Vacancy Information
Division / Department - Operations Command
Grade - M1
Status - Part Time
Contract Type - Secondment
Salary Grade Range - £47,712 - £52,491
Working Hours - 22.5 Hours per Week
Shift Allowance - No
Politically Restricted - No
Location - 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
Keeping people and our local communities safe from crises that threaten our way of life is at the heart of what we do. Whether flooding, pandemic, major fire or cyber attack, your skills could help Sussex prepare, prevent and respond effectively to the next emergency.
Sussex Resilience Forum (SRF) is the partnership of local agencies working together and with central Government to reduce risk in communities and prepare for emergencies, bringing together emergency services, health, local authority, environment, transport, voluntary and utilities sectors.
The small business management team is central to the SRF’s governance and co-ordination. We are currently seeking an experienced communications professional to lead, nurture and facilitate the multi-agency communications efforts of the SRF, ensuring information is effectively co-ordinated to engage the right people, at the right time and in the right way, maximising public safety. This will be on a six-month secondment basis.
You will be equally comfortable working at a strategic level across the multi-agency stakeholder network as in devising and delivering evidence-led communications across a range of channels. The role will matrix manage resources across partner agencies and, as such, influencing and negotiating skills will be key.
Key responsibilities
1. Support SRF partner agencies to ensure that effective, tested, up to date arrangements, distribution lists, templates and protocols are in place in the event of a major or critical incident requiring multi-agency response, in line with the agreed SRF warning and informing model and processes.
2. Build and maintain relationships with SRF partner communications leads, including via the Sussex Warning and Informing Group (SWIG), and with government and other stakeholders, to coordinate and support the development and delivery of effective warning and informing communications.
3. Contribute as a member of the SRF Delivery Group to provide expert communications counsel and challenge, agree and ensure the delivery of actions, and advise and support SRF working groups as required.
4. Contribute as a key member of the SWIG Executive Group, providing a point of liaison with SRF Business Management Team, Delivery Group and working groups, ensuing that appropriate communications advice and support is provided and MIG decisions are actioned are delivered.
5. Manage the SWIG on a day-to-day basis, maintaining relationships and distribution lists, providing a point of contact for queries, managing meetings, and arranging events, exercises and training as agreed with SWIG Exec and SRF delivery and working groups.
6. Work within the SRF and partner communications teams to support the coordination of comms and engagement activities that align with the SRF’s agreed approach to building whole society resilience.
7. Produce regular content that the SRF and partners can use to assure stakeholders about the role and effectiveness of the SRF.
8. Provide additional support as required to incident comms cells, enhancing communications resilience across the partnership.
9. Contribute as a member of BMT to provide additional management-level support and resilience, undertaking any other activities to support the BMT and SRF as required.
10. Undertake other duties appropriate to the grade and character or work as may be reasonably required, including specific duties of a similar or lesser graded post.
Skills & Experience
11. Degree and NCTJ qualification or equivalent professional experience in media relations or PR Professional experience in one or more communications disciplines: PR, media relations, strategic communications, marketing, digital – working in a multi-agency or public sector environment would be beneficial
12. Experience in directly or matrix managing a communications team in a high profile and fast paced environment – working in a political environment and developing political briefs beneficial
13. Experience of developing and implementing effective and impactful, integrated communications strategies using OASIS and AMEC frameworks – working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite desirable
14. Experience of crisis communications including planning, response and/or recovery Proven ability to negotiate and influence at all levels – including at Exec level, among external stakeholders and peers – with an ability to persuade under time or other pressures Excellent formal and interpersonal communications skills, both verbal and written
15. Ability to balance short-term and long-term goals and competing planned and unplanned demand Experience in effectively stakeholder communications across multiple channels.
16. Good working knowledge of Microsoft products including Word, Excel, and SharePoint
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;
17. career progression
18. contributory pension scheme (LGPS)
19. generous annual leave allowance
20. discounts for everyday spend
21. on-site gyms and a range of sports clubs
22. generous and supportive parental leave
23. financial and mental wellbeing guidance and support
24. discounted contributory healthcare scheme
Please use the following links for more information on the benefits of working withor
Further Information