Vacancy Information
Division / Department - Police and Crime Commissioner
Grade - Band 2
Status - Full Time
Contract Type - Permanent
Salary Grade Range - £38,979 - £56,223
Working Hours - 36.0 Hours per Week
Shift Allowance -
Politically Restricted -
The starting salary for this role will usually be at the bottom of the salary range and will be pro-rata if the working hours are less than full time.
The Role
Are you a confident and skilled communications professional seeking a new challenge in a fast-paced environment?
We are looking for a Communications Manager to join our small but strategically important communications team in the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner for Surrey. The profile of our Commissioner Lisa Townsend is growing fast and we need a motivated self-starter who can help manage communications at a local and national level on her behalf.
You will need to have a strong background in a senior communications role and be adept at dealing with the media at all levels, horizon-scanning news and political agendas and spotting opportunities to expand the reach of the Commissioner’s key messages. With the ability to provide sound advice in often dynamic situations, you will also bring a flair for delivering high quality video, photography, social media and written content for internal, external and stakeholder audiences.
The Communications Manager will be expected to display sound judgement and strategic thought at all times while providing clear advice to the Commissioner and her team on issues of high public profile and reputation. You will help build awareness of the role of both the Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner and how the public can play a part in holding the police to account.
Surrey Police has a separate communications team with whom the post holder will work closely on shared issues. You will also liaise with other communications colleagues locally, regionally and nationally to maximise the Commissioner’s reach and influence.
As a full time and senior member of staff, you will be expected to help ensure the OPCC is working effectively as a team and provide resilience at senior level where necessary. You will report into the Head of Communications and Engagement and deputise for that role where required. The role involves some out of hours work and can also involve travel, both at short notice. This is a politically restricted post under Section 1 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please contact Nathan Rees, Head Of Communications and Engagement for an informal discussion or further information on how to apply: 01483 630 200 or email surreypcc@surrey.pnn.police.uk.
The closing date for applications is Monday, 25th April 2022. Interviews will be held on Wednesday, 4th May 2022.
Key Responsibilities
Build, develop and maximise the performance of the OPCC Communications Team, ensuring it is identifying opportunities to support the strategic objectives of the Commissioner.
Provide expert communications advice at a senior level to the Commissioner and her wider team. This includes taking responsibility and giving advice on high profile issues, providing clear briefings to the Commissioner for media appearances and interviews and setting the communications approach for longer-term and more complex planned projects.
Accompany the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner on key events, visits and meetings and use a professional approach to plan and deliver content to ensure visibility across the OPCC’s communications channels.
Maintain and nurture professional relationships with all media organisations (traditional, on-line and new-media) as well as other stakeholders to ensure the Commissioner’s key messages reach as wide an audience as possible.
Support public affairs on behalf of the OPCC, including monitoring political developments and business in Westminster, providing strategic advice to the PCC and other senior colleagues and developing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders at a local and national level.
Foster professional and constructive working relationships with senior colleagues in Surrey Police to communicate and improve awareness of the Commissioner’s strategic objectives and activities to the wider police workforce.
Providing ongoing communications support and advice to the wider OPCC team, particularly focusing on raising the profile of the key projects commissioned through the office funding streams to support victims, keep communities safe and reduce reoffending.
Identify opportunities to increase public engagement for the Commissioner and her team with the aim of reaching the many wide and diverse communities across Surrey. This will include arranging engagement events, both virtual and face-to-face, providing innovative and informative content for stakeholder communications and working closely with key partners to communicate joint projects in the county.
Provide key support to ensure the Commissioner and her office are fully transparent and fulfil our statutory responsibilities on key projects such as consulting with the public and setting the council tax precept, producing the Annual Report and raising awareness of the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan.
Undertake other duties appropriate to the grade as may be reasonably required. This post may deputise for the Head of Communication and Engagement and other senior colleagues where required.
Skills & Experience
Degree or equivalent professional experience in journalism, media relations or PR
Significant experience at a senior role in a multi-media, media relations or public sector communications function in a high profile and fast paced environment
A sound knowledge of policing and government in the UK and understanding of the political context of the Commissioner’s role
Proactive, self-disciplined approach to tasks, with an ability to be flexible and work under pressure with minimal management direction
Proven ability to negotiate and influence at all levels – including senior colleagues and key external stakeholders – with an ability to persuade under time or other pressures
Confidence and experience in dealing professionally with the media at both a local and national level
Experience of setting and delivering communication and engagement plans and strategies
Ability to manage complex projects to tight deadlines and delivering against priorities
Experience of producing high quality video content and photography using mobile phone technology and editing software
Resilience under pressure, flexibility to work unpredictable and unsociable hours and ability to travel for work purposes at short notice
Proficiency in web content management, social media and digital technology
Ability to process complex and detailed information quickly into concise points for a public audience
Confidence at operating at a senior level with the Commissioner, key stakeholders and other senior leaders
Excellent writing skills that can be adapted for a variety of audiences on multiple communications platforms
Ability to work well within a team including covering for colleagues as required
Further Information
If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please contact Nathan Rees, Head Of Communications and Engagement for an informal discussion or further information on how to apply: 01483 630 200 or email surreypcc@surrey.pnn.police.uk.
The closing date for applications is Monday, 25th April 2022. Interviews will be held on Wednesday, 4th May 2022.
Additional Information
Following submission of your application you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your application attached. Occasionally emails from this address can fall into spam/junk folders so please ensure this is checked regularly. You may wish to consider adding noreply@surreysussexpolice.as.recruitmail.com to your address/contact list to ensure you receive all communications.
This post is being advertised in parallel with Force redeployment processes. Any redeployees who are identified will be given preference. This may result in the post being withdrawn at any point during the recruitment process.
Please note that not all jobs are available for internal candidates across both Forces, the current agreed recruitment principles are;
- vacancies in collaborated units are available to all officers and staff across both Forces
- vacancies in non-collaborated units are only available to officers and staff within the Force with the vacancy unless it is advertised externally.
If the vacancy is advertised externally and an officer or member of staff from the other Force is success it will result in a transfer of employment
Surrey Police and Sussex Police Special Constables, Volunteers and Agency Staff (excluding self-employed workers) covered under the Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) are eligible to apply for internal advertised posts.
Diversity Statement
We are only as good as our people. It's really important that our officers and staff can be themselves in the workplace and we know that as an organisation we'll grow from the variety of thinking, approach and skills that diversity brings; all of which help us deliver a better policing service. We strive to ensure how we deliver our services, provide information and how we recruit is open and accessible to all.
We have multiple staff support groups who help to improve our understanding of minority issues and ensure they are reflected in our work. We are proud members of the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index and Disability Confident, a signatory of the Race at Work Charter and aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and the HeForShe movement.
We value the differences that people bring from all backgrounds and communities. Regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, social status or religious beliefs, we would love to hear from you.