Chief Press Officer News and Reputation Management
Wandsworth Council is a dynamic local authority in London, committed to delivering excellent services and making a positive impact on our diverse community. We are looking for a Chief Press Officer News and Reputation Management to join our team and help us effectively communicate our initiatives, engage residents, and drive positive change in the borough. Check out the other communications roles we're recruiting to via https://recruitment.richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk/wandsworth-communications/.
The Communications Team is at the centre of the Council and has a high impact on the services and audiences it serves. It provides strategic leadership on media relations, public relation, event management, community engagement, publications, social media management and monitoring, branding, design and the councils websites. It is also responsible for the operational oversight, delivery and coordination of all communications activity across the wider council.
As the Chief Press Officer News and Reputation Management, you will be responsible for protecting and promoting the reputation of Wandsworth Council's and its projects, policies, and services. You will lead, alongside the Head of Communications, on managing reputational risk, crisis communications, media training for cabinet members, maintaining a helicopter view across the organisation of areas of risk and initiatives to enhance the council's reputation.
You will be required to:
- Serve as a spokesperson for the organisation, handling inquiries from journalists and managing media interviews.
- Advise senior leaders in the organisation, speak for and on behalf of the Council on high profile external platforms and through the media on a regular basis.
- Developing and implementing media relations and strategies to enhance the organisation's reputation and visibility.
- Crafting press releases, statements, and other communications materials to convey key messages and announcements.
- Managing a senior press officer to execute media relations activities effectively.
You will have:
- Experience in PR, media relations, or communications, preferably within a public sector or government environment. Previous experience as a journalist would be an advantage.
- Outstanding writing, editing, and verbal communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, with a results-driven mindset.
This is a full time permanent role. This is a hybrid role working 2/3 days from Wandsworth Council and the rest from home.
Closing Date: 5th June 2024
Shortlisting Date: 10th June 2024
Interview Date: w/c 17 June 2024 (interviews will be via video call - questions will be shared in advance)
Test/Presentation: In person written test and group exercise w/c 17th June – Wandsworth Town Hall.
Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know.
All internal applicants for this secondment must seek permission from their current line manager before applying. Failure to do so may result in the secondment not being authorised.
We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.
