Internal Communications Officer

Job description

Full Time - Fixed Term for 23 Months

Reading Borough Council has a busy and fast-paced communications team promoting a wide range of services to our residents. One of our key challenges is to tell our story to our staff and ensure they become ambassadors for the services that the council provides.

You’ll be delivering day-to-day communications in partnership with teams across the organisation, making communication truly two-way and bringing to life our TEAM Reading values, Togetherness, Efficiency, Ambition and Making a difference.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

We offer an agile workforce approach, including home working. We will make sure you have everything in place to do this effectively. The role is scoped as full time, but we would encourage individuals with flexible working requirements to apply.

**About the role**

You’ll be part of a small team providing internal communications from across the business to all staff in accordance with the corporate and directorate’s strategies.

You’ll support the Council in delivering its vision and priorities by engaging staff through a portfolio of planned internal communication campaigns and effective internal

communication channels.

Main duties and responsibilities include:

- Create and maintain an annual calendar of key internal communication moments and projects including religious festivals and annual awareness days.
- Plan, edit, write and design content for a variety of internal communication channels including the intranet, staff newsletter as well as producing content via photograph, audio and visual channels.
- Work with the Internal Communications Manager to provide internal communications advice and support to other departments. Provide direction to stakeholders with information so that they understand internal communication channel best practice and how internal communications can assist with staff engagement.
- Develop, create and support staff led network groups working closely with the ambassador network.
- Ensure internal communication is evaluated and reported.
- Work with the external communications team to ensure news stories are reflected in our internal communications.
- Be creative and use a varied mix of communication channels and tools when developing communication activities.
- Be a team player and share best practice across the Communications and Events service area.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
**Work Together as one team** - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do

**Drive Efficiency** - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential

**Be Ambitious** - be demanding of our own performance - striving to be even better - and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way

**Make a Difference to Reading** - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed

**About you**

We’re looking for someone with:

- Excellent written communication skills to ensure appropriate content, messaging, tone and consistency in communication material.
- Ability to prioritise and manage time effectively and work to deadlines.
- Ability to act on own initiative.
- Ability to work as part of a team and independently as required
- Confident to deal effectively, as a first point of contact, with a variety of people and departments in the Council and build strong relationships.

**Our offer**

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

- Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
- A wide range of flexible working opportunities
- Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
- Local Gover