Job title: Communications Officer

Salary: SO2 £37,280 - £39,152

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Civic Hall, Leeds

Do you want to join an award-winning communications team in one of the fastest-growing cities in the UK?

Leeds is entering an incredibly exciting phase of growth and transformation and we’re looking to recruit two communications officers to join our fast-paced social and digital team within our Communications and Marketing Team. In this role, you’ll be at the heart of telling our communities' stories, protecting the council’s reputation, and actively shaping the city's narrative across our social channels.

If you have a good, solid foundation in general communication, but your true passion and expertise lie in navigating the ever-shifting world of the digital and social landscape, then we want to hear from you!

We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate existing, practical experience including managing professional social media accounts in both an organic and paid capacity, as well as a good understanding of paid digital marketing. If you are up to date on the latest algorithm shifts and emerging digital trends, and understand how to curate public facing content that is accessible and will resonate with the people of Leeds, then this is the job for you.

You will be joining a supportive, collaborative team working right at the heart of Leeds. This is a unique opportunity to use your digital skills to make a real, tangible impact on the city.

Alongside your digital expertise, you’ll have excellent written skills and a proactive approach. We’re looking for someone with great interpersonal skills who is enthusiastic about tackling a diverse range of subjects and communicating clearly with our audiences.

What we can offer you

The chance to work seamlessly with a team of communications and marketing professionals in a role which is pivotal in supporting the Leeds Ambitions for the city to reach its full potential to be the best city for everyone living, working or studying here.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

Communications officers play a key role in the communications and marketing team, using their professional knowledge and skills with a focus on outcomes and quality delivery to ensure excellence.

Communications and marketing officers will deliver work on projects and campaigns that support the best council and best city priorities.

They will be responsible for managing their own workload, working flexibly across communications and marketing disciplines on a range of projects and subjects, ensuring their work is completed to deadline and to a high standard.

Team offer

The communications and marketing team uses insight, creativity and professional expertise to engage the council with everyone in Leeds - and beyond.

Whether we are promoting services, events, life choices or the city ‘brand’ and reputation we start by listening. Then we use clear, targeted information to build trust, shift attitudes, drive actions and influence behaviour.

Our work with services, politicians and partners delivers lasting benefits, focused on priority outcomes to achieve our shared Leeds Ambitions.

Responsibilities

Act as a social and digital lead on projects to deliver work on behalf of the communications and marketing team.
Demonstrate a proactive attitude and creative approach and use judgement and insight to reach decisions.
Provide professional communications advice and guidance, based on a high standard of competency across the insight, ideas, implementation and impact stages of projects and with a strong focus on outcomes.
Effectively prioritise workload, ensuring efficient use of resources and appropriate levels of support for council and city priorities.
Support the smooth running of a professional communications and marketing team by playing an active role.
Develop and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external partners and suppliers that help the council and team to meet priorities while spending money wisely.
Represent the council and the communications and marketing team at internal and external meetings and events.
Understand and follow procurement rules for communications and marketing spend both in the team and across the council, in line with the organisation’s financial rules.

Qualifications

Degree level, appropriate professional qualification or equivalent work experience.

Personal specification

It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements. Method of assessment will be through one or more of the following application form, test, interview, and certificate.

Essential requirements

Have a minimum of two years full-time communciations and marketing experience in a relevant environment.

Skills required

Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
Able to take briefs for communications projects.
Able to produce ccommunciations that are clear, articulate and fit-for-purpose.
Able to prepare and present written and verbal information in a concise and accurate manner for a wide range of audiences.
Able to contribute effectively to a wide range of corporate projects from a communications perspective.
Computer literate with ability to use relevant software packages including Microsoft 365, social media scheduling tools and simple design software

Knowledge required

A good level of knowledge of the operations of marketing (traditional, social and digital), PR and communications functions.
A good level of understanding of communications and marketing issues facing large local authorities and the public sector.
A thorough knowledge of communications methodology.

Experience required

Sound experience gained working in communications or relevant related environment (PR/Communications agency, in-house, or freelancer).
Experience of delivering multiple projects to tight deadlines.
Experience of producing clear, accurate copy within tight deadlines and the ability to communicate in plain English.
Experience of working in a team environment but with the ability to work individually without supervision.

Role specific:

Demonstrable experience of dealing with matters that are highly sensitive and confidential.
Ability to work to specified work programmes and timetables, prioritising effectively.
Ability to make swift decisions and judgements.
Interpersonal skills.
Ability to foster and maintain useful contacts internal and external to the council.
Ability to contribute to partnerships involving various stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.
Ability to develop productive working relationships that command trust and confidence.
Ability to work effectively with others to deliver cross-service projects.
Ability to manage competing priorities whilst delivering on a range of projects and adapting to changing circumstances and priorities.
Able to offer persuasive professional and creative advice.
Able to build relationships with service staff and play an influencing role.

Desirable requirements

It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.

Skills required

Ability to plan, implement and monitor complex communications campaigns.
Ability to demonstrate the necessary confidence, gravitas and authority to represent the communications team at a senior level in the organisation and to contribute to business development.

Knowledge required

Able to demonstrate an understanding of the role of media both traditional and digital and be able to support the press, media and issues management function.

Experience required

Experience of using market research, customer insight and intelligence to inform marketing, PR and communications activity and strategies.
Experience of carrying out project work and using project management techniques and preparing reports.
Ability to demonstrate the necessary confidence, gravitas and authority to represent the communications team at a senior level in the organisation and to contribute to business development.
Experience of developing integrated marketing, PR or communications strategies which demonstrate clear, actionable and measurable outcomes.
Experience of using information and research across communications network to ensure joined up working.
Experience of building influential networks and enabling effective communication and engagement with others in a wide range of settings.
Experience of directing and coordinating resources to deliver against creative design and communication requirements.

Behavioural and other Characteristics required

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.