- Suffolk County Council - Endeavour House, Ipswich, IP1 2BX - Hybrid
- £33,366 per annum (pro rata for part time)
- 37 hours per week - Flexible working options available
- Permanent
Can you be part of helping us inform Suffolk’s communities as we deliver a wide range of ambitious plans?
We are looking for an exceptional person – able to juggle multiple demands and with a passion for communications. Does that sound like you?
Suffolk County Council is different. We're a modern, flexible, and forward-thinking organisation that's constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of our communities. As a Communications Officer with us, you'll enjoy a dynamic work environment where your ideas are valued, your potential is nurtured, and your work makes a tangible difference. Ready to reimagine what your career could be?
The Communications team supports the Council to deliver its 2021-2025 policy priorities. We provide technical insight and expertise into developing and delivering campaigns that use behavioural insights to drive positive change, shaping and sharing information with residents across the county, and protecting and enhancing the Council’s reputation.
Your role and responsibilities
- working at the heart of the team to enhance the council’s reputation, including working with the media and communicating effectively with council colleagues
- you will lead on, the delivery of excellent communications activities and campaigns that are well-researched, planned, executed, and evaluated. This could range from important messages about climate change and our ambitions for net zero, communicating out key milestones when delivering multi-million pound highway services or developing internal messages for engaging staff on new initiatives
- using sound judgement and professional knowledge, you will help develop communication campaigns, write news releases, engage with stakeholders, manage busy inboxes and deliver a range of daily communications activities, including media summary and analysis, staff newsletters, and stakeholder mapping
- you will also support the delivery of external and internal events.
You will need
- exceptional organisational skills and the ability to juggle multiple demands
- excellent written skills
- strong creative flair and the talent to think outside the box
- to be able to work well as part of a team and be adaptive, but also comfortable working under your own initiative
- some experience in delivering communications activities and working with a range of stakeholders would be great, but not essential.
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (docx). If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this role, even if you don’t meet all the requirements, please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
The team
- our team is quickly becoming a centre of excellence for delivering campaigns and using behavioural insights. We strive to make a real difference – bringing creativity and turbo-charging communications and campaigns
- in our team, every day and every challenge is different.
Empowering Everyone
We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report
For more information
Please contact Lloyd Jones for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 07904 972584 or emailing lloyd.jones@suffolk.gov.uk
How to apply
Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (docx)
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.
1. Tell us about a time when you had to communicate a complex message to a diverse audience. How did you ensure your message was understood?
2. Give me an example of when you developed a creative solution to a communications challenge. What was innovative about your approach?
3. How do you prioritise your work when handling multiple campaigns and daily tasks simultaneously? Please provide a specific example.
4. Can you share an experience where you used communications to influence people's behaviour? What techniques did you use and what were the results?
Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details).
Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.
We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.
If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.
Closing date: 11.30pm, 2 February 2025.
Interview date: 5 February 2025.
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid
As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.
In return, you’ll enjoy:
up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
diverse and active staff networks
flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
Plus lots more!
If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident .