Communications Officer

**_Join Police Digital Service as a Communications Officer _**

**_About Police Digital Service_**

We exist to harness the power of digital, data and technology to enable UK policing to better protect the communities it serves. Ours is a team of experts in commercial services, technical assurance, data, digital transformation and innovation, with a uniqueexperience in policing and national programme delivery.

The Communications Officer supports delivery of PDS marketing and communications plans in relation to its full range of programmes and services, including its hosted programmes. Reporting to the Communications Manager and working with colleagues across theCommunications Team and more broadly, the role supports the development of compelling content and effective channels for a range of audiences, both internal and external, to help build PDS’s credibility within the complex policing and supplier landscape.

**_Key Responsibilities_**
- Support implementation of marketing campaigns and communications plans to highlight the opportunities and value add offered by PDS to policing, stakeholders and opinion formers.
- Develop compelling communications material in a broad range of formats for a variety of audiences including, but not limited to, police forces, technology suppliers and start-ups and national governance organisations such as the Home Office, National PoliceChief’s Council and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners
- Liaise with external suppliers or designing in-house as appropriate any publications, leaflets, brochures, advertisements and publicity materials.
- Monitor daily press coverage in relation to PDS, its programmes and the digital landscape, providing regular updates to PDS staff.
- Support the delivery and evaluation of digital content and engagement channels, ensuring the PDS website and social media channels are updated with relevant content and monitoring digital audience sentiments, escalating issues of concern as appropriate.
- Support the delivery of the PDS CRM and internal communications functions.
- Assist in researching, collating and sharing relevant information with colleagues, writing for different audiences to support efforts around staff engagement/ internal comms.
- Support the delivery of events, drafting and reviewing content as necessary.
- Proofreading a range of materials, providing advice and guidance on any required for use with audiences (e.g. presentations, briefings, official publications).

**_What you need to succeed in the role_**

**_Experience ,Skills and Knowledge _**
- Excellent oral and written communication skills - ability to understand complex issues and translate them into appropriate audience-targeted language.
- Gains and maintains trust, a team player, ability to work effectively with a range of people and styles.
- Able to work accurately at pace.
- Able to challenge communication authors when necessary to make improvements.
- The ability to focus on the overall goals of PDS, not just short term/immediate tasks or specific programmes/ services.
- Educated to degree level or have 2+ years of experience in a related field (for example journalism).
- Experience of content creation and development.
- Understanding of serving multiple senior stakeholders.
- Experience of working in a complex/ political landscape.
- an understanding of the policing and ICT environment within which PDS operates.
- an awareness and understanding of relevant legislation relating to communication, such as libel and defamation, data protection, FoI/ transparency good practice.

**_Why Join us? _**
- Balance is important and we want you to take time off to recharge - so we offer 28 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 30 days after 5 years of service.
- We care about your well-being - we have an employee assistance programme that offers not just welfare benefits and counselling at the end of a telephone line but also discounts.
- We want to help you plan for the future - so we offer an excellent pension scheme and life assurance cover.
- We want you to be able to put your mind at rest regarding your health - offering remote GP, mental health and physiotherapy appointments via video consultation.

**_Working Arrangements _**
- Currently the entire Company is working remotely