Communications Officer, (social media and content), Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service
Ref: REQ000335
Salary: Starting salary £31,067 per annum rising to £33,366 per annum (plus an additional allowance for on-call rota)
Closing date: 17 February 2025
37 hours per week, Hybrid Working,
Flexitime scheme,
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS),
Holiday allowance of 25 days (plus public holidays) on joining.
This is a new and exciting role! Are you a creative and driven individual who likes to make content, tell great stories visually and wants to make an impact?
We are seeking a content creator and social media whizz to support us in telling our story to a range of audiences to achieve better understanding of the work of the fire service and enhancing the reputation of its role in the community.
We need someone who can capture a great bit of footage, keep a finger on the pulse of latest social media trends, digital communication preferences of the public, understand audience intersectionality and the needs of our stakeholders, alongside planning campaigns and content to meet their needs.
You need to be able to deliver packages and campaigns to suit internal and external channels.
About the role
This role is all about crafting engaging, innovative, and impactful content—whether that’s through compelling writing, striking photography, or engaging video production. You will be responsible for translating complex operational and organisational information into clear, accessible, and engaging content across a range of internal and external platforms.
You will play a key role in shaping our digital presence, keeping up with the latest social media trends, and ensuring our campaigns resonate with diverse audiences.
Key Responsibilities
* Create insight-led materials using a variety of tactics across multiple platforms to support organisational objectives.
* Collaborate with the Senior Communications Officer (External) to plan, develop and evaluate campaigns.
* Manage all social media platforms and community engagement tools, including community ventures like NextDoor and email marketing platform.
* Produce photography, video and visual products, including designing, animating, branding, scripting, storyboarding and editing.
* Design simple corporate graphics and marketing materials, ensuring brand consistency and effectiveness.
* Act as a brand guardian, managing visual assets and ensuring diverse and inclusive representation.
* Proactively gain knowledge from operational colleagues and translate into compelling stories and creative content for engagement.
* Support communications during major incidents, including media handling and stakeholder briefings, as part of an on-call rota.
* Assist in planning and delivering corporate events, awards, open days and staff engagement activities.
About You
You will have:
* GCSEs, or equivalent qualification or equivalent experience in one of the following: Public relations, media communications or marketing, Photography/videography, English.
* Significant experience using social media proficiently such as, Facebook, X, Flickr, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Instagram and NextDoor.
* Some experience creating multi-platform content and campaigns for a range of audiences using insight, industry best practice and evaluation.
* Some experience in content creation, photography, videography, digital communications and social media and the ability to edit using design applications.
* High level of creativity and ability to demonstrate where this has been used to get messages across to different audiences, particularly external audiences.
* Understanding and interpreting information, rewriting complex or technical/management information into plain English. Ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English.
* Good working knowledge of Microsoft 365, especially Sharepoint, Teams, Outlook, and other M365 apps that support internal communication (Viva Engage, Sway etc) and design applications such as Canva and Adobe.
* Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues from all areas of the organisation and at all levels.
* Good time management skills and an ability to manage conflicting demands and workloads, balancing reactive and proactive work.
* Current full driving licence with no pending issues.
In this role, you will participate in a 1 in 4 rota out of hours media service, dealing with requests for information from the media and advising Service personnel on communications with the media and other communications-related matters.
Why work with us
We recognise that you are looking for more than just a career. A few of our benefits include:
* Hybrid working patterns
* Flexi-time scheme including flexible start and finish times, variable lunch breaks and flexi-leave days
* Local Government Pension Scheme
* Holiday allowance of 25 days* (plus public holidays) on joining; increasing to 30 days* after 5 years’ service and 32 days after 10 years’ service (*pro rata if part time or irregular working pattern)
* Free onsite parking
* Instant access to ‘Lifestyle Savings’ platform includes a range of discount cards from well-known and independent retailers
* Eligible to sign up to ‘Blue Light Card’ with access to thousands of amazing discounts online and on the high street.
Next steps
If this role is of interest, please visit our website https://www.bedsfire.gov.uk/careers/search for further information and to make a formal application. We ask that you include your full career history and reference your skills and experience in line with the job description and person specification within your application and supporting statement.
For an informal discussion regarding the role, please contact Leanne Ehren, Head of Communications and External Affairs via email Leanne.Ehren@bedsfire.gov.uk to arrange a time.
The interview / selection process will take place on Monday 24 February 2025.
If you are a self-starter, thrive under pressure, and love delivering high-quality content across multiple channels, we would love to hear from you!
This is a public-facing role and it is essential to have the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English.
This post will be exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2023. Therefore, applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are ‘spent’ under the provision of the Act.
The appointment will be made subject to satisfactory pre-employment clearances, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance at the level required for the role.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is an equal opportunities employer that welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Adults, Children, and Young People, and all staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.
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