Senior Communications Officer

Central Bedfordshire Council; England; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Bedfordshire Council is seeking a Senior Communications Officer to lead communications for the Best Start in Life programme. The role involves developing a long-term strategy, creating compelling social media content, coordinating campaigns and producing a range of materials for residents, partners and stakeholders.

You will work with the Communications Team to support broader council priorities, manage competing tasks, and build positive relationships across departments.

Qualifications

• Senior communications experience
• Strong strategic planning skills
• Excellent writing and campaigning ability

Responsibilities

• Lead communications for the Best Start in Life programme
• Develop and deliver a long-term communications strategy
• Coordinate campaigns and produce stakeholder materials

Skills

Senior communications

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree in communications or related field

Job description

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Team: Communications Team
Job Family: Providing - CBG11
Salary: £42,396 - £45,758 per annum pro rata
Hours: 37 hours per week
Location: You will be expected to attend a CBC office location as often as needed to carry out your role, which will be no less than once per month.
Contract Type: Hybrid - Fixed term for up to 18 months (funded)
Closing date: 27th November 2026
Interview date: w/c 7th December 2026

About the role

We're looking for an experienced and proactive Senior Communications Officer to lead communications for our Best Start in Life (BSiL) programme.

Best Start in Life brings together services, support and information for children and families across Central Bedfordshire. Over the next three years, we’ll launch several Best Start Family Hubs, introduce a new digital offer, develop the BSiL brand and deliver campaigns that help families access the support they need.

As the communications lead, you'll help residents, partners and stakeholders understand its vision and benefits. You’ll develop and deliver a long-term communication strategy, create compelling social media content, coordinate campaigns, and produce a range of materials including briefings, promotional assets and stakeholder communications.

While the role is primarily focused on Best Start in Life, you'll also work closely with colleagues across the Communications Team to support wider Council priorities. This will include supporting our busy press office and identifying opportunities to promote Best Start in Life and the Council's wider work through the media.

We're looking for someone who can create clear, engaging communications for a range of audiences. You'll have strong campaign planning skills, excellent writing ability and experience of managing multiple priorities while building positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

You'll join a supportive and creative Communications Team, working alongside colleagues in marketing, branding, digital communications, consultation and internal communications. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference to children, young people and families across Central Bedfordshire.

Our aspiration is to be a truly flexible employer. We welcome discussion on location, hours and working pattern as part of the application process.

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You will be expected to demonstrate how you meet the key accountabilities and competencies in this Recruitment Pack .

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To maintain a fair and consistent approach for applicants,it isCentral Bedfordshire Council'spolicy to only consider applications madevia our online applicationsystem and we therefore thank you for not submitting your application offline.

Your application to us is a reflection of who you are professionally and should give us an accurate and authentic picture of your skills, experiences and if applicable qualifications. Before you submit your application, we will ask you to confirm if you have used AI.

All new starters will join us on a four‑month probationary period. During this time, if you are offered a Hybrid role you will be required to attend a Central Bedfordshire Council office location more frequently to support thorough and well‑supported onboarding into your role. Please keep this in mind if you anticipate extensive travel to Central Bedfordshire.

Please note we are unable to offer sponsorship for our roles. Successful applicants that may require a visa will need to consider the options for obtaining and/or maintaining the legal right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the contract offered.

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