Job info |
Job info details |
Job title |
Engagement and Communication Support Officer |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Corporate Services |
Service |
Policy, Performance and Community Engagement |
Business unit |
Communications |
Responsible to (day to day issues) |
Senior Engagement and Communications Officer |
Accountable to (line manager) |
Senior Engagement and Communications Officer |
Salary grade |
F |
JE ref |
BUSP56 |
1. Key purpose of job
- To support positive engagement and communication with the community to help inform and drive the development of strategy, policy and projects across the Council.
- To provide advice and support to colleagues in relation to the Council’s systems and processes for engagement and communications.
2. Anticipated outcomes of post
- A Council which positively engages with and empowers its communities to deliver its ambitions.
- Decisions taken by the Council and its partners are safe and informed by a strong evidence base and feedback from engagement, empowerment, consultation and equality impact assessments are fully considered as part of the decision-making process.
3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post
- Give advice and support to colleagues on day-to-day engagement and communications issues.
- Prepare questionnaires, surveys and other engagement and consultation tools so as to ensure that the consultation and/or engagement is fair, balanced and appropriately focussed.
- Analyse and summarise feedback from engagement and consultation activity, including sentiment analysis from social media, and prepare reports for consideration by the Senior Leadership Team and members of the Council.
- Act as the first point of contact for media organisations, including responding to general media enquiries, identifying contentious media issues, drafting press releases, producing a variety of public relations material which can be used by the media and wider community, coordinating interview opportunities and identifying positive and negative publicity across the council.
- Post to and monitor a range of social media accounts, simultaneously; using timelines and scheduled content to create a consistent stream of new content for audience interaction while analysing, managing and altering schedules where necessary to optimise visits.
- Producing and editing content for publications in line with the council's policies to support the delivery of a range of projects within the programme of engagement and communication.
- Supporting the development and delivery of innovative campaigns to deliver creative, targeted and effective marketing, engagement and communications.
- Support corporate projects across a wide range of the Council’s work.
- Prepare and support presentations at workshops, seminars and other meetings.
- Operate and manage the Council’s community engagement software systems, providing guidance and support to staff on the system and providing advice and support on its use.
- Provide advice and guidance on the use of the council’s identity framework and brand management.
- Support the development and implementation of the Council’s approach to equality and diversity policy and provide advice and support officers across the Council in undertaking impact assessments.
4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post
5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post
6. Working environment and conditions of the post
- Normal working environment and conditions with occasional requirement to:
- Support consultation and engagement events at outside venues.
- Work outside normal office hours to support consultation and engagement events.
7. Physical demands of the post
8. Specific resources used by the post
- No specific resources used.
9. Key contacts and relationships
- External:
- Partner agencies.
- Private and third sector organisations and employers.
- Media.
- Internal:
- Chief Executive, Directors and the Senior Leadership Team.
- Heads of service.
- Staff at all levels across the Council.
10. Other duties
- To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.
Other Information
- All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
- The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of
buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
- The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
- The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
- The post is eligible for both hybrid and permanent home working.
- The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
- You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions.
- Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
Person Specification
Note for Candidate
All Candidates
The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement.
In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.
Candidates who consider that they have a disability
Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.
If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.
Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.
If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.
Job info |
Job info details |
Job Title |
Engagement and Communication Support Officer |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Corporate Services |
Service |
Policy, Performance and Community Engagement |
Business unit |
Communications |
Skills and effectiveness
Essential skills and effectiveness
- Proven ability to identify and summarise complex information within tight timescales.
- High standard of numeracy and literacy skills, with a commitment to plain English.
- Ability to present in verbal and written formats, including taking complex information and presenting in a format suitable for the audience.
- Ability to analyse and interpret complex statistical information and community feedback, and present the information in a fair, accurate and meaningful way.
- Ability to explain organisational requirements in terms of engagement and communications, including the use of the Council’s community engagement software systems, to managers and support officers across the organisation.
- Ability to deliver high standards in data reliability and information analysis.
- Ability to evaluate information to make recommendations to Engagement and Communications Officers about alternative engagement approaches.
- Prioritisation and organisational skills.
- Ability to build effective relationships.
- Ability to work flexibly on own initiative and as part of a team.
- Able to work effectively with minimal supervision and direction using own initiative, but adept at identifying relevant sources of assistance.
- Time management skills and the ability to meet ongoing (and sometimes conflicting) deadlines and shifting priorities.
Desirable skills and effectiveness
N/A
Knowledge
Essential knowledge
- Computer literate and proficient in the use of Microsoft including Excel.
- A thorough understanding and up-to-date working knowledge of engagement, consultation and communications practices.
Desirable knowledge
- Knowledge of project management methodologies and techniques.
- Knowledge of marketing and/or engagement.
- Knowledge of local government policies and procedures.
- Political awareness.
Experience and achievements
Essential experience and achievements
- Experience in statistical analysis.
- Experience of producing clear and easy to understand documents and advice.
- Experience of dealing with enquiries on a range of subjects.
- Experience of thoroughly and accurately proof-reading documents.
- Experience of supporting senior leadership with continuous improvement to improve the reputation of the organisation.
Desirable experience and achievements
- Experience in a public sector engagement and/or communications role.
Qualifications/professional memberships
Essential qualifications/professional memberships
- Educated to A Level standard or equivalent or demonstrable work-related experience.
Desirable qualifications/professional memberships
- A level in Maths or statistics or equivalent qualification.
- Marketing or media related qualification.
Other requirements
Other requirements of the job role
- Ability to travel efficiently around Torbay and the South West in order to carry out duties.