Communications & PR Specialist

Last year Yorkshire was severely affected by flooding. As a result we are growing our local teams so that we can reduce the risk and impact of flooding to the people and environment across Yorkshire.

Working closely with the National Communications Team Leader, you’ll develop, implement and evaluate communications plans to support the delivery of our business outcomes by:
• Using insights to identify target audiences and partners and help the overall communication tactics and approach
• Designing and developing targeted content and messages suitable across a range of channels, identifying risks and planning mitigating actions
• Ensuring effective delivery on time and in budget
• Making sure all activity is aligned to the nationwide communications plan and organisational priorities

You'll seek to influence customers and build strong partnerships internally and externally to maintain a positive reputation, response and effective resolution of issues. You'll also work with colleagues in other geographical areas to develop and implement national communications campaigns and ensure that communications around sensitive and emotive issues are clear and consistent.

This team provides internal and external communications services for the Yorkshire area. We develop, implement and evaluate communications plans to help support the delivery of local outcomes. We also work with colleagues nationally to deliver these pieces of work.

Along with planning and delivering proactive communications, the team ensures effective responses to reactive work, such as media enquiries and responding to flooding incidents. We also enhance existing internal communications channels to meet area needs.

You’ll come from a communications, media, marketing or PR background. Either way, you’ll be a strong influencer with a depth of experience in media/press, social media, digital, behaviour-changing campaigns, internal communications, crisis/reputation management and brand enhancement.

We’re also looking for experience in as many of the following:
• Preparing for and supporting incident management activities
• Delivering new ways of engaging
• Political awareness locally and nationally
• Advice around high public interest sites, flood risk and environmental improvement projects

Flood risk knowledge is a distinct advantage (but not essential) and ideally you’ll be educated to degree-level (or equivalent) and/or CIPR registered.

There are 4 fixed term contracts available (12 months).

Internal role title: Communications Specialist.

The grade rate for these posts is £33,990.

There are opportunities to get involved with incident management when flooding occurs. We have a flexible range of roles you can volunteer for and you’ll get all the training and support you need.

Please download the candidate pack (below) for more information. For further information please contact YorkshireRecruitment@ea.gov.uk.

The closing date for applications is 9th January 2017.

Interviews will be held the weeks commencing 27th February and 6th March.

You’ll be expected to apply sound techniques to analyse problems, generate options and select the best course of action. Tell us how you have found and delivered an optimal solution by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives and making sound decisions. What was the outcome of your decision?

Tell us how you have influenced and persuaded others to make difficult decisions or take courses of action to which they were previously opposed. How did you present your case in a convincing and attractive way in order to win people over? What was the outcome?

You'll be expected to communicate and engage with others effectively through speech and writing. Tell us about a time where you have had to use your communication skills effectively to convey information and ideas clearly to others. Who was your audience? What was the message?
What did you take into consideration to ensure the message landed well?

You'll need to focus on our customers and partners. Tell us about a successful working relationship you have developed either with a customer or an external organisation. How did you identify the needs of this person/organisation? How do you measure and improve customer satisfaction?