Summary of role
As the Head of Corporate Communications you will advise the Chief Fire Officer and Service Leadership Board on internal and external communications across Avon Fire & Rescue Service. You will lead the creation of marketing plans, campaigns, and educational materials that support the organisational vision, engage audiences, and enhance community safety. You will oversee press and corporate communication strategies to shape AF&RS’s public profile locally, regionally, and nationally.
Lead the Corporate Communication Team in utilising media, PR, marketing, and communication to meet objectives. Act as the primary media contact at events, strengthening AF&RS’s brand and stakeholder relationships. Manage contracts and a £110,000 budget, ensuring cost efficiency in line with Financial Regulations.
Some of the things you’ll be doing
• Use knowledge, research, evaluation and analysis of the operating environment to identify marketing and communication priorities and risk-critical issues.
• Provide strategic and tactical communication and marketing advice to the Service Leadership Board (SLB), Service Leadership Team (SLT) and AF&RS staff and leaders at all levels across the Service.
• Lead, develop and work collaboratively with local communities, multi-agency partners and key stakeholders to identify and deliver innovative ways of engaging with diverse audiences.
• Lead and manage tactical media handling and public affairs, including the provision of 24/7 media cover. As part of the on-call rota you may be required to provide a presence at incidents or give telephone/online advice.
• Assess, evaluate, plan and manage internal and external communications in response to current and emerging political, social, economic, technological, environmental and legal issues facing AF&RS and fire and rescue services nationally.
• Build, lead, manage, motivate and develop an effective and professionally credible Corporate Communication Team.
• Develop, manage, and lead appropriate media, social media and communications training for the SLB, SLT and officers across the Service.
• Conduct independent investigations, gather witness statements, information and data in order to produce exemplary reports.
• Develop, maintain and evaluate business continuity plans and arrangements within the Corporate Communication Team, to ensure professional services to the organisation and wider community are maintained, ensuring the risk to public safety is reduced.
• Develop, lead and deliver strategic initiatives and communications that have a positive impact on the culture of the Service, ensuring all team members uphold and promote the Core Code of Ethics.
• Conduct independent investigations, gather witness statements, information and data in order to produce exemplary reports.
• Carry out any additional responsibilities as reasonable and appropriate, as agreed with line manager.
To see the full job description and person specification, please see our website:
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