£45,765 - £50,949 • Cheshire Police & Crime Commissioner • Runcorn, Cheshire
We're recruiting a Senior PR Manager to join a dynamic, high-performing organisation focused on delivery and impact.
Role purpose
To create and manage a range of corporate PR activities to generate positive media coverage, whilst maintaining and protecting the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and his office’s (OPCC) reputation.
Role accountabilities
- Use a range of PR tools and techniques to proactively gain positive coverage for the Police and Crime Commissioner and his office
- Devise comms plans for projects to communicate effectively with target audiences
- Proactively suggest creative comms vehicles to meet project objectives
- Identify matters of reputational risk, ensuring they are raised with the Head of Comms and other appropriate individuals within the OPCC and formulate appropriate communications which help to manage the impact of the issue.
- Provide reactive crisis comms advice and support
- Provide advice to the OPCC senior leadership team on a range of communications issues, helping to influence decision-making and managing the implementation of those decisions.
- Proactively maintain positive working relationships with all media outlets. Increasing positive media coverage the PCC and OPCC receives.
- Deputise for the Head of Communications and Engagement as directed and where appropriate.
- Act as the Silver comms lead during times of urgent and crisis situations working with partners such as Cheshire Constabulary.
- To maintain an awareness of the activities across the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, anticipating demand, highlighting risks and providing support and assistance as necessary to ensure the office delivers the Commissioner’s agenda.
- Ensure best practice and consistency across the OPCC in relation to communications and content, working with other teams and departments to ensure alignment and consistency of messaging.
- Manage the department’s ongoing relationship with the Cheshire Constabulary’s Corporate Comms team.
- Post has been identified as politically restricted.
- An enhanced level of vetting is required.
- Post holder will be required at times to work out of normal office hours/be flexible and will be required to be part of the on-call rota.
- Must be able to travel across the county
- Post holder must hold a full UK driving license and have access to own vehicle for business use
It is the responsibility of all staff to promote equality, diversity and Human Rights in working practices including developing and maintaining positive working relationships, ensuring that colleagues are treated fairly, contributing to developing equality of opportunity in working practices and challenging inappropriate conduct. Staff should treat everyone with fairness and impartiality, whilst recognising differences in needs, perspectives, backgrounds and cultures.
Notwithstanding the details in this job description, the job holder may be required to undertake other duties up to a level consistent with the principal responsibilities of the job.
Experience, qualifications and skills
- Educated to level 6 or equivalent relevant experience.
- A professional qualification in public relations and/or marketing, or an NTCJ certificate or equivalent relevant experience
- The post holder will be an experienced, passionate writer and editor, possibly with a journalistic background; and have:
- Significant experience of dealing with sensitive reputational issues and crisis communications
- Substantial experience planning, developing, creating and evaluating editorial content
- Significant experience of working and dealing with the media
- Experience of organising events
- Experience of working with digital media channels
- Significant experience working in a high profile, pressured communications environment
Skills
- Highly developed verbal and written communication skills
- Self-confidence and belief in own professional knowledge and skills
- Resilience in the face of difficulties
- Flexibility in style and approach to ensure the best outcomes for the Cheshire PCC and OPCC
- Insight and empathy, to effectively manage relationships within and outside the organisation
- Ability to demonstrate political awareness
- Strong planning skills to enable the department to plan its communications activities
- Clear understanding of social demographics and population needs
- Clear understanding of national priorities and legislation in relation to community safety, together with the wider public agenda.
- The ability to work effectively under pressure
- The ability to manage competing priorities to ensure successful delivery.
- The ability to work collectively and collegiately with colleagues in the team to deliver outstanding communication services