Communications Adviser
Service: Communications and Strategy
Grade scale: Grade 4 Level 5
Reports to: Communications Manager
Purpose of the job
To represent the council as an expert or specialist providing professional advice, information and guidance on all communications formats, complying with council policies and strategic objectives whilst protecting the council’s reputation at all times.
Key tasks and responsibilities
Manage the distribution of corporate communications of a public nature.
Develop campaigns and communications themes for corporate, policy or departmental needs.
Develop communication programmes reflecting findings/market research/survey work carried out by the council.
Monitor the production of creative, digital and cost effective solutions to services to corporate standards.
Develop working procedures to ensure continual improvements are made to service standards and council wide communications.
Develop all communications aspects of the council’s communication strategy to ensure a process of continual improvement.
Contribute to the development of the budget necessary to cover the council’s activities in communications, public relations and marketing activities, creating efficiencies where possible.
Person specification
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Criteria |
Essential |
Desirable |
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Education, qualification and training |
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Hold communications qualification or equivalent experience |
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Skills, knowledge and experience |
Demonstrates substantial specialist knowledge and expertise in communications, applying professional approaches, techniques and best practice to provide effective solutions and support service and wider Council objectives. Provides authoritative professional advice and guidance to colleagues, senior managers and stakeholders, using professional judgement and expertise to inform decisions and develop capability in others. Communicates with confidence, clarity and credibility, building effective professional relationships and adapting communication style and approach to engage appropriately with a wide range of audiences. Demonstrates highly effective influencing and negotiation skills, using appropriate communication approaches to manage differing perspectives, build consensus and secure positive outcomes. Demonstrates the ability to facilitate constructive discussion and provide professional challenge, using specialist knowledge and sound judgement to support effective decision-making and mutually beneficial outcomes. Works collaboratively and effectively across Council services and with key stakeholders, contributing specialist expertise to the development and achievement of shared objectives. Demonstrates a strategic approach to planning and delivery, developing and implementing plans aligned with service priorities and wider Council objectives, monitoring progress, managing emerging issues and taking appropriate action to achieve required outcomes. Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise and manage multiple projects. |
Demonstrate experience of communications processes for public sector organisation Experience in dealing with managers and key stakeholders, and media, including corporate management team and members Demonstrate experience contributing as part of a team and / or complex projects |
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Personal qualities |
Self-motivated, enthusiastic and committed Personal resilience and flexible attitude, able to manage own wellbeing Inclusive and supportive team player To work in a flexible, adaptable manner and to always act with discretion and tact |
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Other |
To demonstrate behaviours consistent with honesty and openness: treating people consistently, fairly and with respect |
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Safer recruitment checks
As part of our approach to good practice and safer recruitment we carry out a number of pre-employment checks:
- Asylum and Immigration right to work in the UK.
- Reference check: external candidates require 2 references, one of which must be from their present or most recent employer. Internal candidates require 1 reference from their current line manager.
- Candidate Disclosure Scotland check, where applicable.
Behaviour framework
The council’s behaviour framework is a set of core behaviours that defines how employees approach work to enable the delivery of key tasks for the role. The expected behaviours for this role are:
Efficient
- Use initiative and drive to improve and develop systems and processes to increase efficiency achieving better outcomes in service delivery.
- Suggests ways to improve how others organise their own work.
- As a professional/expert you actively seek solutions to deliver improvements and involves others in the development of solutions and improvements.
- Coordinates SMART objectives for both team and individual employees reviewing progress to achieve successful outcomes.
- Manage budgets with no overspends and applying the council’s financial policies and procedures. Communicating to the Head of Service and Manager frequent monthly updates.
- Ensures sustainability and environmental awareness practices are being implemented and that they inform the development of new projects/initiatives.
Flexible
- Anticipates and responds flexibly to changing priorities and modifies practice to meet changing environment.
- Identifies and implements new ways of working.
- Supports individuals and team at times of both organisational and personal change making appropriate adjustments to accommodate individual needs where required.
- Expresses a positive approach to change and promotes the benefits of change to team and colleagues.
- Actively listens to customer feedback and takes action to improve customer experience.
Performing
- Applies Policies, audit processes and protects the councils reputation at all times.
- Use professional expertise and knowledge to ensure the council is communicating effectively leading best practice to improve strategic outcomes.
- Ensure that the council is meeting its legislative and statutory requirements by keeping abreast of new initiatives and legislation.
- Evaluates and reviews the impact of service improvements from the customers perspective.
- Identifies trends and creates solutions.
- Ensuring that health and safety practices, policies and procedures are applied keeping employees and customers safe and minimising workplace accidents and injuries.
- Implements the council’s maximising attendance policy and procedure ensuring action is taken and recorded on people connect.
- Considers risk in the context of service development and delivery.
- Seeks feedback on performance and learns from any issues raised to improve.
Working with others
- Promotes a positive team environment with good morale.
- Works with other teams and colleagues internally and externally, developing relationships and sharing knowledge, ideas and expertise to achieve common outcomes.
- Presents words and views clearly in a way that other people find meaningful.
- Use professional expert knowledge to work across disciplines breaking down professional barriers to improve outcomes for individuals and communities.
- Encourages colleagues to consider different perspectives in their work.
- Adapts communication to encourage desired behaviour.
Leading
- Understands what needs to be achieved and ensures that this is communicated to team members effectively and responses coordinated effectively.
- Expresses positive expectations of others to support their development.
- Recognise individual and team achievements thanking and praising others.
- Maintain a positive approach and motivate team when things go wrong, or demands are high.
- Uses professional judgement/expert knowledge to make informed decisions, communicating to Head of Service and Manager and other senior officers in a timely manner.