Salary: £30,024 - £32,597 pa FTE (£17,852 - £19,382 pro rata pa)
Hours per week: 22 (over 3 - 5 days)
Contract type: Permanent
Closing date: 11 Aug 2026 12:00
Interview date: 21 Aug 2026
Ref: CE1766
About the role:
Horsham District Council is looking for a creative, confident Copywriter to join our small, friendly Communications team. This is an opportunity to tell the stories behind the Council’s services, activities and events, creating clear and engaging content that helps residents, visitors and partners understand what we do and how to access support.
As Copywriter, you will research, draft and edit copy for a range of channels, including the Council’s residents’ magazine, media releases, statements, website content, internal communications and other publications. Working closely with colleagues across service areas, you will turn complex information into accessible, audience-focused content that improves the customer experience. Day to day, you will help plan and produce compelling content, support PR events and keep published information accurate, relevant and timely.
Key responsibilities:
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Plan, research and write engaging content for internal and external channels, including online, magazine and print media.
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Prepare magazine articles, media releases and statements that explain Council services, projects and priorities clearly.
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Draft accessible copy that showcases Council activities, services and events for a range of audiences.
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Support timely responses to media enquiries and help organise PR photography, events and photo shoots.
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Review and update content to ensure published information remains accurate, relevant and timely.
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Work with services across the Council to identify story ideas and advise on best practice communication approaches.
Working pattern:
We welcome applications for a minimum of 20 hours per week, worked over 5 days, Monday to Friday. Please specify the number of hours you are applying for in your application. Most office-based roles have the potential for flexible/ hybrid working options, where the role allows.
About you:
To succeed in this role, you will bring proven experience of high-quality writing, ideally gained in a communications, PR, media or marketing environment. You will have excellent spelling, grammar and editorial judgement, with the ability to write independently for corporate publications and adapt your style for different audiences. You will be organised, proactive and comfortable managing a mix of planned work and ad hoc requests, often to tight deadlines. You will also be confident building positive working relationships with colleagues, elected Members, media contacts and other stakeholders, using your communications knowledge to advise and support others when needed. Experience of corporate publicity photography and a professional qualification such as CIPR, NCTJ or equivalent would be an advantage, but are not essential.
Want to know more?
For an informal discussion about this role, please call Jan Leslie, Communications Manager, on 01403 215500.
About us:
We have a friendly and supportive working environment and being a smaller Council, you can really get to know everybody.
We encourage and support our employees to have a healthy work life balance by offering 28 days’ (207.2 hours) annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rata), and flexible/hybrid working options where applicable.
We offer a generous benefits package, including an online discounts platform, and membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), which provides an attractive employer contribution.
To support employees’ professional development the Council provides reimbursement for professional subscriptions and a number of training opportunities, including extensive in-house learning resources, short courses, Apprenticeships, and qualifications such as Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM), Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Visit our Jobs and careers page to find out more about Working for Horsham District Council and Our employment commitments.
To apply:
If you would like to apply for the role, we highly recommend you show clearly within the ‘Experience Section’ of the application form how you meet the essential criteria detailed within the Role Profile when applying. If you do not make this clear, it is unlikely you will be shortlisted for interview.
Internal applicants, if you would like to apply for the role, please submit an expression of interest to [email protected] explaining clearly how you meet the criteria and what you feel you can bring to the role.
