Vacancy Information
Shape public confidence in policing in Sussex Communications Officer needed to support high profile Police and Crime Commissioner Lewes, East Sussex Flexible office/home working (and some post-Covid county-wide travel).
Join our small but highly regarded communications team in the historic county town of Lewes, East Sussex on the banks of the River Ouse. You will promote the unique role and responsibilities of the elected Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, (PCC) Katy Bourne OBE. You will be encouraging the public to share their concerns and ideas about policing and community safety.
You will enhance the reputation of the PCC and her office and help shape public confidence. You will offer the PCC and her team effective media relations and communications advice at a local and national level and help to devise and run campaigns with colleagues.
This is a role suitable for highly motivated and ambitious communicators with proven writing and digital media skills. No two days are the same as you identify proactive media opportunities as well as reputational challenges.
You will accompany and photograph the PCC as she meets the public and partners and victims of crime and when she is alongside police operations. Travel across the county will be necessary on occasion so there will be an expectation for the successful candidate to be able to drive.
You will develop a close relationship with communications colleagues in Sussex Police and be the first port of call for local and national journalists wanting views from the PCC.
We are looking for a candidate who is hungry to demonstrate their potential and capable of maintaining our momentum. We pride ourselves on developing and supporting our colleagues’ talent and creativity and for fostering a great team spirit.
Salary range: £28,725-£31,725 and Local Authority Pension Scheme membership.
The Role
To promote the role of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), enhance the reputation of the office and influence public confidence. You will offer the PCC and her team effective media relations, content production and communications support You will build positive media relations, providing opportunities, advising and responding in a timely way and maximising content on social channels to build public confidence.
Key Responsibilities
- Liaise with OSPCC colleagues and Sussex Police Media and Communications Department to identify opportunities to promote understanding of the role of the PCC by writing press releases or providing comment by the PCC to endorse police operations or campaigns for use by local and national media.
- Assist in managing public confidence issues, monitoring day-to-day coverage on social media as well as traditional and web-based media outlets, to assess opportunities, issues and risks, flagging for response where necessary.
- Assist with media enquiries and foster positive media relations, prioritising and challenging inaccurate or misleading content where appropriate.
- Deliver multidisciplinary communications as required including assisting in the production of multimedia content for digital and social media.
- Provide media relations and communications support across OSPCC teams and work strands, including the victims/commissioning portfolio; partnerships, and others that emerge.
- Provide media monitoring and horizon scanning, including producing effective evaluation reports on media, PR and social media campaigns to monitor their impact. Recommend changes and improvements to content/channels/timing where appropriate.
- Build and develop the OPCC contact database alongside fellow team members. Contribute to increased sign-up to the PCC newsletter.
- Undertake other duties appropriate to the grade and character of work as may be reasonably required, including specific duties of a similar or lesser graded post.
Skills & Experience
ESSENTIAL
Qualifications:
- Degree level qualification or equivalent professional experience in journalism, public/media relations.
Knowledge, skills & experience:
- Strong writing skills and ability to adapt content for different audiences and channels, with excellent attention to detail.
- Experience of using social media to support communications Experience of writing for the web or social media in a professional environment.
- Experience of writing press releases.
- Experience of working with local media or specialist publications or outlets.
- At least twelve months’ experience in communications/journalism role (this could include internships).
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Applications including Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Teams
DESIRABLE
Qualifications:
- NCTJ or equivalent journalism qualification
- Full, clean driving licence
Knowledge, skills & experience:
- Knowledge of digital content management systems and publishing to digital channels.
- Experience of working with national media.
- Understanding of media law.
- Experience of persuading and influencing senior colleagues on appropriate communication tactics.
- Experience of producing in house short videos and other digital content.
Contact Details
Email Mervin.dadd@sussex-pcc.gov.uk for further information
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, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, social status or religious beliefs, we would love to hear from you.
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