access, experience, and outcomes – particularly those linked to social deprivation and racism – the organisation focusses on addressing gaps in care.

With an approach that combines evidence, lived experience, and a commitment to equity, the organisation backs impactful, evidence-based solutions, ensuring services are shaped by real-world insight, and prioritising support for those most underserved to drive improvements that benefit all.

About the role

This is a core role within the organisation’s influencing strategy, and your primary responsibilities will include:

External Affairs & Influencing:

• Develop and deliver influencing plans to promote adoption of effective mental health care initiatives being funded by the charity

• Develop productive relationships with key stakeholders (journalists, NHS trust leaders, ICBs, ICSs, VCSE orgs) to gather intelligence and shape strategy to inform the charity’s positioning

• Lead the charity’s thought leadership development providing strategic advice to senior leadership on political, NHS and mental health policy developments

• Strengthen the charity’s role in mental health policy and advocacy coalitions, by contributing to collaborative advocacy, media and communications outputs

• Lead the charity’s response to government mental health care consultations and calls for evidence

• Monitor funder sector trends and conversations, and actively seek out opportunities for the charity to strategically engage and influence by sharing learning from its grant making practice

Media management

• Develop and implement integrated external affairs campaigns that support the charity’s influencing work

• Create persuasive materials, including press releases, op-eds, spokespeople briefings, comment pieces, and digital content and pitch to relevant outlets

• Maintain and grow relationships with journalists, broadcasters and sector media to secure relevant high-quality coverage of the charity’s activities, grant holders and their projects

• Act as first point of contact for media enquiries, managing proactive and reactive press activity

This role is expected to grow and develop and the postholder will be fully supported from across the organisation as the position evolves, within an organisation that offers a friendly, values led culture.

We would love to hear from individuals with the following skills and experience:

• Demonstrable track record of developing and implementing successful influencing strategies in the mental health sector

• Experience of stakeholder management within mental health care, including NHS Trust leaders, Integrated Care Boards, commissioners and senior clinicians, and with academics and researchers

• Strong experience in media relations, including briefing senior spokespeople, drafting press releases, media handling, and securing media coverage with a good understanding of the needs and expectations of different outlets and publications

• Keen understanding of the NHS, mental health policy landscape, and the related environment, key stakeholders and sector drivers

• Understanding of the key components and considerations of successful external affairs media and influencing

• Understanding of the sensitivities around mental illness, including working in an empathetic manner with people with lived experience

• Understanding of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion principles and a commitment to apply them in your work and as an organisation

• Influencing skills including confidence and credibility in working with stakeholders,

• Communication skills and the ability to produce clear and effective communications and the ability to confidently and accurately represent the organisation externally

• Written and editorial skills including the ability to craft narratives for different external audiences and communicate the charity’s work in press releases, articles, policy briefs

How to apply

Maudsley Charity is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and strongly encourages applications from underrepresented backgrounds. We welcome applications from non-graduates.

Applications are managed via Charity People and involve a structured, anonymised process focusing on your experience and potential. Please send your CV to Alice at Charity People alice@charitypeople.co.uk in the first instance.

You can view the full job pack here: https://charitypeople.co.uk/maudsley-charity-external-affairs-and-influencing-manager-job-pack/

Please see full job description here: ht/tps://charitypeople.co.uk/maudsley-charity-external-affairs-and-influencing-manager-job-description

Equal Opportunities monitoring

We ask that applicants complete our DEI monitoring form when submitting their CV for this role. The form can be found here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PXF9NWT?JobRef=113442&CPDept=Comms&Org=Maudsley&Con=Longlist

Maudsley Charity is an equal opportunities employer, and makes no discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and sex. Specifically, we will also oppose unfair discrimination of those with mental health issues.

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.

*JOB OF THE WEEK* communications officer (change) , thurrock council

Communications Officer (Change)  

Thurrock Council

Salary: £39,027 – £44,463 per annum (pro rata - only if part-time)  

Grade:  E  

Contract Type:  Permanent  

Working Hours: 37 hours per week

Closing Date (Internal & External): 26th July 2026    

Change can be exciting, messy, and everything in between - and that’s where you come in. We’re looking for a Communications Officer (Change) who will be at the heart of our transformation work where you can turn big ideas into clear, engaging stories that people want to read, watch and share. You’ll play a key role in bringing our change programmes to life. 

What We’re Looking For 

We’re looking for someone who understands how good communication helps change land well and stick. You will be curious and confident getting to grips with complex work, asking the right questions and turning what you learn into clear, engaging content that people can understand and act on. 
 
You will have experience of planning and delivering communications or campaigns, and a good sense of how to use different channels to reach the right people to spark conversation. Whether you are writing eye-catching content, crafting sharp messages or supporting a wider campaign, you’ll care about producing work that is clear, accurate and makes an impact. 
 
You will be organised and able to manage competing priorities, working with colleagues across services, project teams and senior leaders to keep things moving. You will also be comfortable building relationships, offering advice and working in a fast paced and sometimes sensitive environment. 
 
Most importantly, you will care about helping people feel informed, involved and ready for what is changing.   

Benefits of Working with Us  

At Thurrock Council, we value our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:  

• Generous annual leave entitlement  

• Local Government Pension Scheme  

• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities (where applicable)  

• Ongoing training and professional development  

• Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support  

• Staff discounts and local offers  

• A supportive and inclusive working environment  

DBS Check: Not Required for this post

Important Dates  

Closing Date (Redeployment Only): 9th July 2026  

Closing Date (Internal & External): 26th July 2026  

Interview Date: To Be Confirmed  

Additional Information  

If you would like an informal chat about the role before applying, please contact Martin John, Head of Communications at martin.john@thurrock.gov.uk to arrange a call.  

To view the Job Profile and Person Specification, please follow the link below:  

Download Job Profile (PDF Document)

About us

Why Thurrock?

Working at Thurrock Council gives you the opportunity to join an organisation that is changing at pace, one where you can make a real difference to the lives of the people we serve.

Thurrock Council is moving towards a new community leadership approach which involves linking with local partners and communities as we shape our improvement for the years ahead.

This is an exciting time to join us, to shape the future success of our changing organisation and to have a positive influence on our borough. 

Our location

Thurrock is located on the north bank of the river Thames. Our urban centres are a vibrant mix of established towns and new young communities, with a diverse and growing population of around 160,000 residents.

We are an emerging cultural and arts centre, home to the production centre for the Royal Opera House and the National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills. We have excellent retail and leisure opportunities, including Lakeside Shopping Centre, country parks, forests, and marshes.

Thurrock is just half an hour journey away from the centre of London by train and well connected by road.

Staff benefits

We offer lots of staff benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement and hybrid working. We champion flexible working and job share applications are welcome.

Further information can be found here Employment benefits | Working for the council | Thurrock Council 

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Thurrock Council is committed to equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident Employer, disabled people will be offered an interview where they meet all essential criteria on the person specification.

We serve a diverse community where people are different yet equal. Diversity underpins everything we do.

For further information about Thurrock Council please visit our website: Thurrock Council

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*JOB OF THE WEEK* communications and content manager, challenge works, nesta

Communications and Content Manager

Challenge Works, Nesta

Salary: Circa £50,700

Permanent We are flexible between 22.5 to 37.5 hours per week

Location: Blackfriars, London - hybrid working

Closing date: 15 Jul 2026, 8 am

Apply now

We are hiring a Communications and Content Manager, Challenge Works

Summary

Challenge Works is a global leader in designing and delivering prizes that incentivise innovative solutions to the world’s biggest challenges in health, climate, cities, and frontier technology. We are looking for a Communications and Marketing Manager to join the communications team, to take the lead on designing and delivering high-impact prize communications strategies, while working in close partnership with the Senior Communications and Marketing Manager to identify opportunities to build, strengthen, and elevate the Challenge Works brand.

A core priority for this role will be building out our creative content capabilities. They will bring proven experience in using video, multimedia, and compelling storytelling to drive deep audience engagement and bring the human impact of our prizes to life.

Working collaboratively with project teams, they will apply their marketing and communications expertise to identify the best tactics to increase profile and brand recognition among target audiences. They will own the delivery of these communication and content projects, while working closely with the wider communications team to provide specialist expertise in areas such as media, events, and digital.

The ideal candidate will be an effective project manager, able to deliver across multiple projects simultaneously, and a collaborative communicator, capable of translating complex messages into clear, compelling narratives. They will thrive in fast-paced environments, and be skilled at juggling multiple priorities, supported by a small but skilled team with a strong culture of collaboration.

The role

• Independently design, project manage and execute comprehensive end-to-end communications and marketing strategies for our portfolio of challenge prizes, working with the programme teams to meet communications objectives and use communications tactics to support the prize’s theory of change.

• Lead the development of Challenge Works’ multimedia storytelling capabilities. Oversee the production of high-quality video, digital, and editorial content that brings the impact and stories of our innovators to life.

• Develop and deliver an always on content strategy across Challenge Works owned channels which identifies narrative arcs within individual prizes that can be leveraged to elevate the global Challenge Works brand.

• Establish and manage a tracking and reporting framework to evaluate the effectiveness of comms activity throughout a campaign, using data to provide actionable, data-informed recommendations based on insights for the Senior Communications and Marketing Manager and prize delivery teams.

• Oversee and curate a pool of external suppliers, ensuring we achieve high-quality outputs and strong value for money. Hold specific responsibility for managing and nurturing the relationship with web developers, ensuring digital products - especially prize microsites - are well-designed, functional, and delivered to spec.

• Equip prize delivery teams with high-quality comms tools and guidance. Develop and maintain practical toolkits, run training sessions, and provide tailored advice so that each team consistently applies best-practice communications and is confident in communicating its prize for maximum impact.

The person

• Significant experience managing multi-channel marketing and communications campaigns (ideally within innovation, tech, policy, or purpose-driven sectors) with demonstrable commercial or reputational impact.

• A strong track record of conceptualising and delivering creative content campaigns, with specific experience in using video and digital storytelling to engage complex audiences.

• Experience briefing and managing external creative agencies or freelancers, ensuring high-quality outputs and value for money.

• Experience developing a range of content formats including graphics, video, and audio, using platforms such as Canva or Adobe.

• Experience in managing a suite of owned channels, including social media management tools, email marketing platforms, and CMS platforms and knowledge of how to maximise the mix of web, socials and newsletters for brand awareness and developing content suitable for use across all.

• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the ability to work with and support multiple teams efficiency and effectively

• A flair for communicating clearly, concisely and persuasively, verbally and in writing, with proven ability to translate complex topics around entrepreneurship, business, technology, and science into clear, accessible and effective communications products

What we offer

Salary: Circa £50,700 plus an array of benefits including private medical insurance, dental insurance, the ability to buy and sell annual leave, eyecare vouchers and more

Location: Hybrid, with two days per week in the London office. We ask that our team attend the office on Tuesday and Thursday.

Term: Permanent

Hours: We are flexible between 22.5 to 37.5 hours per week, please state your preferred hours in your application

Flexibility: We offer a range of flexible working arrangements and encourage our people to take advantage of them. Many do.

Reports to: Senior Communications and Marketing Manager, Challenge Works

About Nesta

Nesta is a research and innovation foundation that designs, tests and scales solutions for the biggest challenges of our time.

Driven by a vision to improve the lives of millions of people, our focus up to 2030 is on three missions: breaking the link between family background and life chances, halving obesity and cutting household carbon emissions.

We work with partners across the public, private and third sectors to develop high-potential solutions and test them as they evolve, drawing on deep expertise in qualitative and quantitative research, data science, behavioural science and design.

Once confident in the effectiveness of a solution, we are relentless in the pursuit of scale. We create and make the case for ambitious national policy proposals, develop consumer-facing products and services, spin out and support commercial ventures and harness the power of the arts to shape national narratives.

We extend our impact through two specialised units that help others to solve complex problems and achieve their missions. BIT applies a deep understanding of human behaviour to help clients achieve their goals. Challenge Works designs and runs challenge prizes to spark innovation in science, technology and society.

Together, we are building a powerful ecosystem for innovation that delivers proven solutions to create lasting, positive change.

Find out more at nesta.org.uk.

Making an application

To apply for this role, please submit a CV and cover letter before Wednesday 15th July 2026 - see the link below.

Interviews will take place w/c 27th July 2026

At Nesta, we believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more innovative, more creative and gets better results.

We want our workforce to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our workplace to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

This means that when we are recruiting, we actively seek to reach a diverse pool of candidates. It also means that we are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.

We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, compressed or part-time hours, job shares and other arrangements.

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.

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*JOB OF THE WEEK* senior campaigns manager, coventry city council

Senior Campaigns Manager

Coventry City Council

Salary: £56393 - £63239

Job Reference: coventrycc/TP/39042/13022

Location: Council House, Earl Street, Coventry

Contract Type: Full Time, Permanent

Working Hours: 37

Closing Date: 21 July 2026

Our Values

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

Our Values are:

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.

• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.

• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.

• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.

• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.

• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias.

The Communications Team is at the heart of Council work, helping to promote decisions, publicise events and keep everyone informed and up to date.

The team works closely with councillors and senior managers to ensure all areas of the Council’s work get the publicity they need to help residents in their daily lives – from bin collections to staging the Godiva Festival and roadworks to fostering and adoption.

It works with local and national media organisations and across a broad range of communications tools to promote the Council’s work, including social media, digital and photography, as well as being responsible for areas such as internal marketing and graphic design.

The City Council provides vital services to thousands of residents and needs to make sure they know exactly what’s being planned and why. The Communications Team makes sure that happens, as well as keeping staff across the authority informed and able to carry out their roles equipped with the latest knowledge.

What is the job role?

This is a senior leadership role within Coventry City Council's Communications Team, with responsibility for leading the operational delivery of the Council's campaigns function - ensuring campaigns are audience-led, insight-informed, and aligned with corporate priorities.

Working closely with the Head of Campaigns and Behavioural Change, you will translate strategic direction into effective, measurable campaigns that inform and engage residents, strengthen community connections, and support positive behaviour change. Campaign areas span a wide range of Council priorities, including public health, waste and recycling, and channel shift.

You will line manage a team including a Marketing Manager, two Campaign Leads and a Graphic Design Lead, providing clear leadership, performance management and professional development to drive consistently high standards across the function.

A key part of this role is championing best practice in campaign planning, creativity and evaluation - embedding behavioural insight principles, taking a digital-by-default approach, and using tools such as GovDelivery and audience segmentation platforms to maximise reach and impact. You will collaborate with internal teams, service areas and external partners to ensure messaging is consistent, targeted and resonates with diverse audiences.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced campaigns professional to play a central role in shaping how Coventry City Council communicates with its residents  - delivering campaigns that make a real difference to people's lives.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for an experienced campaigns professional with a proven track record in planning, delivering and evaluating multi-channel campaigns, ideally within a public sector or complex stakeholder environment.

You will bring strong expertise in behavioural change campaigns and evidence-based approaches, with a sound understanding of digital channel management and audience segmentation tools such as Acorn or MOSAIC. Experience of managing multi-disciplinary teams and budgets is essential, as is the ability to translate complex information into clear, compelling messaging for diverse audiences.

You will be a proactive, solutions-focused leader who builds trusted relationships across organisational and community contexts, and who is genuinely passionate about using communications to make a positive difference for the people of Coventry.

If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans

• Are currently in care or have previously been in care

• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. We recognise that you might use AI tools to help with your application. While these tools can be useful, please make sure that all information you provide about your experience, skills, and qualifications is accurate. What matters most to us is hearing about your experience and the achievements that truly reflect you!

Interview date(s): First phase: 29 July 2026

About Coventry

Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.

We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.

At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.

To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.

If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package - to find out more please visit https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies

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*JOB OF THE WEEK* communications and media manager, chesterfield borough council

Communications and Media Manager

Chesterfield Borough Council

Reference: CBC26038

Salary details: £41,771 to £45,091 per year (pay award pending)

Job term: permanent

Appointment type: full time

Hours: 37 hours per week (Monday to Friday with occasional evening and weekend working)

Location: Town Hall, Chesterfield

Closing date: 16 July 2026

CBC26038 - Job description and person specification.

Candidates must possess the necessary right to work authorisation to enable them to work for Chesterfield Borough Council. Regrettably, we are unable to provide sponsorship or assume sponsorship of an employment visa at this juncture.

Chesterfield is a bustling borough with big ambition. From our £2bn economic growth programme – featuring nationally significant regeneration schemes – to our popular cultural and leisure venues and newly-revitalised town centres, no two days are the same in our Communications and Marketing team. 

We’re looking for an experienced Communications and Media Manager to lead our day-to-day communications and media service. This is a fantastic opportunity to shape how we tell Chesterfield’s story, connect with our communities, and support transformation as we prepare for local government reorganisation. 

This is a newly created post. You’ll manage a small, talented team delivering high-quality, timely and strategically aligned communications across more than 50 council services. From creating engaging cross-channel content for internal and external communications, to managing media relations and navigating complex issues, you’ll be at the heart of our organisation. 

You’ll bring significant experience in communications and media management, ideally within a complex, political environment. The successful candidate will be a strong team leader, remain calm under pressure, be confident advising at senior level, and be able to translate complex issues into clear, engaging messages. 

If you’re full of ideas, thrive in a fast-paced environment and want to be part of an enthusiastic, forward-thinking team, we’d love to hear from you. 

For an informal discussion, contact Donna Reddish, Director for Policy, Communications and Local Government Reorganisation, via email at donna.reddish@chesterfield.gov.uk or 01246 345307, or for further information please view the job description and person specification attached. 

This post is politically restricted. Flexibility to work occasional evenings/weekends is required. 

How to apply

CVs are not accepted for this vacancy, please download and complete the application form and return it by email to hrjobs@chesterfield.gov.uk. Your application must be received no later than the closing date shown below.

See our guide to applying for tips on how to complete your application form and for details of other ways to apply.

Closing date: 16 July 2026
Provisional interview date: to be confirmed

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*JOB OF THE WEEK* communications officer, oxford city council

Communications Officer

Oxford City Council

Grade and Salary: G7: £43,100 per annum full time (pro rata for part time)

Fixed Term up to 12 months for maternity cover

Hours: 37

Location - Hybrid - Oxford Town Hall and Work from home

This post is politically sensitive

Closing date: 26 July 2026

The Role

Oxford is a wonderful city, and the City Council is working hard every day to make it even better. We’re going further and faster than any city in the UK to tackle the climate emergency; we’re spending £9m annually to tackle homelessness; we’re building hundreds of new homes for Oxford’s families and young people; and we’re fighting health and social inequality with millions of pounds of investment in grass-roots community and leisure facilities.   

Whether it’s encouraging Oxford residents to take part in consultations, inspiring them to help tackle the climate emergency, or raising awareness for how the City Council’s work is making a difference, we believe communications is key to everything we do.

You will have exceptional written and visual storytelling skills and a creative flair and will be able to employ a range of traditional, social and digital communications methods.

But, most importantly, we’re looking for someone who wants to help us make a difference for the people and city of Oxford. 

For an informal discussion about the post please contact Lauren Edwards on 07889177450 or email ledwards@oxford.gov.uk  

About us

Our ambitious leadership team and dedicated staff are working hard building a world class city for everyone. Oxford City Council has accelerated plans to build more affordable and council housing in the city. We provide services to help reduce inequality and improve the health and wellbeing of Oxford’s residents and are taking a lead on reducing emissions and increasing biodiversity to become a net carbon neutral city of the future. 

We are a supportive and collaborative bunch of people working towards shared goals, where new ideas and initiatives are valued. We strive to deliver service excellence, take accountability for our actions and communicate with honestly and respect. There has never been a more exciting time to join us!  Help us to build successful places in which to live and work and build a fairer, greener city in which everyone can thrive. 

Many of our roles offer flexible or hybrid working. 

We offer generous holiday 28 days a year with an additional 4 days after 5 years’ service.

We are committed to supporting career development opportunities and learning and development.

An above average pension offering.

Plus other great benefits.

With over 700 staff dedicated to delivering the best service possible to our communities this is an exciting time to be working in Local Government. We focus on improving outcomes for local people and you might be surprised at the range and quality of the services we provide.

We offer a fantastic range of staff benefits that include generous holiday (from 28 days a year plus bank holidays), local government pension scheme, subsidised leisure membership, discounted travel and flexible working in many roles. We offer well-defined opportunities through our learning and development programme. We also have an employee wellbeing programme, an employee assistance programme and support via our dedicated occupational health service.

Role purpose

• Design and deliver campaigns to promote Oxford City Council as an effective and efficient council and provider of high quality, value for money services.

• Secure and monitor wide coverage of the council’s decisions, policies and activities in the local, national and specialist media.

• Identify, develop and deliver new and creative communication and engagement opportunities.

• Contribute and monitor the production and development of the council’s corporate publications.

Role responsibilities and main duties

To support the Communications Team and work in partnership across all service areas to ensure communication activities are planned, sustained and deliver the council’s key messages to external and internal audiences by: 

• Protecting and enhancing Oxford City Council’s reputation locally, regionally and nationally.

• Contributing to the development of the council’s external and internal communications strategy and plans.

• Developing and delivering a continuous programme of high quality, value for money publicity campaigns aligned to the council key priorities.

• Delivering an effective, efficient and proactive media relations and crisis communications service building successful partnerships with print and broadcast media.

• Playing a key role in contributing to and assisting in the production of the council’s corporate publications.

• Monitor and support continuous service improvement, challenge existing practice and actively seek innovative ways of improving performance and achieving efficiencies.

• Monitoring the council’s social media accounts, and interacting and updating as required, and monitoring press coverage both locally and nationally.

• Building strong relationships and work collaboratively with partners, including key internal and external stakeholders, to create and deliver joint communications campaigns.

• Advising officers and council members on all matters relating to communications, and acting as an ambassador for the communications service.

• Maintaining a good knowledge of UK current affairs and local government issues.

• Participating in any training deemed necessary to undertake the duties of the post and development of self in order to build capacity for future needs and delivery of service objectives.

• To work in a flexible manner and to be willing to undertake other duties as reasonably requested including outside of office hours.

• Participating in the adoption and promotion of the council equalities and carbon management initiative.

• Any other responsibilities that may be requested by the Communications Manager, Deputy Chief Executives or Chief Executive.

Who we are looking for

Candidates will be shortlisted on the basis of demonstrating that they fulfil the following criteria that is listed to be ‘Assessed at: Application’ on their application form and should include clear examples of how they meet these criteria.

Each of the criteria below will be measured through, the application form, interview, test/exercise or documentation (eg a qualification document).

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