Communications Officer - Req24983

Job title: Communications and marketing officer

Salary: SO2 £34, 834 - £36, 648

Hours: 37 per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Civic Hall, Calverley Street, Leeds LS1 1UR

Are you interested in working as part of a team leading communications and marketing for one of the fastest growing cities in the UK?
Do you have a keen interest in building on Leeds’ successes through excellent marketing and digital communications?
If so, we’d like you to join Leeds City Council’s communications and marketing team. We are recruiting for individuals who thrive in a dynamic and fast paced environment, and enjoy delivering to deadlines as part of a successful team.

As a communications and marketing officer you will bring to the role:

• excellent written skills
•  a proactive approach
•  the ability to communicate clearly and engagingly
•  great interpersonal skills; and
•  the ability to work across both behavioural change, income-generating and digital marketing

About the role 

As a communications and marketing officer, you will be a skilled communicator and influencer, able to work independently as well as part of the team, consistently delivering and supporting the highest standard of work to deliver council and city priorities from planning through to monitoring and evaluation.

This role is integral to our communications and marketing team, and supports marketing across a range of directorates and services within the council.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application. 

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Danni Clayton, head of communications and marketing, email: danielle.clayton@leeds.gov.uk  

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is ranked 70 on the Stonewall Equality Index 2023. We are also an age-friendly employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
 
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Job Description

Job purpose                         

Communications and marketing officers play a key role in the communications and marketing team, bringing professional knowledge and skills, and a focus on outcomes and quality delivery that ensures excellence. 

Communications and marketing officers will deliver work on projects and campaigns that support the best council and best city priorities. 

They will be responsible for managing their own workload, working flexibly across communications and marketing disciplines on a range of projects and subjects, and ensuring their work is completed to deadline and to a high standard.

Responsibilities 

• Act as a lead on projects to deliver work on behalf of the communications and marketing team. 
• Demonstrate a proactive attitude and creative approach, and use judgement and insight to reach decisions. 
• Provide professional advice across all communications and marketing disciplines, based on a high standard of competency across the insight ideas, implementation and impact stages of the competency framework, and with a strong focus on outcomes. 
• Effectively prioritise their workload, ensuring efficient use of resources and appropriate levels of support for council and city priorities. 
• Support the smooth running of a professional communications and marketing service by playing an active role in the team. 
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external partners and suppliers that help the council and team to meet priorities while spending money wisely. 
• Represent the council and the communications and marketing team at internal and external meetings and events.
• Understand and follow procurement rules for communications and marketing spend both in the team and across the council, in line with the organisation’s financial rules.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications

• Degree/professional qualification or equivalent job-related experience.

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

The post holder should demonstrate the following within the context of the key role duties and responsibilities, meeting core competencies and working towards the key competencies at the officer level of the communications and marketing competency framework:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage, influence and negotiate and to form positive relationships at all levels; 
• A proactive approach, using professional judgement based on insight and innovation; 
• An inclusive approach and a commitment to equality and diversity; 
• Contributes to own health and wellbeing and promotes the health, safety and wellbeing of others
• Commitment to their own continuing professional development.
• Considerable experience gained working in a marketing, PR, communications or relevant related environment.
• Good level of knowledge of the operations of a marketing, PR or communications function.
• Good level of understanding of marketing, PR or communication issues facing large local authorities and the public sector.
• Thorough knowledge of marketing, PR and communications methodology.
• Experience of delivering multiple projects to tight deadlines.
• Experience of producing clear, accurate copy within tight deadlines and the ability to communicate in plain English.
• Experience of working in a team environment but with the ability to work individually without supervision. 
• Ability to brief for large-scale marketing, PR or communications projects.
• Ability to produce marketing, PR or communication strategies and plans, reports, articles and news releases which are clear and articulate.
• Ability to prepare and present written and verbal information in a concise and accurate manner to a wide range of audiences.
• Ability to contribute effectively to a wide range of corporate projects from a marketing, PR and communications perspective.
• Able to demonstrate excellent communication skills both written and oral, confidence and the ability to present to a variety of audiences both internal and external to the organisation.
• Computer literate with ability to use relevant software packages.
• Demonstrable experience of dealing with matters, which are highly sensitive and confidential.
• Ability to work to specified work programmes and timetables, prioritising effectively.
• Ability to make swift decisions and judgements.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Ability to foster and maintain useful contacts internal and external to the council. 
• Ability to contribute to partnerships involving various stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.
• Ability to develop productive working relationships that command trust and confidence.
• Ability to work effectively with others to deliver cross-service projects.
• Ability to manage competing priorities whilst delivering on a range of projects and adapting to changing circumstances and priorities.
• Willing to abide by the council’s equal opportunities policy in the duties of the post, and as an employee of the council.
• Able to offer persuasive professional and creative advice.
• Able to build relationships with service staff and play an influencing role.

Essential Behavioural and other Characteristics 

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities. 
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade. 
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria.  Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

• Experience of developing, leading and motivating a team.
• Experience of carrying out project work and using project management techniques and preparing reports.
• Experience of developing integrated marketing, PR or communications strategies which demonstrate clear, actionable and measurable outcomes.
• Experience of using information and research across a wider marketing, PR and communications network to ensure joined up working and the use of corporate planning and performance data to develop strategies and activity.
• Experience of building influential networks and enabling effective communication and engagement with others in a wide range of settings.
• Experience of directing and coordinating resources to deliver against marketing, PR and communication requirements.
• Ability to plan, implement and monitor complex marketing, PR or communications campaigns.
• Ability to demonstrate the necessary confidence, gravitas and authority to represent the communications team at a senior level in the organisation and to contribute to business development.
• Evidence of strong brand and identity management through different channels and understanding of the implications for customer experience, employer brand and reputation management.
• Demonstrable experience of using market research, customer insight and intelligence to inform marketing, PR and communications activity and strategies.
• Able to demonstrate an understanding of the role of the media and be able to support the press, media and issues management function.
• Degree or professional qualification.