Communications Officer

Role Responsibility

We are looking for an experienced and creative Communications Officer to join our Marketing and Resident Experience (MRX) team. The MRX Team leads Kent County Council’s communications, marketing, engagement and customer feedback functions. The team designs and improves resident experience of services and manages KCC’s reputation through a variety of communications and contact channels.

This is an exciting and fast-paced role providing the right candidate with the chance to create a better understanding and awareness of the work of the Council among the residents of Kent.

You will be responsible for:

• Promoting, managing and protecting the reputation of the County Council through proactive and reactive public relations and communications, primarily for our highways, transport, environment, waste and recycling services and supporting other council services when necessary.
• Handling media enquiries and working with council officers and members to make sure responses are clear, open and transparent and meet deadlines.
• Writing and producing compelling content (from media releases and social media content to videos, articles and news features) that help tell our story, that are part of integrated communications and marketing activities and that adhere to KCC’s brand and values.
• Publishing content on multiple channels, including KCC’s news & features website, main social media channels and in newsletters.
• Building effective relationships with local, regional and national news and other media outlets, as well as internal and external teams and partners.
• Providing an out-of-hours on-call service on a rota basis (an additional allowance is provided).

About you

• You’re adept at handling media enquiries and requests and are comfortable talking to journalists and senior leaders.
• You know how to tell our story and promote the work and priorities of the Council, knowing what makes a good news feature or story promote it effectively, while being equally as good at spotting risks or potential issues and finding a way forward.
• You have excellent spoken and written English and can turn complex information into easy-to-understand and engaging content,
• You can turn your hand to creating and publishing a range of content – media releases, statements, videos, articles, features and social media posts – that align with the Council’s brand and values.
• You are knowledgeable about the local and national media landscape and have a good understanding of the council’s priorities.
• You can manage your own workload, juggling competing priorities and organising your work to meet deadlines.
• You’re not afraid to challenge or to be challenged, you’re curious to know how things can be improved and you work exceptionally well as part of a team.
• You are confident and effective in building and maintaining good relationships with colleagues at all levels, both with KCC and external organisations and partners.
• You always represent the needs and best interests of the County Council and the communities we serve.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

Contact Details

Tracey Gleeson - tracey.gleeson@kent.gov.uk

About the Company

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds and faiths, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Please note – if you are interested, please apply as soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.