Communications Officer

MID SUSSEX DISTRICT COUNCIL; Haywards Heath; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Generous Pension Scheme

Job summary

MID SUSSEX DISTRICT COUNCIL is seeking a Communications Officer to strengthen its relationship with residents, colleagues and partners. You will advise services across the Council, shape external messaging, and manage content across channels to land messages effectively.

The role includes proactive media activity, internal communications support, and developing engaging campaigns. A Level 3 qualification and PR experience are required, with hybrid working offered.

Qualifications

• A Level 3 qualification in communications, PR, or engagement.
• Experience in press, PR and media relations, including drafting content or responding to enquiries.
• Understanding of communications and marketing best practice.
• Excellent judgment and ability to build relationships with colleagues and media.
• Strong written communication skills to turn information into engaging stories.
• Experience delivering communications campaigns and creating digital content across channels.
• Creativity, curiosity and a collaborative approach.
• Understanding of local government or large public service organisations (desirable).

Responsibilities

• Act as a communications advisor to services across the Council.
• Support external communications development and delivery.
• Curate and manage content across online and offline channels.
• Develop engaging campaigns using written, visual, and video content.
• Maintain our communications calendar to ensure a consistent narrative.
• Support proactive press and media activity, including identifying positive stories, writing media releases and helping secure coverage.
• Support responses to media enquiries, working with colleagues to develop accurate and timely information.
• Help build and maintain positive relationships with local and regional media contacts.
• Work with colleagues to develop newsletters, promotional materials, and digital content.
• Support internal communications and staff engagement initiatives.
• Help uphold and develop the Council's brand, ensuring consistency and impact.

Job description

Are you a creative communicator with a passion for telling great stories, building engagement, and helping people feel connected to the place they live and work? We're looking for a talented, experienced Communications Officer to join our busy Communications Team and help us strengthen the Council's relationship with residents, colleagues, and partners. As a Communications Officer, you'll play a key role in helping the Council communicate clearly and confidently across a range of channels. Press and media work will be an important part of the role, from identifying positive stories and drafting media releases to supporting responses to enquiries and helping build good relationships with journalists and partners. Alongside this, you'll support campaigns, digital content and internal communications to make sure our messages land with the right people at the right time. You will:

• Act as a communications advisor to services across the Council
• Support the development and delivery of external communications
• Curate and manage content across our online and offline channels
• Develop engaging campaigns using written, visual, and video content
• Maintain our communications calendar to ensure a consistent narrative
• Support proactive press and media activity, including identifying positive stories, writing media releases and helping secure coverage
• Support responses to media enquiries, working with colleagues to develop accurate and timely information
• Help build and maintain positive relationships with local and regional media contacts
• Work with colleagues to develop newsletters, promotional materials, and digital content
• Support internal communications and staff engagement initiatives
• Help uphold and develop the Council's brand, ensuring consistency and impact

You’ll be part of a supportive, multi-disciplinary corporate team covering communications, marketing, media, brand and internal engagement.

• A relevant Level 3 qualification in communications, PR, or engagement
• Experience and track record of press, PR and media relations, including drafting content or supporting responses to enquiries
• A good understanding of communications and marketing best practice
• Excellent judgement, political awareness and the ability to build successful relationships with colleagues, partners, stakeholders and the media
• Strong written communication skills with the ability to turn information into clear and engaging stories
• Experience delivering communications campaigns and creating digital content across a range of channels
• Creativity, curiosity and a collaborative approach
• An understanding of local government or large public service organisations (desirable)

Why join us?

You’ll play a meaningful role in shaping how we communicate with our communities and colleagues. You’ll develop your skills across a broad communications portfolio, work with a wide range of stakeholders, and be part of a team that values creativity, professionalism and collaboration. Working for Mid Sussex District Council offers a range of benefits, including:

• Generous Pension Scheme: Secure your future with our excellent pension plan.
• Hybrid Working: Enjoy the flexibility of working both remotely and in the office.