Location
London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£61,686 per annum

About the Role
Southwark Council works proactively with the media to ensure residents receive clear and accurate information about council services and priorities. The Communications team, within Strategy and Communities, leads the council’s approach to communications, campaigns, media relations and digital content. The team works across the organisation to ensure that council priorities are communicated clearly, residents can access information about services and initiatives, and communications activity supports meaningful engagement and impact.

We are looking for a Communications Manager to lead on communications from Southwark Council and its partners on Environment, including strategy and planning, managing communication staff and covering all communications disciplines including campaigns, digital, marketing and media.

You will lead communications across all disciplines for Environment services including Streets for People, street cleansing, waste and recycling, community safety, climate, regulatory services and leisure; including investment in major local projects like health centres, leisure centres, and town centres. You will lead strategic planning and relationships internally with Cabinet, Directors and service heads, and externally with partners such as Veolia and the Metropolitan Police.

You will manage teams of dedicated communications officers to deliver excellent communications to local people and stakeholders across all communications disciplines. Working closely with the wider communications team, including the Media and Communications Manager and the Content Communications Manager, you will ensure accurate and consistent messaging across all channels including digital and media.

Using data and insight, you will inform strategic planning and evaluate campaign results. You will play a key role in the council’s out-of-hours service on a rota basis, including evenings and weekends, and initiate the council’s emergency communications plan when required.

Additionally, you will lead and deliver other projects and duties as directed in line with overall communications objectives and the needs of local people and the council. You will provide expert advice on tailoring communications to the diverse community that lives, works in, or visits Southwark.

Experience
- Leading a communications team across all disciplines
- Digital and social media content creation with knowledge of tailoring content for different platforms
- Providing direct advice and briefing to senior managers and/or elected members
- Working in a highly pressured environment and delivering results to tight deadlines
- Leadership, line management, and supporting, mentoring and developing staff
- Working with the media, including proactively pitching stories and managing inquiries and issues
- Using insight and data to create communications plans and evaluate results
- Handling communications for a business, organisation, public sector or third sector body in a crisis
- Finding solutions to communications problems and taking necessary action using all available channels including digital, media and internal communications
- Understanding of local government, council services, and council responsibilities to residents

About you
Excellent writing skills with clear, concise and lively prose style, able to write for a range of audiences. Excellent oral communication skills and the ability to maintain effective relationships at every level of an organisation.

Qualifications
No specific qualifications are listed; however, relevant experience and skills as outlined above are essential.