Senior Communications Officer

Interim Senior Communications Officer

Location: West Midlands
Rate: £29 per hour, umbrella
Contract: Interim
Start: ASAP

We are supporting a large public sector organisation in the West Midlands to recruit an Interim Senior Communications Officer to support a significant programme of transformation across SEND and Children's Services. This is a hands-on change communications role, responsible for developing and delivering internal and external communications across complex transformation programmes. You will work closely with programme teams, communications colleagues, external partners and a broad range of stakeholders to ensure change is communicated clearly, effectively and sensitively.

The role

A key initial focus will be supporting a major SEND transformation programme, taking ownership of the communications plan and working closely with an external consultancy delivering the wider transformation plan. You will communicate with audiences including schools, parents and carers, employees and elected members, using existing stakeholder mapping and programme milestones to drive communications activity.

You will also support an emerging regional Children's Services programme, helping to develop the communications approach from an earlier stage and engaging with stakeholders and partner organisations across the region.This is an operational role requiring someone who is equally comfortable developing a communications plan and delivering the activity themselves, from stakeholder communications and engagement through to writing newsletters and other communications content.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and deliver communications plans supporting SEND and Children's Services transformation.
• Produce engaging internal and external communications content across a range of channels.
• Manage communications around key programme milestones and organisational change.
• Work closely with programme teams, communications colleagues, external consultancies and regional partners.
• Support stakeholder mapping and engagement across a diverse range of audiences.
• Produce content including briefings, newsletters, updates and stakeholder communications.
• Delegate appropriate activity to junior communications colleagues where required.
• Ensure communications appropriately reflect the political and reputational sensitivities associated with a public sector environment.

About you

We are looking for an experienced communications professional with a strong background in change and transformation communications. You will ideally bring:

• Strong experience delivering change communications within a complex organisation.
• Experience developing and implementing communications plans.
• Excellent written communications and content-production skills.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills across internal and external audiences.
• The ability to operate strategically while remaining hands-on with delivery.
• Experience within local government or the wider public sector would be highly desirable.
• Previous exposure to SEND, Children's Services, education or social care would be advantageous.
• An understanding of working within a politically sensitive and reputationally important environment.

This would suit a communications professional who enjoys working at the heart of transformation programmes and can quickly get to grips with complex subject matter while delivering clear, accessible and engaging communications.

What you need to do now
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