JOB DESCRIPTION & PERSON SPECIFICATION >

We want to be a Council that works with its residents, communities and partnerships - a Council that listens, supports and empowers. There has never been a better time to work for Torbay Council. We have a real momentum building and are committed to building trusted relationships and having continuing conversations. Can you help us on that journey?
We are looking for a passionate and resourceful temporary Engagement and Communications Officer to join our hard working fast-paced Engagement and Communications Team.
This role will play a big part in ensuring that those who live here, and wider, are aware of the services we deliver and our ambitious plans to improve Torbay as a place.
About the role
You will design and deliver a range of innovative engagement, communications and marketing campaigns, to our residents, partners and staff.
This role will also mainly be supporting the team that is involved in working on developing Torbay’s proposal for Local Government Reorganisation. It will include organising, developing and delivering engagement events across Torbay – online and in-person. The role will also ensure through using effective and appropriate communications that residents, key stakeholders, members and staff are kept up to date with the progress of this work.
You will do this by creating a range of engaging content, including videos, powerpoints, social media content and press releases and ensure the Council has key messages available to respond to the media and any other enquiries.

What you’ll be doing:

• Creating online and offline informative and engaging content for social media, eNewsletters, websites, community magazines and press releases.
• Organising, creating and running relevant engagement events and consultations.
• Working with our Creative Designers to create campaign materials.
• Speaking with the media, running media briefings and creating responses to respond on behalf of the council.
• Evaluating and creating reports on the engagements and consultations as well as the content created to feedback into the team to inform and improve delivery of the services.

What you’ll bring:

• A desire to create good, open, engaging and empowering content for a wide range of audiences for a range of channels – that includes story telling through video and written words.
• An ability to take complex information and turning it into plain English that can be understood by those who need to know.
• A multi-tasker with good organisational skills.
• Good communication skills, as well as being curious and asking questions.
• An understanding of how social media and a range of marketing channels work and how best to use them.
• Good IT skills are essential.

THIS POSITION IS FOR A FIXED TERM UNTIL 28TH NOVEMBER 2025.

If you are viewing this advert on a job board, you can access the full job description by placing the below URL into your browser:
https://www.torbay.gov.uk/council/jobs/job-descriptions/engagement-and-communications-officer/

SKILLS

Essential:

• Ability to work effectively in a complex political environment building and sustaining effective working relations with Councillors, Directors, Service Managers, across organisation and operational boundaries including with external organisations and individuals within the community.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to communicate with a range of people across the organisation and partners.
• Proven ability in gathering, interpreting, explaining and applying information to meet internal and external customer needs.

KNOWLEDGE

Essential:

• Working knowledge of engagement, consultation and marketing techniques and methodology.
• Understanding of the key principles and practice of social media.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

Essential:

• Designing, facilitating and undertaking engagement, consultation and marketing activity
• Partnership working with a wide range of agencies, organisations, third sector groups, etc.
• Demonstrable experience of using social media to provide effective communications and engagement.

What you’ll be doing:

• Creating online and offline informative and engaging content for social media, eNewsletters, websites, community magazines and press releases.
• Organising, creating and running relevant engagement events and consultations.
• Working with our Creative Designers to create campaign materials.
• Speaking with the media, running media briefings and creating responses to respond on behalf of the council.
• Evaluating and creating reports on the engagements and consultations as well as the content created to feedback into the team to inform and improve delivery of the services