JOB DESCRIPTION

Job title: Corporate Communications Manager

Location: The Guildhall
Grade: 9
Salary: £41,996 - £46,539
Directorate: Borough Secretary
Division: Borough Secretary
Team: Marketing and Communications
Responsible to: Borough Secretary
Responsible for: Small team of communications officers

JOB PURPOSE

Develop and deliver an effective communications strategy, to all internal and external
stakeholders, ensuring a consistency in the communication of the Council’s vision,
ambition, services and achievements.

Provide strategic leadership to the communications and marketing activities across a

range of channels, including traditional and digital media.

Develop and deliver a consistent, high-quality corporate identity and brand for the
Council

Advise on the strategy and implementation of consistent and co-ordinated

consultation and engagement with residents, partners and businesses.

KEY RESULT AREAS

1. Lead on all aspects of communications and marketing for the Council.

2. Provide strategic and detailed advice and support to the Council and its
leadership on communication issues with regards to corporate initiatives and
projects.

3. Provide a range of content for different target audiences across multiple

channels as part of a pro-active and planned programme of communications
activity, including press releases, news articles, features, social media, copy,
blogs, website, and newsletters.

4. Plan, authorise and monitor appropriate branding and online written content
across the Council.

5. Plan and deliver appropriate communications and marketing strategies and

activity to include the planning and delivery of internal and external
stakeholder engagement, market stimulation, social marketing to support
behaviour change, consultation and surveys and direct communities through
exhibitions, public events and liaison with local groups.

6. Ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of communications and marketing

activity to feed back into business planning processes and use customer
insight to drive innovation, encouraging two-way engagement so that citizens
have an active voice.

7. Manage and respond proactively and reactively to press and media in a timely
way ensuring that the Council’s reputation and integrity is maintained, liaising
with staff and members as required.

8. Introduce processes and procedures which improve operational efficiency and

service delivery, actively seeking out and promoting examples of best
practice.

9. Maximise the opportunities for joint working with partners on communication

and consultation projects and the promotion of shared messages.

10. Develop and implement a comprehensive internal communications strategy,

to improve staff engagement and promote continuous performance
improvement.
 PEOPLE AND RESOURCES

Job-holder’s position in relation to their manager, peers and direct reports:

 Advising internal colleagues including the Chief executive Officer, the Leader
of the Council and members, and third party groups with consistent
messaging and branding.
 Leading a multi-skilled team, advising and supporting with the implementation
of:
o Campaign, project and marketing strategy and tactical activities
o Communications and press/media of all types
o Production of publications and publicity material
o Web content and social media
o Large and small scale events
o Crisis management
o Partnership projects
o Emergency planning
o Customer and public relations
o Commissioning and working with external agencies

JOB DEMANDS

This job entails the following demands:

This job entails the following demands:

 The post requires travel to any Council or partners site

 Driving Licence Holder

 The post also requires some out of hours work during evenings and weekends
 PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential/Desirable? Methods of Assessment
Application
KNOWLEDGE AND QUALIFICATIONS E D References Interview Other
Form
Degree level or equivalent standard of general education. Yes X
Successful record of developing and implementing organisation-wide
Yes X X
communications strategies in complex organisations
Understanding of local, regional and national government politics, political
Yes X X
structures and culture
Experience of planning and managing consultation strategies and plans,
Yes X X
including advice to team and others
A strong track record in successfully developing and delivering campaigns
Yes X X
and building corporate reputation across offline, digital and social media
A strong track record in leading and performance managing teams to deliver
Yes X X
agreed results including the development of people, systems and processes
Successful budget and project management Yes X X
A proven track record of developing and sustaining effective professional
Yes X X
relationships with external and internal stakeholders
Strategic and detailed experience of brand management Yes X X
Good knowledge and understanding of communications-related issues and
Yes X X
crisis communications
Awareness of best practice, current legislative requirements regarding
Yes X X
communications and government standards
Experience of managing communications in organisations through periods
Yes X X
of significant change
Significant experience in providing communications advice to senior
Yes X X
leaders, sometimes on complex or contentious issues
Experience of brand design and management Yes X X
Experience of the marketing of venues and events to support income
Yes X X
generating initiatives
 Application
SKILLS E D References Interview Other
Form
Ability to communicate effectively with politicians, senior leaders, colleagues
Yes X
at all levels, media and other stakeholders
Ability to work in a policy environment, understanding the local, regional and
Yes X X
national contexts relating to the post
Ability to prioritise workload to achieve desired outcomes and meet
Yes X
competing deadlines
Able to analyse complex issues and problems Yes X
Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills Yes X
A strategic thinker able to develop and implement communications
strategies, projects and plans, which consider, highlight and manage Yes X X
potential risks, issues and opportunities
Management skills – including team building, motivation, and performance
Yes X X
management
Able to address the relevant problem and provide solutions Yes
Ability to undertake and understand complex issues and research projects Yes X X
Able to direct, guide and support others in improving their decision making
Yes X
skills
Good copy writing and editorial skills and an eye for design Yes X
COMPETENCES Level
Leads a high performing team to deliver operational
Leads high performing teams 3 plans through the communication of the organisation
vision
Collaborates with external partners and cross-functional
Collaboration, communication and influencing 3 teams, communicating objectives, to deliver processes
and services
Translates business strategy into functional plans and
Strategic orientation 3 arranges, deploys and manages resources to deliver the
Council agenda

Trust, Equality and Fairness
Customer impact
Change leadership
Commercial orientation
People and organisation development
Problem solving
Accountability for results
Behaves in an open and honest manner, sharing
information accurately, completely and appropriately.
3 Treats everyone with dignity, respect and fairness and
demonstrates awareness and respect of cultural and
individual values
Ensures operational plans are delivered to meet the
3
expectations of internal and external customers
Influences and champions significant change and uses
3 good practice methodologies learned from external
organisations
Understands the impact of the implementation of
3 operational plans on budgets, funding and revenue
generation
Identifies the aspirations and development needs of
3 individuals within the team and finds ways in which to
support these
Seeks creative solutions to complex challenges with
3
minimum requirement to seek advice
Takes ownership for the delivery of processes and
3
services within complex and ambiguous environments