Communications Officer

Ashford Borough Council; Ashford; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Ashford Borough Council is seeking a Communications Officer to enhance its external communications and protect its reputation. The successful candidate will engage diverse audiences through social media and PR campaigns, requiring strong writing skills and an understanding of digital content creation. This is a full-time, temporary role for up to one year, with an attractive salary and hybrid working options.

Benefits

Hybrid Working

Excellent salary linked pension scheme

Generous annual leave with flexi time

Free life insurance

Supportive relocation package

Opportunities for training and development

Qualifications

• Experience with social media content creation.
• Knowledge of running PR and engagement campaigns.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Create engaging content for social media and digital campaigns.
• Manage media inquiries and develop PR strategies.
• Support external communications and promote the council's reputation.

Skills

Creative ideas

Knowledge of social media platforms

Excellent written and verbal skills

Experience writing for media

Ability to simplify complex information

Knowledge of PR campaigns

Experience in account management

Job description

Job Title: Communications Officer

Location: Ashford, Kent

Salary: From £26,685 to £29,079 pa depending on skills and experience

Job Type: Full time, Temporary Contract for up to one year to cover maternity leave

Working Hours: 37 Hours Per Week

Closing Date: 8th July 2025

Do you have…

• Creative ideas to help develop engaging content for social media campaigns and an analytical mind to measure their impact against set objectives
• Knowledge of how different social media platforms work and experience in creating digital content for different target audiences
• Excellent written and verbal skills and an eye for a story or news hook
• Experience of writing copy for the media, magazines and e-newsletters and dealing with the press (either local, regional or specialist trade publications)
• The ability to make complex information meaningful to a range of different audiences including our residents, employees and other stakeholders
• Knowledge of running successful PR and engagement campaigns
• Experience of working with senior colleagues in other services to provide an 'account management' style of communications service, prioritising their needs and delivering campaigns to maximise results.
  
  

Can you….

• Spot opportunities for good stories and help the council celebrate its successes
• Create powerful and engaging content to motivate and inspire audiences
• Write a story quickly, accurately, and make it engaging so that it gets read
• Work under pressure and to tight deadlines, to meet your customers' needs.
  
  

If so, we would like to hear from you!

We are looking for a great communicator to work within our hard-working team to support with our external communications activities and help to promote and protect the Council's reputation.

This includes creating content for social media and writing compelling copy, which engages and informs a wide range of audiences as well as dealing with media enquiries and managing a range of high-profile PR and digital marketing campaigns.

Benefits

Hybrid Working - We are an organisation that puts people first and understands how important employee wellbeing is. We want to help you to balance your working life and home life and offer flexible ways of working to help structure your life in a positive and productive way; both at home and in the office. This maximises personal development and collaborative working.

Competitive remuneration package - We offer an excellent salary linked pension scheme, generous annual leave with flexi time, free life insurance, supportive relocation package and opportunities for training and development.

Additional Information

Ashford Borough Council recognises the need to ensure the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults when they come into contact with the services we provide

We welcome applications form the Armed Forces Community

Please click the APPLY button and you will be redirected to the council's website to complete your application.

Candidates with experience or relevant job titles of; Marketing Executive, Marketing Campaign Coordinator, B2B Marketing, Comms Executive, Marketing and Comms Assistant, Marketing Strategy, Communications Officer, Marketing Specialist, Communications Executive may also be considered for this role.