Senior Communications and Engagement Officer

An excellent opportunity has arisen within Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) for a Senior Communications and Engagement Officer to join the team on a 12-month fixed term contract or as a secondment opportunity. You will be responsible for delivering a proactive and effective communications service in support of RBFRS strategic commitments and vision.,

• Liaise with the media and manage queries and supporting requests for data, pictures and information in a timely manner.
• Lead the delivery of the Communications and Engagement Strategy Action Plan with other team members, colleagues and the Senior Leadership Team to plan, deliver and evaluate effective internal and external communications and engagement initiatives which support the corporate vision and objectives.
• Manage the RBFRS social media presence, including the sourcing and updating of content, monitoring of activity, evaluating impact and dealing with any customer enquiries.
• Act as the project manager for communication and engagement work streams of assigned strategic projects and programmes with other team members and colleagues from across the organisation.
• Provide professional guidance and advice on strategic communication and reputational matters to the Senior Leadership Team and develop communication strategies and plans accordingly.
• Manage the planning and content management of the RBFRS website and intranet in line with accessibility regulations.
• Manage and uphold RBFRS brand across all channels both internally and externally.
• Deputise for the Communications and Engagement Manager where required to ensure the delivery of the Communication and Engagement Strategy and elements of the Corporate Services Service Plan., For further details about the role or to simply discuss any adaptations or adjustments we can make to assist you in your application or with our recruitment process please contact Jo Watson, Communications and Engagement Manager at (url removed) to arrange an informal discussion.
  
  As the Senior Communications and Engagement Officer, you will be critical in delivery the Communications and Engagement Strategy Action Plan, driving change and improvements across the function. As part of the team, you will develop and participate in all communications activities, including working with stakeholders within and outside the organisation, while promoting high levels of engagement and advocacy to deliver a service which reflects contemporary best practice., A good understanding of communications and engagement theory and practice
• Prior experience managing people, ability to teach, coach and develop others
• A background of working within a communications/PR/journalism /internal communications role
• High standard of written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to prioritise and manage workloads
• Knowledge of social media and web-based communications channels for business use
• Ability to make decisions within own area of responsibility, demonstrating strategic thinking skills
• A methodical approach with the ability to accurately undertake detailed work.
Application and selection process The successful candidate will demonstrate and promote behaviours in line with the Job Profile/Person Specification and our Behaviour Competency Framework as attached. The Behavioural Competency Framework allows us to easily identify the behaviours that drive successful performance and enables us to deliver an effective service. The behaviours detailed within the job profile will be assessed throughout the selection process., Appointment is conditional upon undertaking a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service values your individuality, your diversity and your dignity. All are welcome here. Inclusion, diversity and equality are principles which guide our decisions and will be visible throughout the Service, and we will continually work to improve in these areas. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture of dignity and trust where everyone feels safe and comfortable to bring their whole self to work. Simply: The communities we serve are varied and diverse, we should be too.

Salary: £38,626 - £43,693 per annum, Grade 5 Hours: Full Time - 37 hours per week Location Service Headquarters, Calcot, Reading Excellent annual leave allowance of 28 days, flexible working, onsite gym, parking facilities and a Local Government Pension Scheme are available