Digital Communications And Media Specialist

At Publica we are dedicated to serving our communities and enhancing the lives of our residents. Our mission is to ensure effective communication, engagement, and service delivery across our partner councils.

About the role…

As the Digital Communications and Media Specialist, you will play a pivotal role in developing and expanding the social media presence of our district councils, while also overseeing media engagement strategies to safeguard and enhance our reputation. You will analyse data, trends, and best practices to drive improvements across our digital channels, ensuring that our communications resonate with our diverse audience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and growth of the social media presence for three district councils, enhancing reach and engagement across all platforms.
• Coordinate media engagement efforts across the team, collaborating with colleagues to uphold the highest standards in press releases and Media handling, thereby safeguarding our partner councils' reputation.
• Analyse data, trends, algorithms, and best practices to recommend and implement changes that optimise our digital channel.
• Deliver Digital Communications to residents through e-newsletters and other channels, ensuring timely and relevant information dissemination.
• Create and curate high-quality social media content tailored to specific audiences, aligning with council priorities and objectives.
• Manage incoming media inquiries directed at the partner councils, organising written responses or interviews as necessary to protect and promote the organisation's reputation.

If you are passionate about Digital Communications, media engagement, and making a difference in local governance, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity. Join us in shaping the future of our communities through effective communication and engagement strategies.

• A qualification in your area of expertise, equivalent to BTEC, HND, HNC, NVQ level 4/5 or relevant experience of five years 
• GCSE Maths and English or equivalent to grade C/4 or higher
• A good understanding of the social media landscape including in-depth knowledge of different social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram 
• Experience in producing creative, varied content for a range of digital channels including written copy, video and graphics
• Experience in managing a social media channels for an organisation, monitoring analytics and driving best practice 

For more information about this role please see the Job Description/Person Specification.

• Use of a car for work purposes
• This post designated as politically restricted in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Politically restricted post holders are restricted from canvassing on behalf of a political party or for a person who is, or seeks to be, a candidate for election to a local authority, the House of Commons, or the European Parliament

Publica is a unique place to work – we’re a local government organisation with a twist! Publica wants to transform the way local services are delivered. To help do this we have started to fundamentally rethink the way we design our services in the digital era so that Publica is a customer focused organisation driven by real user needs.

• Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working
• Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role)
• 27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays and an extra two volunteering days off a year for you to support a charity of your choice
• Health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care
• Pension scheme with a good employer contribution of 5% of your earnings
• Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with huge tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars
• Access to digital financial advice (covering your pension scheme, mortgages and other finances)
• Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements
• Additional income protection, covering 50% of your salary for potentially a further five years if you are unable to work due to sickness or injury
• Life assurance, currently four times your annual salary

These are just a handful of the benefits that you can enjoy when you join us!

To apply for this position please click on "apply now" within this page to complete an application form and supporting statement together with your CV. Please tell us about your skills, knowledge, qualifications, experience and how they meet the criteria listed above and in the job description/person specification. Your CV will not be available to the hiring manager unless you are shortlisted for interview to assist with our non-biased screening process so please ensure you complete the application form in full.

It is important that our staff reflect the diversity of our community, and we therefore welcome and encourage applications from people of all genders and sexual orientation, those from Black, Asian, and other minority ethnic backgrounds, and those with disabilities.

Accredited of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies - Please state this within your covering statement or in a separate email. 

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding the welfare of vulnerable adults, young people and children.  Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies

Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies. Successful candidates will be required to complete a pre-employment medical questionnaire; provide references;  proof of identity; nationality and immigration status; three years’ employment or education history (if applicable) and, in some cases, verification of criminal record.