*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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*JOB OF THE WEEK* communications officer, bedfordshire fire and rescue service

Communications Officer

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service

Salary: Starting salary £32,061 per annum rising to £34,434 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: REQ000414

Closing date: Sunday 5 July 2026

Attachments

attachmentJob Description - Communication Officer.pdfattachmentConditions of Service.pdf

Are you a creative and driven individual who likes to tell great stories, makes eye-catching content and wants to make an impact? We are seeking a Communications Officer to help tell our story both internally and externally, achieve better understanding of the work of the fire service and enhance the reputation of its role in the community.

We need someone who can find and write compelling content, capture a great bit of footage, and understand audiences, alongside planning content to meet their needs. You need to be able to deliver communication packages and campaigns to suit internal and external channels.

About the role

This role is all about crafting engaging, innovative and impactful stories and messaging - whether that’s through compelling writing for journalists, striking photography and videography for campaigns or engaging visual storytelling for our staff. 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.

Key responsibilities

• Produce well-developed, appropriate, insight-led creative materials to be used across a range of internal and external platforms to highlight key messages.

• Produce well written and accurate communications suitable for different internal and external audiences in a range of formats, including news releases, newsletters, social media posts, web content, articles for inclusion in internal publications, information leaflets and posters and other corporate documents.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify, plan and develop campaigns and content across a range of internal and external channels, advising on the best way to communicate and engage audiences, and evaluating outcomes.

• Lead planning and management of all digital channels including our website and social media channels.

• Proactively engage with operational colleagues, stakeholders and project leads to plan and deliver a creative product that tells their story in the best way for the intended audience.

• Play an active role in external and internal responses for BFRS during major and significant incidents including internal communication, media handling, social media, photography, video, website management and briefing stakeholders, taking into account our responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act and working together with communication teams from other agencies. This includes attending events and incidents to manage communication and as part of an out-of-hours evening and weekend on-call rota.

• Produce photography, video and visual products – capturing, designing, animating, branding, scripting, storyboarding and editing. To develop simple corporate graphics and marketing materials, including digital content and traditional printed materials, and to work with an external designer on projects, to ensure materials are appropriate, engaging and reflect the Service’s brand.

• To support with planning, managing, attending and collecting content for Service corporate events including staff engagement events, awards, open days, etc.

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 writing for media, news releases, digital content creation, photography, videography and social media.

• 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. 

• Photography, videography, editing, and use of the Adobe suite (or similar).

• 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 gym access and 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.

Closing date: Sunday 5 July 2026

The interview / selection process will take place on Friday 10 July and Monday 13 July 2026

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’s recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safer recruitment, and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Adults, Children and Young People and all staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is an equal opportunities employer that welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process.

As part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, we encourage applications from those who have served, are serving, or are part of a military family. Your skills and experience are valued here.

Internal BFRS staff only – Internal applicants who meet the essential criteria and are at risk of redundancy, or who are under notice as a result of Service redesign, will be given priority consideration in accordance with Service policy.

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*JOB OF THE WEEK* communications officer, cotswold district council

Communications Officer

Cotswold District Council

Salary Details: £34,272 - £34,352 Per Annum

Location: Trinity Road

Vacancy Type: Fixed Term

Hours Per Week: 37

Closing Date: 3 Jul 2026

Telling our stories, shaping our future

Clear, trusted communication has never been more important. In a fast moving digital world, we need to ensure our messages cut through - helping people feel informed, supported and connected to the place they live.

Currently, Cotswold District Council is collaborating with other councils across Gloucestershire as part of an exciting, once in a generation programme of Local Government Reorganisation, bringing new challenges and opportunities to engage our residents, staff and stakeholders.

But as we prepare for this future, we continue to deliver vital services that matter to our communities today from planning for sustainable growth and improving recycling and waste services, to tackling climate change, supporting residents through the cost of living, and working with partners to promote health and wellbeing. Strong, creative communication is essential to in bringing this all to life.

We’re now looking for a proactive and creative Communications Officer to help tell these stories producing engaging, high-quality digital content that connects with our audiences.

About the role

As a Communications Officer, you’ll play a hands-on role in supporting the delivery of effective, engaging communications across a variety of channels. This will include a strong focus on digital content creation - including video, social media and visual storytelling.

You’ll work with colleagues across the council to support campaigns, create high-impact content, support media activity and deliver communications that promote the council’s priorities and keep our audiences informed.

This is a varied and rewarding role in a supportive team, ideal for someone who enjoys working at pace, has a strong creative instinct, and is confident bringing stories to life through digital formats.

This role is full time but for a fixed term up until March 31st 2028.

You will be:

• A proactive self-starter who enjoys turning ideas into engaging content

• A clear and effective communicator, both written and verbal

• Creative, with a strong eye for visual design, storytelling and audience engagement

• Confident working across digital platforms, with a strong understanding of what works online and experience creating digital content, including video and social media assets

• Curious about audiences and motivated to continually improve how we communicate

• Comfortable managing a varied workload and delivering to deadlines

• Collaborative, with the ability to build positive working relationships

What you’ll be doing:

• Supporting the delivery of communications plans and campaigns

• Creating engaging digital content, including video, social media and web content

• Planning, filming and editing video content to support campaigns and storytelling

• Managing and growing engagement across digital channels

• Supporting media relations, including drafting press releases and handling enquiries

• Supporting internal communications to keep staff informed and aligned

• Working with colleagues and partners to promote key projects and services

• Assisting with events and campaign activity, including digital coverage

• Monitoring performance and using insight to refine and improve content

You’ll need:

• The ability and skills to create engaging digital content, including video and social media

• Strong storytelling skills, with the ability to adapt content for different platforms and audiences

• Good technical skills in content creation tools (e.g. video editing, social media platforms)

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities

• An understanding of digital channels, analytics and audience engagement

• Good stakeholder and relationship management skills

• The ability to use insight and data to improve communications activity

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• A genuine interest in how creative communications can support communities and services

Why join us?

This is a great opportunity to develop your communications career in a team where your ideas are valued and your work has real impact.

You’ll be part of a forward-thinking organisation, working on projects that matter locally, while contributing to wider change across Gloucestershire.

If you’re looking for a role where you can build your skills, work on a wide range of activity, and help people stay informed and engaged - we’d love to hear from you.

For more information about this role please see the Job Description/Person Specification.

Interview Date - Friday 10th July and Monday 13th July
 
Special Conditions

•  Use of a car for work purposes

• This post designated as politically restricted in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Politically restricted post holders are restricted from canvassing on behalf of a political party or for a person who is, or seeks to be, a candidate for election to a local authority, the House of Commons, or the European Parliament
  

What can we do for you

• Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working

• Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role)

• 27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays, which increases to 30 days after five years of service

• An extra two volunteering days per year to support a charity of your choice

• A health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care

• Generous contributory local government pension scheme

• Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues

• Cycle to work scheme

• Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with significant tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars

• Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements 

  About Us

  We are rightly proud of the businesses, communities and residents who live in this beautiful part of the world, putting them first and at the heart of everything we do. We’re busy recreating a council set up for success, which can deliver for the needs of our communities in a fast-changing environment. That means we need to be ‘fleet of foot’ and look for innovative and creative ways to deliver against our Corporate Plan priorities.

  
  That plan focuses on a range of important priorities including delivering good services for residents, responding to the climate emergency, supporting strong local communities, and evolving the district’s vibrant economy.

  Accredited of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies - Please state this within your covering statement or in a separate email. 

  Our organisation is committed to meeting its statutory and moral duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people under 18 years of age and adults at risk who are the recipients of its services and/or activities.

  Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies. Successful candidates will be required to complete a pre-employment medical questionnaire; provide references;  proof of identity; nationality and immigration status; three years’ employment or education history (if applicable) and, in some cases, verification of criminal record.

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*JOB OF THE WEEK* senior communications officer (LGR), eastleigh borough council

Senior Communications Officer (LGR)

Eastleigh Borough Council

Fixed Term Contract (2 years)

37 hours a week

Salary £38,142 per annum (Band 6)

Closing date: 29 June 2026

Do you want to make a difference?

Here at Eastleigh Borough Council we are committed to making a positive difference for all the residents, businesses and visitors to Eastleigh and we are proud to be delivering on our promise to create sustainable and healthy communities and increase employment and wellbeing opportunities for all.

Eastleigh Borough Council is looking for a Senior Communications Officer to help lead our staff and programme communications for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

LGR will reshape how councils are organised across Hampshire. For Eastleigh, this means clear, timely and trusted communication has never been more important.

About the role
You will lead and deliver internal LGR communications for the Council. You will make complex updates simple. You will support managers to brief their teams with confidence. You will help staff feel informed, listened to and supported through change. This role will help make sure staff, residents and partners hear clear and consistent updates across council boundaries.

Your duties will include:
• Running a clear rhythm of staff updates, briefings and intranet content
• Keeping the staff LGR hub up to date as the main “single source of truth”
• Writing plain English explainers, FAQs, manager packs and staff messages
• Supporting LGR workstreams with simple, practical communications plans
• Working with HR and Legal on clear and accurate workforce messages
• Planning staff Q&A sessions and “you asked, we answered” updates
• Reaching non-desk colleagues through printed updates, huddles and briefings
• Tracking questions, themes, rumours and feedback
• Working with partner councils on shared lines, joint FAQs and aligned timelines
• Helping EBC play a constructive role in the delivery of future local government arrangements
• Work with the Corporate Communications Manager, Head of Communications and Marketing, LGR programme team, HR, Legal, senior leaders, managers and partner council communications teams.

About you
We are looking for someone who can bring calm, clarity and pace to a complex programme. You will be organised, proactive and able to manage several priorities at once. You will be comfortable working in a fast-moving environment where some answers are not yet known.
Most of all, you will understand that good communication during change is about trust. That means being factual, clear, honest about what is still uncertain, and focused on people.

Skills & Experience:
• Strong experience in internal communications or employee engagement
• Experience of change or transformation communications
• Excellent writing skills and the ability to explain complex issues simply
• Confidence advising senior colleagues and programme leads
• Good judgement on tone, timing, risk and message discipline
• Experience producing manager toolkits, FAQs, briefings and staff updates
• A collaborative approach, especially when working across organisations
• A clear understanding of staff listening, feedback loops and rumour control
• A commitment to accessible and inclusive communication

About us
In return you will be working with a great team in an organisation that is truly committed to a flexible, inclusive and enjoyable work environment. We are passionate about personal and professional development for all staff, offering exceptional conditions of employment as an accredited Living Wage Employer, plus the chance to make a lasting difference to the community of Eastleigh.

This is a rare chance to play a key role in one of the biggest changes to local government in Hampshire for many years.

Our benefits include
• 26- 29 days annual leave (dependant on local government continuous service)
• Flexible working arrangements and ability to accrue up to 2 days additional leave per month (subject to operational requirements – pro rata for part time staff)
• Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
• Places Leisure, Eastleigh – 30% off Full Membership
• Confidential Employee Advice and Support Programme
• Excellent town centre working environment close to public transport links
• Discounted parking

How to apply
Please include your CV and a supporting statement with your application.

Your supporting statement should tell us how your skills and experience meet the role. We are particularly interested in examples of:

• Internal communications during change
• Working with senior leaders and managers
• Writing clear updates on complex issues
• Working with partners or across organisations
• Using feedback and insight to improve communication

If you have the skills, experience and motivation we are looking for, we would love to hear from you.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact will.purvis@eastleigh.gov.uk.

Closing date: 29 June 2026
Interview date: w/c 13 July 2026

Click here for job description

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*JOB OF THE WEEK* communications officer, luton council

Communications Officer

Luton Council

Salary: £42,839 - £46,142 a year

Hours per week: 37

Contract type: Permanent

Closing date: 29 June 2026

Are you a creative and strategic communications professional who can deliver impactful campaigns that make a real difference to people's lives?

Luton Council is looking for an experienced Communications Officer to join our Communications and Marketing Team. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape communications that influence perceptions, change behaviours, and promote vital services across education, children's services, adult social care, health, and wellbeing.

About the role

Working as part of a small, dedicated team, you will develop and deliver well-planned, evidence-based communications and marketing campaigns that support council priorities and improve outcomes for residents.

You'll work across both internal and external communications, managing a diverse portfolio of projects and campaigns while providing expert communications advice to senior managers and elected members.

What you'll be doing

• Planning, delivering and evaluating integrated communications and marketing campaigns.

• Creating compelling content across digital, social media, print and traditional media channels.

• Developing communications strategies that support service objectives and council priorities.

• Providing professional communications advice and guidance to senior managers and councillors.

• Building strong relationships with stakeholders, influencing decision-making and securing commitment to communications plans.

• Using research, insight and data to inform campaign development and measure success.

• Supporting innovative communications approaches that improve engagement and outcomes.

• Managing multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

About you

You will be a confident communications professional with a proven track record of delivering successful campaigns and projects.

You'll bring:

• Experience of developing and delivering communications and social media campaigns, with the ability to demonstrate measurable impact.

• A strong record of delivering effective marketing communications projects informed by research and evidence.

• Experience of developing and implementing successful communications strategies.

• The ability to provide trusted professional advice to senior leaders and elected members.

• Excellent stakeholder management, influencing and negotiation skills.

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex or sensitive information clearly to diverse audiences.

• Experience of managing complex campaigns and projects from concept through to evaluation.

• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret and use data to inform communications activity.

• The ability to work independently, use initiative and manage competing priorities effectively.

• Knowledge of equality, diversity and inclusion principles and how they apply to communications and marketing activity.

• In-depth understanding of current communications, marketing, media relations, PR, copywriting and publishing best practice.

Qualifications and experience

You will have:

• A degree in Marketing, Communications or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant professional experience.

• A recognised professional qualification in Media, Marketing, Public Relations, or equivalent demonstrable experience and training.

• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Additional Requirements

• Flexibility to adjust working hours when required to meet service needs.

• Ability to travel to locations both within and outside the borough when required.

Why join Luton Council?

At Luton Council, you'll have the opportunity to work on meaningful campaigns that directly impact residents' lives and support some of the most important services within the community. You'll join a supportive and ambitious team committed to delivering high-quality communications that make a difference.

If you're passionate about strategic communications, thrive in a dynamic environment, and want to contribute to positive change across Luton, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today and help tell the stories that matter.

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