Vacancy Information
Division / Department - Media and Communications
Grade - Grade 10
Status - Part Time
Contract Type - Permanent
Salary Grade Range - £34,329 - £37,692
Working Hours - 18.5 Hours per Week
Shift Allowance - No
Politically Restricted - Yes
Location - Sussex Police Headquarters, Lewes
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.
Chief Constables' Message
We really welcome your interest in joining our Police Force. It is a privilege to lead the teams in Surrey Police and Sussex Police who continuously work selflessly and tirelessly in order to keep people in our counties safe.
We are looking for talented and inspirational people who put the needs of the public at the heart of everything that they do and who want to make a difference. If you feel you are that person then we want to hear from you.
We wish you all the very best with your application.
Chief Constable Tim De Meyer & Chief Constable Jo Shiner
The Role & Key Responsibilities
We have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced communications professional to join our multi award-winning Media and Communications Department as a Communications Manager. The role is being advertised as a job share working 18.5 hours per week, Wednesday to Friday. The salary listed above will be paid pro-rata to reflect this.
Our Strategic Communications Team works on a rolling 7-day rota, delivering proactive, insight-led campaigns which aim to reduce serious violence, engage internal teams on technological developments and investments within the force and attract the next generation of police officers to work for us.
Your key responsibilities will include:
1. Providing professional communications advice to develop, drive delivery of, and evaluate communications plans and campaigns to your portfolio of services, in line with the Sussex Police priorities.
2. Managing stakeholder relationships and partnership communications in the department to improve support for, and confidence in, policing in Sussex.
3. Working alongside our Media, Social and Digital and Creative Services teams to protect and enhance the reputation of Sussex Police.
4. Raising standards of communication and engagement across the force, ensuring that quality and consistency is maintained.
5. Taking on specific responsibility to lead and manage force-wide projects and/or themes.
6. Generating creative solutions to initiate and enhance communications with the public and to devise ways of implementing these projects in collaboration with departmental colleagues.
7. Managing internal and media enquiries as required, delivering appeals via news media and digital channels during weekend shifts.
8. Flexing to support the internal and external communications needs of Sussex Police in the event of a major / critical incident.
9. Ensuring consistent demonstration of the Code of Ethics through all communications activity.
Skills & Experience
10. Degree in a communications discipline or recent experience in communications, marketing or media
11. Experience working in a communications team and delivering integrated public information or behavioural communications campaigns across multiple PESO channels
12. Evidence of stakeholder management, mapping, segmentation and targeting
13. Experience of designing and running internal and community engagement activities
14. Excellent communications and interpersonal skills, with experience of liaising and advising people at a senior level and from a range of backgrounds
15. Strong writing skills with the ability to adapt content for different audiences and channels
16. Understanding and experience of using social media channels in a work environment to build awareness, understanding and engagement
17. Ability to balance and manage conflict between short and long-term priorities and reactive/proactive work under pressure
18. Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
This role requires travel to meetings and locations across Sussex. The post-holder must therefore have the ability to travel to these locations when required to do so. Where transport involves the use of police vehicles, you must have a full driving licence and the ability to attain a Force Police Driving Permit.
The post-holder will be required to pass and maintain Force Vetting at the appropriate level, this may include enhanced vetting.
Why Work With Us?
Policing is an exciting 24/7 business and we all have commitments outside work. We’re invested in supporting people to balance their life with work and we encourage flexible working. We are open to conversations about job shares and part time working. We encourage agile working, giving you the opportunity to manage your own diary and work wherever you give the best service to the public. This may include flexi-time and home working.
We take pride in looking after our people and offer a variety of benefits;
19. career progression
20. contributory pension scheme (LGPS)
21. generous annual leave allowance
22. discounts for everyday spend
23. on-site gyms and a range of sports clubs
24. generous and supportive parental leave
25. financial and mental wellbeing guidance and support
26. discounted contributory healthcare scheme
Please use the following links for more information on the benefits of working with or
Further Information
To discuss this role and find out more please contact Head of Strategic Communications Becky Turner via email on
Diversity Statement
We are only as good as our people. It's 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 the skills that diversity brings; all of which help us to 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 Disability Confident, hold Race Equality Matters Trailblazer status, are a signatory of the Race at Work Charter and are aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and the HeForShe movement.
We are committed to being an anti-racist police service. We promise to challenge injustice, ensure fairness and to uphold anti-racist principles in both our organisation and our communities. For more information, you can read our .
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 belief, we would love to hear from you.
Please use the following links to find out more on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at and
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 addingto 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;
27. vacancies in collaborated units are available to all officers and staff across both Forces
28. vacancies in non-collaborated units are only available to officers and staff within the Force with the vacancy unless it is advertised externally
29. if the vacancy is advertised externally and an officer or member of staff from the other Force is successful 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.
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