External Communications Officer

South East Water UK; Snodland; Vor Ort; GBP 36.000 - 44.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Stakeholder pension

Holiday entitlement

Flexible annual leave

Volunteer days

Cycle to work

Health plan

Life assurance

Wellbeing benefits

Zusammenfassung

South East Water is seeking an External Communications Officer to help shape how the world sees the organisation. You will support the External Communications Manager, stay proactive, and craft engaging press releases and other materials to highlight our commitment to customers.

In this role you will manage multiple projects, draft communications for diverse audiences, and help identify media opportunities. A driving licence and PR/communications experience are essential.

Qualifikationen

• Degree in communications or PR or equivalent experience.
• Full valid UK driving licence.
• 3+ years in journalism or public relations.
• Strong media relations, crisis comms and briefing capabilities.

Aufgaben

• Support External Communications Manager in delivering the Turning the Tide strategy to rebuild SEW's reputation with customers and stakeholders.
• Pivot between multiple projects to produce high quality outputs to deadlines.
• Draft customer, media and stakeholder communications materials (plans, briefings, statements, press releases, presentations, web copy, FAQs, social content).
• Turn complex information into clear, accessible materials for public consumption.
• Be proactive in learning, developing, and trying new communications ideas and methods.
• Identify risks to reputation and raise them to managers.
• Identify opportunities for positive media coverage and arrange media events.
• Organise and attend in-person and virtual community and stakeholder events.
• Support out-of-hours crisis communications on a rotating basis.
• Coordinate with designers, photographers, videographers and contractors to achieve outputs.

Kenntnisse

Media relations

Press office management

Relationship building

Media monitoring

Media interview management

Statement and briefing development

Media training

Presentation/briefing skills

Strategic communications planning

Copywriting

Proofreading

Creative input & ideation

Quality control

Campaign execution

Crisis communications

Ausbildung

Degree in communications or PR

Jobbeschreibung

Summary:

As our External Communications Officer, you’ll help shape how the world sees South East Water.

Supporting our External Communications Manager, you’ll help us stay consistent and proactive in everything we do.

Whether you’re identifying fresh media opportunities or drafting engaging press releases, your goal will be to create impactful coverage that highlights our commitment to our customers.

It’s a chance to use your PR skills to make a positive, visible difference!

Main responsibilities:

• Support the External Communications Manager in the delivery of the Turning the Tide strategy, rebuilding South East Water’s reputation amongst its customers and stakeholders.
• Be adept at pivoting between multiple projects, sometimes with competing needs, to produce appropriate and high quality communications outputs to deadline.
• Competent in drafting accurate customer, media and stakeholder communications materials required for a project or event, including, but not limited to; communications plans and evaluations, briefing notes, statements, press releases, presentations, exhibition materials, articles, advertising, website copy, FAQs and social media content such as videos.
• Competent in turning complex information into appropriate and easy to understand materials for public consumption.
• Keen to learn, develop as well as try new ideas and communications methods as they arise.
• Competent at identifying potential risks to company reputation and have confidence in raising these with appropriate managers.
• Identify opportunities for positive media coverage, crafting press releases, arranging media events, managing interviews and briefing spokespeople.
• Be responsible for organising, managing and attending a range of in-person and virtual community and stakeholder events which open our audiences’ eyes to water.
• Be part of the Communications out-of-hours service on a shared rota basis (approximately one in four weeks) where you’ll help manage crisis communications both in and out of office hours, escalating where appropriate.
• Confident at liaising with designers, photographers, videographers and other contractors to achieve desired outcomes when creating communications materials and arranging events.

You’ll need: Skills / Qualifications / Experience

• Degree-level qualification in a communication or PR related discipline or relevant experience.
• Full driving licence.
• At least three years’ experience in either a field related to journalism (newspaper/online/TV/radio) or public relations/communications, either agency or in-house.
• Media relations, press office management, relationship building, media monitoring & optimisation, media interview management, statement & briefing development, media training, presentation/briefing skills, strategic communications planning, copywriting, proofreading, creative input & ideation, quality control, campaign execution, crisis communications.
• A working experience and knowledge of the media, together with the ability to deal confidently with customers and stakeholders is essential. Social media skills would be desirable.

Employees are required to be flexible and to be prepared to perform duties and other tasks within their capabilities. The nature of our business is such that the contents of any job profile are subject to change from time to time.

Grow a career with a meaningful purpose.

We know the communities we serve are diverse. We recognise creativity comes from diversity not similarity. That’s why we are enthusiastic about creating inclusion across age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion and identity. You will experience our dedication to equal opportunities and fair treatment for all: through your recruitment, employment and career progression with South East Water.

Benefits package:

• Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution.
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays per annum, increasing to 6 weeks with length of service.
• Flexible annual leave policy to buy or sell holiday leave.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Health cash plan.
• Life assurance.
• Wellbeing related benefits.

What can you expect from your recruitment?

• It is necessary for you to have the legal right to work in the UK when you begin employment with South East Water.
• Additionally, as part of the employment offer, you will need to pass background, identity, and employment referencing checks.

Compensation package:

Up to £40,000 p.a. (dependent on experience)