COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
SCP range 18 - 23 (£31,537.00 - £34,434) Pay award pending
37 hours per week with some evenings and weekend working as required
JOB DESCRIPTION
Responsible to: Town Clerk
Direct Reports: Marketing Co-ordinator and Events Co-ordinator
Job Purpose:
To lead and inspire the Communications team and co-ordinate all internal and external communications for the Town Council. To manage the Events and Marketing functions and to promote the town as a desirable place to live, work and visit. Working with the Town Clerk and the Senior Management Team, the postholder will lead the implementation of the communications strategy and develop and deliver operational plans relevant to Communications, Marketing and Events. Support Town Council wide initiatives to facilitate cross team working
Scope:
To demonstrate commitment to all aspects of Safeguarding to ensure our staff, customers and visitors are safe and to discharge our duty in terms of corporate safeguarding of all.
To behave in a way that recognises the importance of organisational culture, values and accountability.
To act in a socially responsible way at all times, ensuring your behaviour, actions and decisions consider sustainability of resources, the Climate and the Environment.
To adhere to standards set to ensure health and safety at work, which includes following procedures correctly and participating in relevant health and safety training, in helping to create a safe and supportive organisation for all.
To undertake tasks as required to support the Council’s range of events and festivals as directed.
Duties & Responsibilities:
1. Lead, inspire and manage the Communications team and be responsible for all communications, events and marketing activities and outputs across the Town Council services.
2. Lead on creating strong copy content which empowers internal and external audiences both on and offline, including widening participation and addressing the needs of those in digital poverty.
3. Responsible for co-ordinating all internal and external communications about Town Council services, activities and events. Including commissioning advertising campaigns as appropriate.
4. Develop a strategy for effective internal communication, ensuring maximum collaboration and shared working across all teams within the Town Council.
5. Prepare management information highlighting audience reach across all communication channels.
6. Draft press releases for sign off by the Town Clerk and Mayor.
7. Build strong and effective relationships with internal and external customer segments, press & media.
8. Provide on-going support and training to staff and Councillors on effective communication and feedback methods.
9. Grow the Councils ability to tell stories effectively for different press and broadcast audiences through supporting media relations activities.
10. Ensure public affairs messaging and communications approaches are integrated and impactful.
11. Ensure the team design and deliver a festival and events programme that is of the highest quality.
12. Work with the Community Liaison Manager to encourage wider community participation.
13. Form highly effective working relationships with key partners and stakeholders, raising awareness of their events and helping to promote them. This includes being the key focal point for organisers of external events.
14. Work with the Business Liaison Manager to secure advertisers for Council publications and promote other sponsorship opportunities.
15. Act in a polite, professional, and capable manner at all times, as would be expected of an employee of the Town Council.
16. To undertake any other duties required by the Council consistent with the level and scope of the role.
17. Any other task as directed by the Town Clerk.
This Job description outlines the duties required of the post entitled Communications Manager to indicate the level of responsibility. It is not a comprehensive or exhaustive list and duties may be varied from time to time, which do not change the general character of the job or the level of responsibility.
Person Specification
Essential Attributes Educational Qualifications
Qualifications related to Communications and Marketing or relevant experience
Experienced in Adobe and Canva
Experienced in social media platforms and digital applications
Minimum 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) including English and Maths
- Minimum of 5 years management experience
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience in Communications and Marketing
- Experience of managing budgets effectively
- Demonstrable track record of creating communications plans and implementing effective communications strategies
- Creative flair
- Experience of event management
- Demonstrable experience of engaging new audiences through online/offline communications channels
- Advanced verbal and written communications with copywriting experience
- Ability to act with diplomacy
- Understanding of unconscious bias
- Experience of securing proactive media coverage – on and offline
- Experience of managing internal and external communications, working with and developing media relationships, drafting and managing press releases
- Excellent knowledge around tone of voice and storytelling within social media
- Proof reading skills
- Accomplished writer and communicator with strong examples of tailoring content to different audiences across multiple channels such as speech writing, and written content creation
- Proven competency in Microsoft Office and other software programmes, including database creation spreadsheets etc
- Knowledge of Data protection legislation
- Graphic design and basic video making skills
- Experience of digital content management across social media platforms
- Previous experience with press/media liaison and engagement
- Previous experience of designing printed publications
- Ability to build strong collaborative relationships with partners, businesses and stakeholders
- Compelling public speaking skills
- Strong administrative and organisational skills
- Advocate of inclusion and diversity
Essential Attributes Educational Qualifications
- ILM Management qualification
Essential Attributes Skills and Knowledge
- Proven track record of leading and inspiring teams to success.
- Minimum of 5 years management experience
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience in Communications and Marketing
- Experience of managing budgets effectively
- Demonstrable track record of creating communications plans and implementing effective communications strategies
- Creative flair
- Experience of event management
- Demonstrable experience of engaging new audiences through online/offline communications channels
- Advanced verbal and written communications with copywriting experience
- Ability to act with diplomacy
- Understanding of unconscious bias
- Experience of securing proactive media coverage – on and offline
- Experience of managing internal and external communications, working with and developing media relationships, drafting and managing press releases
- Excellent knowledge around tone of voice and storytelling within social media
- Proof reading skills
- Accomplished writer and communicator with strong examples of tailoring content to different audiences across multiple channels such as speech writing, and written content creation
- Proven competency in Microsoft Office and other software programmes, including database creation spreadsheets etc
- Knowledge of Data protection legislation
- Graphic design and basic video making skills
- Experience of digital content management across social media platforms
- Previous experience with press/media liaison and engagement
- Previous experience of designing printed publications
- Ability to build strong collaborative relationships with partners, businesses and stakeholders
- Compelling public speaking skills
- Strong administrative and organisational skills
- Advocate of inclusion and diversity
Desirable Attributes Skills and Knowledge
- Experience of resolving conflict
- Experience of managing budgets effectively
- Understanding of Local Government practices and the role of Councillors
- Procedural and practical knowledge of Local Government administration
Essential Personal Attributes
- A pro-active approach, self-motivated and enthusiastic with initiative and commitment to achieving results
- Creative and innovative
- Confident and enthusiastic individual with excellent people skills and engaging personality
- Ability to manage own time and workload competently
- Ability to plan and make best use of promotional opportunities
- Highly motivated and able to work on own initiative
- Ability to respond independently to unexpected situations
- Ability to handle sensitive information confidentially
- Excellent influencing and persuading skills
- Good negotiation skills
- Keen eye for detail
Desirable Personal Attributes
- Able to respond independently to unexpected situations
Other
- Available for some weekend working for events/festivals when required
- Prepared to attend out-of-hours meetings when required.
Closing Date for applications: Friday 4th September2026
ALL sucessful candidates will be asked to prepare a 10 minute presentation.
Interviews will take place on Tuesday 15th & Thursday 17th September 2026
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £31,537.00-£34,434.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free parking
- Sick pay
Education:
- Certificate of Higher Education (required)
Experience:
- Communication skills: 5 years (required)
- Canva: 3 years (required)
- Public relations: 5 years (required)
Work Location: In person
