Communications Lead - Housing

Swindon Borough Council; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 39,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

Swindon Borough Council seeks a Communications Lead for Housing to shape communications across a major housing improvement programme, impacting over 10,000 homes and thousands of tenants. You will be the strategic adviser to senior leaders, driving engagement, reputation management and service improvement.

In a fast-moving, collaborative environment you will develop evidence-led campaigns, influence decision-makers and ensure tenants' voices are heard while helping Housing Services meet

Qualifications

• Experience in strategic communications, advising senior leaders, and delivering high-profile campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Serve as strategic communications adviser to senior leaders.
• Drive engagement, reputation management and service improvement for the housing programme.
• Develop evidence-led campaigns and influence decision-makers.
• Ensure tenants' voices are heard and drive customer-focused engagement.

Skills

Strategic communications

Stakeholder engagement

Media liaison

Job description

Communications Lead – Housing

Ref: 182785

Salary: £46,142 p.a. plus benefits

37 hours per week

Swindon Borough Council is on an exciting journey to transform service delivery. We want our town to be the best it can be. Our ambitious vision in the new Swindon Plan is supported by realistic transformation programmes, with the people of Swindon at their heart. Because that’s who we’re doing it for – the communities and businesses that make our town great. As part of the Council, you’ll support a friendly local authority making decisions with real impact. It’s all for better public services. Better processes. And a better quality of life, for everyone. Join us, and Swindon will be better with you.

Your next role

This is a rare opportunity to shape communications at the heart of a major housing improvement programme that impacts more than 10,000 homes and thousands of tenants across the borough. As Communications Lead for Housing, you will be the strategic communications adviser to senior leaders, driving a high-profile programme of engagement, reputation management and service improvement. Working across a complex and fast-moving environment, you will develop evidence-led campaigns, influence key decision-makers and ensure that tenants' voices are heard while helping Housing Services meet the highest standards of regulation, transparency and customer engagement.

If you are an experienced communications professional who thrives on strategic challenge, enjoys building trusted relationships and wants to make a tangible difference to people's lives, we'd love to hear from you.

You must be fluent in the English language (as a requirement of Part 7 of the Immigration Act “for the effective performance of a customer-facing role”).

The ability to travel throughout the Borough will be required and access to a car in order to support the delivery of communications activity.

The team operates a hybrid working model with all practitioners expected to be in the office for a minimum of one day per week, but with regular in-person attendance at meetings and events as required.

Your next package

Please see our Rewards and Benefits offer for more details.

As an employee, you will receive a diverse and exciting environment in which to work, encouraging creativity and innovation whilst recognising the need to support ongoing personal development and a flexible work life balance.

For Swindon to thrive in the future, we need to lay the foundations now. It’s why our regeneration and transformation programmes are already underway. So, you’ll be joining us at an exciting time on our journey. We’ll look to you to share your knowledge, influence decisions and drive real, positive change. With your contributions, we’ll achieve our vision of a prosperous, revitalised Swindon together. And you’ll be proud to say it was made better with you.

Please see our Vision and Values page for more details and our new Swindon Plan.

Potential applicants are sometimes put off if they don’t meet 100% of the requirements. We think individual experience, skills and passion make all the difference, so if you meet the majority of the criteria, we’d love to hear from you.

For further information about the role please contact Phil Avery, Head of Communications on 07392109772 or [e-mail]

As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from a diverse range of communities, and in particular disabled people and people from ethnic minorities. Read our statement of commitment to equality & inclusion.

If you are experiencing technical issues submitting your application, please email [e-mail]

Closing date: 1 September 2026

Interview dates: TBC

Interview format: Stage 1 (via MS Teams)

Stage 2 (face to face)