Senior Communications Officer

Southampton City Council; Southampton (MA); Hybrid; USD 39,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Southampton City Council is seeking an experienced Senior Communications Officer to develop and deliver internal and external communications strategies, campaigns and content that engage employees, customers, partners and wider stakeholders.

You will lead on social media, digital communications and content creation, including photography and video, manage media enquiries and provide advice to senior managers.

Qualifications

• Degree or professional qualification in communications or related field.
• 3+ years in a communications role.
• Experience handling media enquiries and media relationships.
• Experience delivering communications strategies, campaigns and projects.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation and digital communication skills.
• Experience with social media, email marketing and web content.
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing and negotiating.
• Experience advising senior stakeholders and communicating complex information clearly.
• Understanding of local government or public sector.
• Excellent IT skills, including MS Office and digital platforms.
• Desirable CIM or CIPR qualification and video production/editing.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver internal and external communications plans, campaigns and projects.
• Lead on social media, digital communications and content creation, including photography and video.
• Manage proactive and reactive media enquiries, including crisis communications.
• Build strong relationships with media, senior managers, partners and key stakeholders.
• Provide professional communications advice to senior decision-makers and managers.
• Use customer insight, behavioural science and innovative approaches to improve campaign effectiveness.
• Monitor and evaluate communications activity, demonstrating outcomes and value for money.
• Support and coach more junior communications colleagues.
• Contribute to a 24/7, 365-day reactive press office service, including out-of-hours cover on a rota basis.

Skills

Media relations

3 years experience

Communications strategies

Digital communication

Social media management

Content creation

Stakeholder management

Advising senior stakeholders

Public sector understanding

IT skills (MS Office)

Equality & inclusion in comms

Education

Degree or professional qualification

Job description

Senior Communications Officer

Location: Southampton, SO14
Working Pattern: Hybrid - home working supported, with office/on-location attendance in Southampton as required
Pay: £21.65 per hour PAYE / £27.37 per hour Umbrella
Contract: ASAP to end of February 2027

We are looking for an experienced Senior Communications Officer to join our team and support the delivery of creative, effective and integrated internal and external communications.

You will play a key role in developing and delivering communications strategies, campaigns and content that engage employees, customers, partners and wider stakeholders, while protecting and enhancing the organisation's reputation and brand.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver internal and external communications plans, campaigns and projects.

• Lead on social media, digital communications and content creation, including photography and video.

• Manage proactive and reactive media enquiries, including crisis communications.

• Build strong relationships with media, senior managers, partners and key stakeholders.

• Provide professional communications advice to senior decision-makers and managers.

• Use customer insight, behavioural science and innovative approaches to improve campaign effectiveness.

• Monitor and evaluate communications activity, demonstrating outcomes and value for money.

• Support and coach more junior communications colleagues.

• Contribute to a 24/7, 365-day reactive press office service, including out-of-hours cover on a rota basis.

About You

You will have:

• A degree, professional qualification or equivalent relevant experience.

• At least 3 years' experience in a communications role.

• Proven experience handling media enquiries and media relationships.

• Experience delivering communications and engagement strategies, campaigns and projects.

• Excellent written, verbal, presentation and digital communication skills.

• Experience with social media, email marketing and web content.

• Strong stakeholder management, influencing and negotiating skills.

• Experience advising senior stakeholders and communicating complex information clearly.

• An understanding of local government or the wider public sector.

• Excellent IT skills, including MS Office and digital platforms.

• An understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion in communications.

Desirable: CIM or CIPR qualification/certificate and experience in video production/editing.

If you are a confident communications professional who can combine strategic thinking with hands‑on content creation and media management, we'd love to hear from you.