Communications Officer FTC - Haywards Heath, RH16 1SS
Communications Officer – 6 month FTC
Grade 5 | Corporate Resources & Organisational Development
Team: Communications
Are you a creative communicator with a passion for telling great stories, building engagement, and helping people feel connected to the place they live and work? We’re looking for a talented Communications Officer to join our busy Communications Team and help us strengthen the Council’s relationship with residents, colleagues and partners.
About the role
As a Communications Officer, you’ll play a key role in delivering clear, compelling and accessible communications across a wide range of channels. From planning and delivering campaigns, to crafting engaging content, to supporting the Council’s digital presence, your work will help ensure our messages land with the right people at the right time.
You will:
* Support the development and delivery of internal and external communications
* Curate and manage content across our online and offline channels
* Develop engaging campaigns using written, visual and video content
* Act as a business partner to services across the Council
* Maintain our communications calendar to ensure a consistent narrative
* Contribute to press and media activity, including writing proactive stories
* Manage day-to-day social media activity, analytics and paid campaigns
* Work with colleagues to develop newsletters, promotional materials and digital content
* Support internal communications and staff engagement initiatives
* Help uphold and develop the Council’s brand, ensuring consistency and impact
You’ll be part of a supportive, multi-disciplinary corporate team covering communications, marketing, media, brand, and internal engagement.
What we’re looking for
You’ll bring:
* Degree educated, with relevant qualification in communications or PR (e.g. CIPR.)
* Strong written communication skills with the ability to tell stories clearly and creatively
* Experience delivering communications campaigns and creating digital content
* A good understanding of communications and marketing best practice
* Confidence working in a fast-paced environment with competing deadlines
* Ability to assimilate and produce clear briefs and demonstrate follow-through and valuable outputs
* Excellent judgement, political awareness and the ability to build strong relationships
* Creativity, curiosity and a collaborative approach
* An understanding of local government or large public service organisations (desirable)
Why join us?
You’ll play a meaningful role in shaping how we communicate with our communities and colleagues. You’ll develop your skills across a broad communications portfolio, work with a wide range of stakeholders, and be part of a team that values creativity, professionalism and collaboration.
The role is based at our offices in Hayward Heath. We offer hybrid working with a minimum of two days a week in the office. The role also involves occasional out-of-hours work for events or media support, with time off in lieu.
Additional information
This is a politically restricted post.
You must be able to work flexibly, including occasional evening engagements.
We are building a team and require full commitment to the period of this contract.