Communications Officer
Looking for a challenging and rewarding communications role at the heart of political decision-making? The States Greffe is looking for a highly motivated professional to join their Digital and Public Engagement team on a fixed-term basis (9 months contract).
The successful candidate will be involved with a range of activities, from drafting press notices and social media content to helping to create and deliver informative, engaging campaigns to help Islanders understand and engage with the States Assembly – Jersey’s elected parliament.
The right individual will be able demonstrate relevant communications experience, a passion for engaging Islanders in local politics, along with excellent organisational skills, the ability to prioritise a busy and fast-paced workload.
For an informal discussion and/or additional information about this role please contact Emily Thomas, Campaign Manager – e.thomas@gov.je.
Job Purpose
To engage and inform Islanders about the work of the States Assembly – Jersey's elected parliament, including its Committees and Panels, by delivering effective, accurate and timely communications content and advice.
To deliver key information to target audiences in an accessible format, utilising a range of communication channels. Frequently liaising with senior colleagues and States Members in the development of campaign plans.
Take an active role in helping to deliver a measurable positive impact on the target outcomes and objectives set out in the Digital and Public Engagement Strategy.
Statutory Responsibilities
Active engagement, participation and compliance with any other statutory responsibilities applicable to the role, as amended from time to time, such as Data Protection.
This role is politically restricted. The jobholder is not permitted to undertake political activity involving standing for election to the States or as a Parish Constable, or publicly supporting someone who is standing for election or playing a public part in any political manner.
Job Specific Outcomes
1. Draft and distribute clear, accessible and engaging press notices to communicate news from the States Assembly, including its committees and panels, to the media. Follow-up communication with journalists to organise interviews and provide a trusted fact-checking service.
2. Create social media plans and content tailored to specific platforms, to meet campaign-specific, and strategic objectives. Posting content, monitoring engagement and responding to comments on social media posts and take action to uphold the community rules to achieve the best outcomes.
3. Work directly with States Members and colleagues to provide trusted communications advice and support, aligned with agreed strategies, including the Scrutiny Communications Strategy.
4. Draft, edit and upload editorial copy, publications, events and photography to the States Assembly and Vote.je websites, using defined templates to lay out pages consistently and for optimal engagement. Take a keen interest in the website analytics to consider potential improvements when drafting content.
5. Assist with the delivery of educational and outreach programmes, including the delivery of corporate and school Chamber tours; pop-up stands in the community; online events and visits to schools.
6. Work with colleagues to develop and execute targeted campaigns to help drive up engagement with the States Assembly, including its Committees and Panels. Liaise with suppliers and third parties to organise channel-specific activity, including advertising, print, events and outdoor media. Track and report on the effectiveness of activity and make recommendations for future review campaigns.
7. Monitor on and offline media coverage to help inform colleagues and prepare appropriate responses. Measuring the impact of proactive media relations and trends over time to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
8. Build and maintain excellent working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders and partners, including States Members.
9. Regularly monitor industry trends and learnings, with a commitment to sharing knowledge with the wider Digital and Public Engagement team to support continuing professional development and identify where learnings can be applied to enhance our practice.
10. Work collaboratively and flexibly as part of the Digital and Public Engagement Team, supporting colleagues and coordinating engagement projects that align with the overarching strategies for the department and the team.
Please find the link to apply.
The closing date is Sunday 20 October.
Watch this short video to find out more about what it's like to work at the States Greffe: