Communication and Engagement Officer

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 402259

**Salary**:

- £36,728 - £40,670
- A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

**Job grade**:

- Higher Executive Officer

**Contract type**:

- Permanent

**Business area**:

- CO - Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA)

**Type of role**:

- Communications / Marketing

**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

**Number of jobs available**:

- 1

**Contents**:

- Location
- About the job
- Benefits
- Things you need to know

**Location**:

- Newcastle-upon-Tyne

**About the job**:
**Job summary**:
In recognition of the hurt caused by the infected blood scandal and highlighted by the Infected Blood Inquiry (IBI), compensation will be paid to those infected and affected. This role is an opportunity to join a new Arms Length Body - the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) - as we build a team of Communications and Engagement professionals to put the infected and affected community at the heart of our communications and support them to get the compensation they are entitled to.

The number one goal for this new organisation is to build and maintain trust with its service users and stakeholders. Effective, open and transparent communications will play an important part in this.

The Communications and Engagement team sits at the heart of the IBCA to ensure we explain the new compensation scheme with clarity, simplicity and effectiveness.

**Opportunities to move to the new Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA)**

Please note that the mission of IBCA means that it is likely to be operational for a period of approximately 5 to 7 years. When IBCA’s work begins to wind down, IBCA employees will receive support and practical guidance to find a new role, whether in the Civil Service, another Arms Length Body (ALB), or an external employer.

**Job description**:
The Strategic Communications, Campaigns and Marketing team plans, leads and delivers campaigns for IBCA. This includes activity to support the development of our compensation service, and explaining to the infected blood community about how and when they’ll start their claim.

We are responsible for creating innovative, insight-driven campaigns and measuring and evaluating their effectiveness. We work closely with colleagues from across the organisation to understand and stay ahead of what’s happening so we can deliver the right communications at the right time. We also deliver internal communications to create an engaging workplace for IBCA colleagues.

We are creative, fast-working and encourage collaboration.

We are looking to add very particular skillsets to our team. One of those is communications planning.

Are you passionate about helping communication teams plan campaigns and projects that drive behaviour change? Are you confident in using project and work management tools and techniques to keep your colleagues working to agreed timelines? Our communications planning role could be for you.

This position is an opportunity to pursue those passions and develop your skills in a team striving for best practice as we help build an organisation from the ground up.

**Main Responsibilities**

We’re looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic colleague to join our communications and engagement team. It’s a great opportunity to build your skills in communications and marketing, working flexibly across the team to support different priorities.

You will be required to:

- Support the communications team with the planning needed to deliver strategic behaviour change campaigns.
- Maintain our communications planning processes, liaising with the wider communication team and producing weekly forward look plans.
- Work closely with our wider team on communications strategies, creating effective implementation plans and supporting them through campaign delivery.
- Continually review and update our communications and marketing strategy, keeping the team on plan.
- Support regular planning activities including meeting with teams across the IBCA and its agencies.
- Monitor comms team mailboxes - allocating and actioning enquiries.
- Develop constructive and productive working relationships with colleagues and the wider government communications network to ensure best practice.

**Person specification**:
**Essential**
- You have strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence internal and external stakeholders in a clear and engaging manner, demonstrating the ability to manage relationships effectively.
- You have strong digital skills and the ability to work with various software tools, platforms and solutions.
- You can demonstrate how you’ve applied your planning and organising skills in a communications setting and you work well under pressure to manage competing demands, deadlines and priorities.
- You’ve created and driven implementation plans for strategic campaigns, supporting your team or organisation thro