Strategic Communications Manager

West Yorkshire Combined Authority; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

28 days annual leave

Free bus/rail travel across West Yorks

Local Government Pension Scheme

Professional development & 3 volunteer

Volunteering days

Job summary

West Yorkshire Combined Authority is seeking a Strategic Communications Manager to lead our strategic communications function and amplify the Mayoral voice. You will work with colleagues to deliver our communications strategy, ensuring the devolution agenda is effectively conveyed across national media and digital platforms.

The role requires a degree or equivalent experience, strong media relations, crisis management skills, and line management of a team.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent in industry experience.
• Detailed understanding of media, communications, politics and current affairs.
• Experience leading and developing colleagues to deliver proactive and reactive strategic communications, including crisis management.
• Track record of developing, delivering and evaluating strategic proactive media strategies and campaigns.
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills with journalists, leaders and politicians.

Responsibilities

• Be the Strategic Communications lead at the Combined Authority, driving horizon scanning, management of the grid and innovative thinking to maximise opportunities to tell our story and show the benefits of devolution.
• Lead the Mayoral Voice in Combined Authority Communications and work with teams to ensure value and cut through.
• Brief the Mayor ahead of media engagements, accompany her for interviews, events and visits, draft op-eds and ensure messages cut across social media content.

Skills

Media relations

Strategic communication

Crisis management

Stakeholder engagement

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Strategic Communications Manager
£60,212 per annum - Grade 10
Leeds / Hybrid
Full time / Permanent - 37 hours per week
Please note that the Combined Authority will consider requests for part-time working and/or job share.

We currently have a vacancy for a Strategic Communications Manager to join our Media Team.

We are looking for a talented and innovative communicator to lead our strategic communications function delivering for the people of West Yorkshire. As Strategic Communications Manager, you will create a strategic comms function working with colleagues to deliver on our communications strategy and ensure our Mayoral Voice is amplified and cuts through.

It is a great time to be working for the Combined Authority with Mayor Tracy Brabin, as former Mayor Andy Burnham increases devolution to English regions as Prime Minister. You will be responsible for harnessing this opportunity and identifying meaningful Mayoral moments, including through national media appearances to maintain our profile and position as a thought leader on the devolution agenda. As well as managing our focus on new media, including podcasts, working with influencers and content creators, as we shift towards increasing engagement with digital platforms to reach key audiences.

Our Offer

• Work your way From flexible and agile working options, including a generous flexi-time scheme to help you balance your personal life and career.
• Time to recharge Enjoy 28 days of annual leave (with increases based on length of service), plus all Bank Holidays.
• Free greener travel across West Yorkshire Cover your commute sustainably with unlimited free bus and rail travel using the MCard (Zones 1 5).
• Secure your future Benefit from a highly competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Investing in you Take advantage of supported funded professional development, regular training, and up to 3 paid volunteering days per year.
• Grow with us Incremental salary progression for most roles and annual cost of living increases.
• Family first We offer enhanced parental and bereavement leave, plus other family-friendly policies to support you when it matters most.
• Your wellbeing, our priority Access 24/7 free confidential counselling services and the Headspace app for you and up to 5 family or friends.
• Modern workspace in a prime location Work in bright, contemporary offices just a 2-minute walk from Leeds Train Station, fully equipped with the latest tech.

The Role

Reporting into the Head of Communications,your key responsibilities will include:

• Be the Strategic Communications lead at the Combined Authority, driving greater horizon scanning, management of the grid and innovative thinking to maximise opportunities to tell our story and show the benefits of devolution.
• Be the lead for the Mayoral Voice in Combined Authority Communications and work with communications teams to ensure this adds value and cuts through.
• Play a key role briefing the Mayor ahead of media engagements, accompanying her for interviews, events and visits, drafting opeds and ensuring key messages and narratives cut across into social media content.

Please review the Role Profile on our website for more information about the responsibilities.

About You

You will have the following key skills, attributes, education, and experience:

• Educated to degree level or with equivalent industry experience, you will be confident working with and leading a team of talented communicators through hybrid line management.
• Detailed understanding of the media, communications, politics and current affairs having worked in a busy newsroom, press office or comms team.
• Experience of leading and developing colleagues to deliver effective proactive and reactive strategic communications, including crisis management, in a fast-paced environment.
• A track record of developing, delivering and evaluating strategic proactive media strategies and campaigns.
• Evidence of strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders, including journalists, senior leaders, and politicians.

Further Information

The Combined Authority is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better outcomes. We welcome applications irrespective of people's age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, or other personal circumstances. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability and/or who are neuro divergent. To find out more about inclusivity at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority please visit our dedicated webpage.

Under the Disability Confident Scheme, applicants with a disability are guaranteed an interview, subject to the minimum criteria being met.