Senior Communications Officer

Senior Communications and Engagement Officer

Job Type: Temporary

Location: Cardiff

Sector: Healthcare

Duration: This is a temporary role expected to be for 3-4 months and maybe longer

Band: 6

Pay Rates:

£16.00 - £19.38 paye per hour

£17.50 - £21.50 paye inclusive of holiday pay per hour

£20.00 - £24.50 umbrella per hour

All depending on skills and experience

Working Days and Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Key Responsibilities

• The Senior Communications and Engagement Officer will play a key role in managing the good reputation of our client and delivering high-quality communications and engagement for a range of audiences, ensuring that key internal and external audiences understand our client’s aim and vision.
• Develop, implement and evaluate communication, engagement and marketing projects for a wide range of audiences including partners, staff and the general public. Manage proactive and reactive media relations on a day-to-day basis. This will include managing reactive media enquiries, briefing journalists, managing events, press conferences, photo calls and visits, supervising filming and preparing reactive statements and Q&A documents. Support the client’s social media strategy and work with the communications and engagement team, and colleagues across the organisation, to plan regular, engaging content that meets the needs of our target audiences and supports organisational objectives. Commission and or produce photographs for all communication channels including our intranet, website, social media, and newsletters

Key Tasks of the Post:

• Manage proactive and reactive media relations on a day-to-day basis. This will include managing reactive media enquiries, briefing journalists, managing events, press conferences, photo calls and visits, supervising filming and preparing reactive statements and Q&A documents.
• Support the client’s social media strategy and work with the communications and engagement team, and colleagues across the organisation, to plan regular, engaging content that meets the needs of our target audiences and supports organisational objectives.
• Write, edit, proof read and co-ordinate content for internal and external publications.
• Provide communications, media and marketing advice to managers, staff and committees and work with other departments to provide communications and marketing support for the client projects.
• Respond to queries received via the organisation’s website and social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other communication tools.
• Write, edit, proofread, co-ordinate and manage complex external publications and channels including press releases, email newsletters and other corporate materials.
• Develop, implement and evaluate communication, engagement and marketing projects for a wide range of audiences including partners, staff and the general public.
• Develop, implement and evaluate the organisation’s external communications strategies and for project-specific, tailored communications including events, advertising campaigns and internal projects.
• Handle media enquiries, deciding on the appropriate responses and preparing reactive statements/briefing spokespeople as appropriate.
• To arrange and release photographs and/or videos, when possible, to go out with press releases.
• Update the content of HEIW public information screens.
• Organise, manage and plan events including press conferences, VIP visits and photo-calls as required.
• Experience of creating high quality and engaging communications and marketing materials including websites, posters, videos, leaflets, graphics etc.
• High level of IT and advanced keyboard skills including use of Microsoft Office and Outlook, designing publications, presentations and processing documents.
• Sourcing cost effective services for relevant communications and engagement campaigns in line with the Communications and Engagement budget.
• Commission and or produce photographs for all communication channels including our intranet, website, social media, and newsletters.
• Safe use of media equipment when visiting sites around Wales.
• Provide supervision, motivation, mentoring and coaching to the Communications Administrative Assistant.
• Deputise for the Communications and Engagement Manager when required.
• Utilising IT software to produce reports, documents, e.g. producing a statement for the media or drafting lengthy detailed corporate documents.
• Maintaining information systems, e.g media releases database, website, press cuttings and photo library databases.
• Manage external communication sites like YouTube for HEIW along with the production and management of the client’s video content.
• Undertake research and development including auditing, surveying and evaluating communications and engagement to continually enhance and develop mechanisms that are fit for purpose and meet staff and stakeholder needs. E.g. analysis of media coverage or social media feedback.
• Stay up-to-date with trends in the communications and engagement sector and attend regular training events or external meetings to build your professional networks and learn from examples of excellent communications in the NHS and other sectors.

Essential Qualifications

• Degree-level education or equivalent experience in communications, journalism or marketing.
• Highly developed knowledge of communications, public relations, journalism and marketing communication techniques, approaches and procedures.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development and training in the communications, journalism or marketing field.

Essential Skills and Attributes

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Able to think strategically and plan communications for maximum impact on organisational objectives.
• Able to come up with creative solutions to communications needs.
• Ability to provide peer support and motivate colleagues.
• Ability to provide, receive and present complex, sensitive information to groups where cooperation and/or agreement are required.
• Proactively seek out projects that can benefit from communications support.
• High level of IT and advanced keyboard skills including use of Microsoft Office and Outlook, designing publications, presentations and processing documents.
• Ability to think strategically and plan for both short and long-term.
• A good understanding of digital marketing/social media and its role within the communications mix.
• Work well under pressure, with ability to effectively and calmly manage a number of different and competing priorities to tight deadlines.
• Ability to concentrate for long periods of time and high degree of detail.
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to secure the confidence of senior staff and build effective relationships with a wide range of colleagues.
• Able to negotiate with and influence people at all levels.
• Ability to plan, revise and project manage complex communications campaigns and events including coordinating a range of internal and external groups.
• Ability to travel within geographical area.
• Able to work hours flexibly

Essential Experience

• Experience of managing media relations in a public-facing organisation.
• Experience of managing social media accounts in a high-profile organisation.
• Experience of managing complex projects involving management of timescales/deadlines and budgets.
• Experience of creating and implementing external communications strategies and plans.
• Experience of managing proactive and reactive media relations, including managing the media in crisis situations.
• Experience of managing external agencies, including web, print and design agencies.
• Managing and protecting house/organisation style and corporate identity/image.
• Experience of handling and delivering confidential, high-profile and sensitive issues.
• Experience of creating high quality and engaging communications and marketing materials including websites, posters, videos, leaflets, graphics etc.

Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading and writing in Welsh

Questions

Do you have previous experience working as Senior Communications and Engagement Officer?

Do you have a Degree-level education or equivalent experience in communications, journalism or marketing?

Do you have a highly developed knowledge of communications, public relations, journalism and marketing communication techniques and procedures?

Do you have experience managing complex projects involving management of timescales/deadlines and budgets?

Do you meet the criteria above and are available to start immediately?