Communications Manager SERP - maternity cover

Job content

Communications Manager SERP - maternity cover (req9244)

Fixed Term, Full Time

up to £34,698 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Closing Date: 25th September 2022

Please note this role will be offered as a 12 month fixed-term contract or secondment, with the possibility of extension.

This role will be based in Seax House, Chelmsford. Once established in the role some remote working could be an option.

This role sits within Essex Highways (EH), which is an integrated partnership between Essex County Council and Ringway Jacobs, providing highways services in Essex. ECC and EH are members of the Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP). EH delivers ECC’s road safety functions, as part of ECC’s contribution to the SERP.

The Marketing and Campaigns Manager will lead the Partnership’s strategic approach and the delivery of data led, evaluated marketing and campaign activity to support the aspiration for zero road deaths and serious injuries by 2040 – ‘Vision Zero’ in Essex, Southend and Thurrock. The role will work with the Board and strategic leads to develop and deliver the Annual Communication Plan and will lead the daily communication activity though a communications assistant and other team members.

The marketing will deliver positive sentiment towards Vision Zero and ultimately road user behaviour change. The role will manage the financial, governance and administrative aspects of the function, working closely with SERP’s partner communication teams to maximise the promotion of the SERP and Vision Zero, mitigating any conflict with partner messaging.

The post holder will understand the language and approach required to promote behaviour change and have a proven ability to work collaboratively across structural boundaries in support of key outcomes.

Accountabilities

· Lead the development of the Partnership’s strategic approach to marketing Vision Zero to establish positive sentiment as a platform for delivering road safety campaigns and actions necessary to make progress towards the vision.

· Lead the development and implementation of high-quality, high-profile awareness and behaviour change campaigns for the SERP’s Annual Communications Plan ensuring data led delivery to multiple audiences on multiple channels to support Vision Zero.

· Manage, develop and promote the SERP’s website placing it at the centre of the Vision Zero aspiration, ensuring that it is accessible and meets the needs of the SERP, its partners and members of the public.

· Work closely with the Head of Communications in each of the partner organisations, building a collaborative approach to both external and internal communication of Vison Zero, developing content for their use in supporting Vision Zero and monitoring and evaluating its effectiveness.

· Develop effective relationships with other road safety stakeholders including national and local authorities, NHS trusts, emergency services and charities to design and deliver joint campaigns to drive communications activity to change behaviour and reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries (DSIs) on Essex roads and to promote a coordinated approach with shared outcomes in relation to media messages.

· Lead, develop and motivate the SERP’s Communication Assistant and other identified team members to deliver the SERP’s daily communications work to provide information, raise awareness and encourage behaviour change by delivering creative and engaging content, including social media activity and marketing activity to drive traffic to the website, demonstrating SERP’s work, to support Vision Zero and change behaviour leading to a reduction in deaths and serious injuries (DSIs).

· Manage the daily proactive and reactive SERP media relations function, developing high quality productive relationships with journalists.

· Work closely with the SERP’s Data and Strategy Analyst, the Road Safety Manager and senior officers from across the 11 partners to develop tailored content for relevant audiences across the county (for example young drivers and motorcyclists) and evaluate against agreed objectives.

· Lead and advise the SERP Governance Board and Partners, particularly in relation to public relations and public engagement activity to ensure that the reputation of the SERP is enhanced and the Vision Zero message is coherently and passionately communicated.

· Manage a campaigns budget of circa £40,000-£150,000 through efficient allocation of resource to campaign activities including advertising, promotion and development of written and video content. Lead procurement or commissioning of external activity where necessary and ensure value for money is built into evaluation mechanisms for all campaign work.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

· Professional qualification in PR, journalism or marketing and ideally a qualification or significant experience relating to psychology and behaviour change.

· Evidence of continuous professional development.

· Effective leadership skills to help deliver cultural change and to motivate and enthuse diverse teams, over which you have no direct control, to collaborate to deliver shared objectives.

· Experience of 2 years or more devising and delivering successful campaigns and multi-channel content for a public sector organisation, including procurement, governance and other statutory processes involved with these activities.

· Experience must include research to inform a campaign, use of audience segmentation tools, and evaluation including webstats, social media reach and engagement, and return on investment.

· Experience of advising and influencing senior decision makers and other stakeholders through reports and presentations.

· Experience of managing a website.

· Advanced written and spoken English skills

To read more about us please visit the SERP website and https://www.workingforessex.com/role/place-public-health

Why Essex?

Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England’s oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest – Basildon and Harlow – are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us here.

Essex County Council is proud to offer an excellent benefits package to all its employees. More information can be found here pay and reward

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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk