Head of Communications and Marketing

North Northamptonshire Council; Kettering; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Programme

Benefits scheme

Wellbeing support

Travel at HMRC rates

Job summary

North Northamptonshire Council seeks a forward‑thinking Head of Communications and Marketing to shape the corporate narrative and drive proactive, digital‑first communications. You will be the principal adviser to the Chief Executive and senior leaders, guiding reputation, campaigns and partnerships across the council.

You will lead transformation of the Communications and Marketing Service, align work to the Corporate Plan, and foster clear, inclusive communication that informs residents and

Qualifications

• Substantial senior-level experience in strategic communications, marketing, media, public affairs, campaigns or reputation management within a large and complex organisation.
• Credibility and judgement to advise senior leaders and elected Members, constructively challenging established thinking.
• Ability to translate complex strategies into clear, engaging communications for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Council's approach to strategic communications, marketing, media relations, campaigns and reputation management.
• Translate Corporate Plan and Strategy into a clear, compelling narrative for residents, businesses and partners.
• Provide trusted advice directly to the Chief Executive and Executive Members on high‑profile issues.
• Drive proactive, digital-first communications with insight-led, inclusive delivery.
• Oversee budgets, contracts, suppliers and performance of the Communications and Marketing Service.

Skills

Strategic communications

Marketing

Media relations

Reputation management

Political awareness

Digital communications

Audience insight

Campaign evaluation

Stakeholder relationships

Team leadership

Budget management

Contract management

Education

Degree-level qualification

Job description

This is a significant senior leadership opportunity to shape how North Northamptonshire Council communicates, builds trust and brings its ambitions for the area to life. We want to be known not only for clarity and transparency but for a distinctive style that feels human, warm and unmistakenly North Northamptonshire. We want our communications to be informative and sensitive, but where appropriate we want to make people smile, feel included, and want to share information across local communities. Importantly, we want to do this in the most cost effective, efficient and economic ways possible. As Head of Communications and Marketing, you will lead the Council's approach to strategic communications, marketing, media relations, campaigns and reputation management. Working closely with the Chief Executive, Corporate Leadership Team and Executive Members, you will ensure the delivery and development of our Corporate Communications Strategy and the wider delivery of the Council's ambitious Corporate Plan. This is more than a traditional communications role. You will help shape the Council's corporate narrative, promote North Northamptonshire as a place to live, work, invest and visit, and ensure that residents understand not only what the Council is doing, but why it matters. You will lead the shift towards communications that are proactive, digital-first, insight-led and human, while remaining inclusive and accessible to all communities. As the Council's principal communications adviser, you will provide trusted and authoritative advice directly to the Chief Executive, Corporate Leadership Team, and Executive Members. You will operate at the heart of the organisation, helping senior leaders navigate complex, high-profile and politically sensitive issues. You will ensure that communication is two-way, and that timely and accurate stakeholder feedback is available to help inform policy development from the outset.

• Drive delivery and future development of the Council's strategic direction for the Council's Communications and Marketing Service as set out in the Corporate Communications Strategy, aligning its work to corporate priorities and the long-term ambitions for North Northamptonshire
• Translate the Corporate Plan, Annual Delivery Plan, Customer Experience Strategy and BIG50 Vision into a clear, compelling and consistent narrative for residents, businesses, communities, colleagues and partners
• Act as principal communications adviser to the Council's Corporate Leadership Team and network of senior leaders, providing expert counsel on reputation, media, public affairs, political sensitivities and stakeholder relationships
• Protect and enhance the Council's reputation, leading strategic communications during major incidents, organisational crises and high-profile issues
• Lead integrated communications, marketing and behaviour-change campaigns that improve understanding, increase participation and support better customer, community and organisational outcomes
• Champion a proactive, digital-first approach, making greater use of video, storytelling, audience segmentation, insight, analytics and responsible artificial intelligence
• Strengthen relationships with the media, public-sector partners, businesses and community organisations, promoting North Northamptonshire and supporting shared place-based ambitions
• Co-ordinate and develop communications capabilities across the Council so that services communicate clearly, confidently and consistently
• Lead, inspire and develop multidisciplinary professional teams, while managing budgets, contracts, suppliers, resources, risks and performance, Our values define who we are and how we operate, by forming the foundation for how we interact with our customers, colleagues and provide our services. They are also at the forefront of our decision making and delivery and are: Customer-focused Respectful Efficient Supportive Trustworthy Our key commitments help ensure that the priorities we make, now and in the future, maintain the necessary breadth of focus in those areas that we believe matter most.

You will be an accomplished and forward-thinking communications leader who can operate confidently with senior stakeholders including the Chief Executive, corporate leadership team and senior elected members. You will bring substantial senior-level experience in strategic communications, marketing, media, public affairs, campaigns or reputation management within a large and complex organisation. You will have the credibility and judgement to advise senior leaders and elected Members, constructively challenge established thinking and provide calm, clear leadership when the organisation is under public, political or media scrutiny. You will combine strategic vision with a strong delivery focus. You will understand how communications can support organisational change, improve customer experience, influence behaviour, build public trust and strengthen the identity and reputation of a place. You will also bring:

You will also bring

• Expert knowledge of strategic communications, marketing, media relations and reputation management
• Strong political awareness and the ability to exercise sound professional judgement in complex and sensitive situations
• An outstanding ability to turn complex strategies, services and decisions into clear and meaningful communications
• Experience of developing corporate narratives and delivering high-impact, evidence-led campaigns
• Strong knowledge of digital communications, audience insight, segmentation, behavioural approaches and campaign evaluation
• The ability to build trusted relationships with senior leaders, elected Members, journalists, partners and stakeholders
• A successful track record of leading professional teams, transformation and continuous improvement
• Strong financial, commercial, commissioning and contract-management skills
• A degree-level qualification, equivalent professional qualification or substantial relevant senior leadership experience, supported by continuing professional development

Above all, you will be a visible, collaborative and influential leader who believes that excellent communication is fundamental to good public service. You will share the Council's ambition to communicate in a way that is warm, clear, proud, human and trusted.

We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.

Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we're transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people. You'll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!

Why choose us? We offer a vibrant working environment with

• a competitive salary
• a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
• lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
• generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
• hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.