Senior Communications Officer - London, United Kingdom - Office of the Children's Commissioner

Office of the Children's Commissioner

Verified Company

London, United Kingdom

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

beBee Recruiter

Description

Details:

Reference number:

Salary:

- £43,300 - £47,939

A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Job grade:
Senior Executive Officer
Contract type:
Permanent
Type of role:
Communications / Marketing
Working pattern:
Fulltime
Number of jobs available:
1Contents

Location

About the job

Benefits:

Things you need to know

Location

London, WestminsterAbout the job

Job summary:

Do you want to make a tangible difference to the lives of children across England? Can you use your skills to be a catalyst for creating meaningful change? Are you ready to join a committed team dedicated to giving children and young people a voice on the issues affecting them?

Now is the perfect time to join the Children's Commissioner's office (CCo) as the team builds on the insight gained from the largest-ever survey of children and young people 'The Big Ask'.

The Children's Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, started her tenure in 2021 with 'The Big Ask', a survey that more than 560,000 children and young people responded to.

They told us how the pandemic changed their lives, about their aspirations and the barriers to reaching them, how things are at home, how their communities and local environment could be improved, and how they feel about the future and the challenges facing the world.

What children want and need underpins all the work we do, with the Children's Commissioner working across sectors, Government, and the civil service to deliver for their needs.

Joining the team is a chance to be involved in shaping children's policy, making sure children's voices are heard and be part of an exciting environment which puts children's needs at the heart of everything they do.

We are working to make the changes children said mattered to them. And we're looking for dedicated, highly skilled people to join the team.

Job description:

The Children's Commissioner for England sits at the heart of Government, delivering for children and championing their voices and needs.

This includes a particular responsibility towards children who rely on the state for their safety or protection.

The Children's Commissioner is a unique statutory role with powers to help bring about long-term change and improvements for children.

Their messages to policy and decision makers, leaders of industry, charities and sometimes parents provide insight, evidence and challenge to us all to provide the best support possible for children as they grow up.

Reporting to the Head of Communications, the post holder will develop and manage the Children's Commissioner's media content and relations to secure significant media presence.

You will be responsible for leading on pro-active and reactive media relations as well as developing clear, engaging, creative and accurate content for a range of outlets and publications including our own channels.

You will be expected to produce volumes of high-quality content, ensuring that all work is appropriately sensitive and ethical, but rigorous.

It is essential that you are flexible, able to travel and have the ability to work quickly and write clearly and persuasively.

You will be responsive to news and current events whilst ensuring routine tasks continue to be completed to a high standard.

You will be proactive in finding ways to add value to the Commissioner's work. The ability to deliver to tight deadlines is essential.

Whilst the post holder has specific responsibilities, as a member of a small team it will be necessary to become familiar, through time, with other associated aspects of the communications function in order to provide cover for colleagues during busy periods and absences.

Duties

Provide communications advice and guidance and brief the Children's Commissioner, Senior Leadership Team, and wider office on communications issues and messaging in general and for specific interviews.
Write impactful content for a variety of channels, platforms and publications including press, broadcast and digital media and selling stories to secure coverage. This includes statements, press releases, op eds, social media content and scripts for videos.
Build and maintain relationships with print and broadcast journalists across national, regional and trade publications.
Manage the Children's Commissioner's media relations including developing and implementing creative media strategies around specific projects and campaigns.
Hold contact with the media and be the first point of contact for journalists.
Respond to enquiries as appropriate, ensuring timely delivery of statements and responses on behalf of the Commissioner and work to shape breaking news stories where necessary.
Independently and confidently contact the media to pitch ideas for stories and profile features, in line with the Commissioner's priorities and ongoing campaigns.
Provide written and verbal briefings t