Communications Officer

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

- 304995**Salary**:

- £29,160 - £35,612**Job grade**:

- Higher Executive Officer**Contract type**:

- Fixed Term**Length of employment**:

- 12 Months**Type of role**:

- Communications / Marketing**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- Bristol or nearest UKHSA location to you. Please note regular visits to Bristol will be required.About the job

**Job summary**:
**Please note this is a full-time position**

**About Us**

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

**Job Summary**

As a member of the regional communications network, the post holder will be an effective communicator who will contribute towards the overall aim of promoting UKHSA’s key messages and outputs, as well as supporting the various strands of the UKHSA-wide communications strategy and enhancing the organisation’s reputation, all through the lens of the region in which they are embedded.

The post holder/s will possess excellent media handling and writing skills and have experience of liaising with journalists and drafting versatile, quality content for a wide range of channels and platforms including social media, the web and print media.

The post-holder/s will be adept at working with key external stakeholders and senior colleagues internally to collaborate on proactive projects, emerging issues, and work together on mutually beneficial outcomes for our communications aims and objectives.

**Key working relationships**

The post holder will develop and maintain mutually beneficial working relationships both internally within UKHSA and externally with stakeholders and the media.

**Internal**

Close liaison with colleagues throughout the wider communications team and from the health protections teams who specialise in protecting the health of local people.

**External**

Close liaison with the media and many stakeholder groups including other government departments, NHS, local authorities, emergency response partners, charities, public health bodies, Third Sector representatives and academics.
- The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary._

**Location**

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working - this means that whilst the role will be based in our Bristol offices or any other UKHSA offices that’re close to you, there will be opportunities for an element of working from home. Please note regular visits to Bristol will be required for this role.

The balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business needs and in line with departmental policy.
- *Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*_

**Job description**:
**Main Duties of the job**

We are looking for an organised, creative individual who is a self-starter with excellent written and verbal communication skills, who can play a key role in proactive projects and the communications response to reactive incidents.

You will need to be able to deal with a wide-range of people at all levels, have a flexible approach to your work and be an effective team player.

This is a fast-paced role within a small regional communications team which requires balancing a number of competing priorities so the ability to multi-task, work well under pressure and to tight deadlines is essential.

You will be adept at drafting high quality content, which will make an impact across a range of communications channels for diverse audiences. In addition, you will be competent in dealing with complex scientific issues and statistical data and have the ability to explain this information clearly to non-scientific audiences.

Public health in the news is important in this role, so you will also have a good news sense - for emerging issues and risks as well as for developing proactive communications, including for digital channels.

Strong influencing and negotiating skills are essential, enabling you to deal effectively and persuasively with stakeholders, as well as the media.

**Main Responsibilities**

**Key Responsibilities**
- To handle proactive and reactive media communications, including:

- to act as a point of contact for incoming enquiries from local and regional journalists and to develop timely responses in line with UKHS