Senior Communications Officer

Norwich City Council; Norwich; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS (Local Government Pension Scheme)

Holiday entitlement 26–33 days (pro‑r‑

Additional day off at Christmas

Occupational health

Employee assistance

Job summary

Norwich City Council is seeking a Senior Communications Officer to lead strategic communications across the organisation. You will advise senior leaders, shape messaging, and help residents understand the Local Government reform impacting Norfolk’s three new unitary councils.

You will deputise for the Communications Manager, provide day-to-day leadership for the team, and help deliver communications aligned with corporate priorities in a complex change programme.

Responsibilities

• Lead and shape strategic communications across the organisation.
• Advise senior leaders and colleagues on communications matters.
• Drive change communications for the Norfolk unitary councils project and LGR.
• Line-manage and develop the communications team, fostering collaboration.

Job description

We are on a quest to recruit a high-profile Senior Communications Officer.

You will play a leading role during one of the biggest moments of Local Government transformation our region has seen in over 50 years.

Few communications roles offer the chance to work on change at this scale and pace.

This is a brand-new role within our amazingly talented, compassionate and hard-working communications team. You can expect to be right in the thick of shaping and delivering strategic communications across the organisation.

As one of the council’s senior communications experts, you will play a key role in collective efforts to successfully stand up three new unitary councils across Norfolk by April 2028 – one being a brand new Greater Norwich City Council.

You will be at the heart of communicating change, supporting and advising our senior leaders and colleagues, engaging key stakeholders and helping residents understand what LGR means for them in ways they find meaningful.

You will deputise for the Communications Manager, provide day-to-day leadership for the team and take on line-management responsibilities, helping colleagues develop and thrive.

As a talented and natural leader who has the ability to juggle a challenging position, this role will inspire you to be supportive, creative and collaborative. We are after the kind of person who wants to make a positive difference to our city, and our residents, every single day.

During this period of rapid change and transformation, you will need to be a robust and flexible leader as well as someone who thinks calmly and strategically about how the right communications can help achieve goals aligned to the council’s corporate and political priorities.

There is no better time to be working in local government in our fine city! I can’t wait for the successful candidate to come and join the team on our adventure.

Short-listed candidates will deliver a presentation, complete a written exercise and take part in a panel interview/discussion.

Please Note

This role will require the successful candidate to work from City Hall for a minimum of 50% of their working week, every week, making it compliant with our hybrid working policy.

Why work for us

Our council is full of people who have chosen to work in local government because they want to help others and make a difference to their lives or the environment in which local people live.

To find out more about working and living in Norwich Home | Work in Norwich. The council has a long and proud history of being a council that is keen to push the boundaries of what a district can achieve, to find out more about what it is like to work in local government visit Working in local government - #LocalGov Careers - Youth Employment UK We offer our employees a competitive pay and benefits package. Whether you’re looking for a new career, promotion, flexible working opportunity to fit with your home life or a sideways move – we have a variety of challenging employment opportunities for everybody.

Norwich City Council offers the opportunity to work with great people who are passionate about promoting Norwich and the services the council provides. We also offer good career prospects with competitive rates of pay, generous holidays and working arrangements to suit all lifestyles.

Equal Opportunities Policy

The council is committed to a policy of equality opportunity in employment, in recruitment and the services we provide. Applications are considered on the basis of their suitability for the post regardless of sex, gender reassignment, race, ethnic origin, disability, age, marital status, domestic responsibilities, sexual orientation or religious affiliation. People with disabilities are guaranteed an interview provided they are suitably qualified and/or experienced.

Candidates will be considered for shortlisting on the factual information on their application form. Therefore it is important to give as much detail as possible including information about experience gained outside employment.

Benefits

We offer our employees a competitive pay and benefits package and are proud to have the Living Wage accreditation. Whether you’re looking for a new career, promotion, flexible working opportunity to fit with your home life or a sideways move – we have a variety of challenging employment opportunities for everybody.

• All employees are eligible to join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Paid holiday entitlement starts at 26 days per annum and increases with length of service to a maximum of 33 days per annum. This is pro rata for part-time employees
• In addition to the statutory public holidays, we grant an additional statutory day leave at Christmas
• Norwich City Council supports its employees through the provision of occupational health and employee assistance support