Communications and Engagement Officer

Sutton Council
Sutton
Fixed Term
12 months
Full Time
7
36
£35,577 - £41,808 (£44,019 unconsolidated maximum)
Per annum
27 days

03/05/2021, 23:55

11/05/21

In Sutton, there is much for us to be proud of both as a council and as a borough. This includes high levels of resident satisfaction, the quality of our services, our success in addressing our financial challenges to date, the way that we involve and engage with residents on key issues facing the borough, and the enthusiastic and motivated staff that we employ. 

Looking ahead, there are plans for the delivery of new homes and new schools and the London Cancer Hub is being developed, while the Council is also seen as a driving force within the South London Partnership of five outer south west London boroughs focused on strategic growth, regeneration and investment.

All of this demonstrates a good track record and an authority that is ambitious and set to deliver more improvements for the borough. We've set out our vision for the future of Sutton in our corporate plan - Ambitious for Sutton. This strategic plan will shape the outcomes we achieve, the services we provide, and the impact we have on residents, to make Sutton a great place to live, work and raise a family.

Situated in Zone 5, Sutton is less than 30 minutes by train from central London, and south and south west London are easily accessible by public transport. There are 10 train stations which serve key neighbourhoods within the borough providing direct connections to London Victoria, London Bridge, London Blackfriars and St Pancras International. Sutton also has direct rail connections with Epsom, Dorking, Guildford and Horsham, as well as Wimbledon for an interchange with the London Underground and West Croydon for the London Overground. There’s also an extensive road network which provides close and easy access to the M25 and M23.

The Communications and Engagement Officer will work across a number of the areas broken down below, advising on and delivering a variety of projects using audience insight, behavioural science and digital innovation to affect real change as well wider communications and engagement projects related to Covid-19. 

The Communications and Engagement team also provides the communications service to Sutton Housing Partnership (the Council’s ALMO). As a result the Communications and Engagement Officer may need to work across both organisations.

 

 

Based in the Council’s newly formed Customers, Transformation and Strategy division sits the Communications and Engagement team, who are responsible for ensuring the Council speaks with one voice, seeks out and listens to all opinions and concerns of local people, delivers on its commitments and responds honestly. The team is made up of the following key areas:

  • Strategic direction & external positioning

  • Marketing and design

  • Internal communications

  • Consultation, engagement and participation 

  • Press & media relations

  • Leadership Office

  • Public affairs 

  • Social media management

The Communications and Engagement Officer will work across all of the above areas advising on and delivering a variety of projects using audience insight, behavioural science and digital innovation to affect real change. The post will require flexibility and an ability to specialise in certain areas where required.

The Communications and Engagement team also provides the communications service to Sutton Housing Partnership (the Council’s ALMO). As a result the Communications and Engagement Officer may need to work across both organisations.

 

  • Experience of working within a complex, political environment with practical understanding and experience of the challenges facing the public sector. 
  • Experience of working on projects to meet quality, time and cost deadlines. 
  • Experience of developing, implementing and evaluating communications and engagement campaigns and projects as appropriate.
  • Understanding and use of a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods. 
  • Experience in building relationships with managers and working collaboratively.
  • Ability to work proactively and to organise a personal workload to meet competing demands and tight deadlines.
  • Good interpersonal skills with the ability to develop and maintain positive relationships and influence a wide range of people.  
  • Demonstrable understanding of communications and engagement campaign and project delivery and management. 
  • Ability to analyse qualitative and quantitative information, presenting it in such a way that it is clear and easily understood. 
  • A high level of ICT literacy

 

As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we’re committed to helping you fulfil your potential and will offer you a supportive, friendly and collaborative environment to grow and develop your career and skills. We’re constantly striving to improve our ways of working so putting your ideas across - however big or small - will be fully encouraged and supported by your colleagues and our dynamic and experienced management team.

In addition, we offer a modern and flexible working environment for our staff, supported by our IT infrastructure, including Google Chromebooks and Google Apps.

Employees have access to a wide range of benefits, some of which include:

  • Generous annual leave entitlement plus bank holidays (pro-rata if part-time working hours apply)
  • Flexi-time (Please note, this applies to roles at grades 1-9 only)
  • Comprehensive learning and development programme
  • Local and national discounts for shopping, eating out and leisure activities
  • Interest free season ticket loans
  • Local Government Pension Scheme
  • Car parking scheme
  • Bicycle loan facilities and cycle to work scheme
  • Zip car scheme
  • Free eye tests and contribution towards glasses
  • Confidential wellbeing and counselling support
  • Subsidised gym membership

Please apply online outlining what skills, abilities and experience you can bring which makes you an ideal candidate for this role. Please ensure you refer to the requirements outlined in the job profile when completing your application.

To support our diversity agenda and reduce the risk of bias in our recruitment activities, our short listing process completely anonymises personal information that can identify job applicants e.g. name, title etc. Our hiring managers review and short list applications based on the information provided as part of your application as to how well you meet the requirements and criteria for the role, as outlined in the job profile.

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

We pride ourselves on being a diverse, inclusive and welcoming Borough and we aim to create a workforce which reflects the community we serve. We are respectful of difference and realise the positive value of diversity in our workforce. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates and disabled candidates, as these groups are currently under-represented in our workforce. As part of our Disability Confident Committed status, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role.

We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, staff engagement forums, and inclusive staff networks who help drive our diversity agenda.

The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the GOV.UK website for right to work guidance.

Important Information - Criminal Records
This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory result to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. It replaces the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).

This opportunity is closed to applications.