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Communications Advisor

Job Reference: HCC621911
Salary Range: £48,948 - £54,423 per annum
Work Location: Elizabeth II Court, Winchester (Hybrid Working)
Hours per week: 37
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 21 August 2025
Interview Date: 28 August 2025

We’re seeking a highly skilled senior communications professional with proven, extensive experience to join our Communications service within one of the largest and highest performing County Councils in the country. You’ll bring your expertise and confidence to lead and advise on multi-channel communications strategies to promote and enhance the County Council’s reputation.

The Role:

Hampshire County Council has a strong reputation for delivering high-performing essential services to our 1.4 million residents and engaging efficiently and effectively with the people of Hampshire, our staff, partners and stakeholders, the news media and more.

As a Communications Advisor, you’ll lead, advise on and deliver a range of comprehensive communications activities and strategies, to promote the County Council’s reputation and meet corporate, directorate and service objectives.

Using your outstanding written and digital communication skills, you will be highly skilled in creating and implementing high-quality, engaging communications strategies and materials – which maximise the use of digital and social channels to positively engage a wide range of internal and external audiences and deliver excellent results.

You’ll have proven experience of proactively identifying communications priorities, and the ability to communicate them clearly and succinctly - evidencing their positive impact, every step of the way.

As a confident and strong self-starter, you will demonstrate a positive, proactive approach, together with high levels of pragmatism and resilience.

With new and innovative ways of thinking, you’ll enjoy finding effective and creative solutions to complex communications challenges, while getting involved in the detail and demonstrating a real understanding of the issues involved.

A strong team player with proven relationship management skills, you’ll be comfortable operating at all levels of seniority including with Directors, heads of service, managers, Councillors, key stakeholders and partners.

You may be required to visit other locations within Hampshire, and therefore need to have the ability to travel, as necessary.

What you’ll do:

• Under the direction of senior management, and using professional initiative, lead on the planning, development and delivery of innovative and progressive multi-channel communications strategies, programmes and initiatives across internal and external communications, public relations, engagement and media handling activity to meet corporate, directorate and service objectives
• Contribute to the development and delivery of communications services which are progressive, reflect best practice and designated quality standards; legislation and procedures (including libel laws, copyright and data protection) and actively promote continuous improvement and broaden participation, taking into account the regulatory and political environment of local government, national and regional developments, service/stakeholder needs and perceptions and the evaluation of outcomes of previous activity/initiatives
• Provide professional advice on appropriate communications strategy and tactics, to Members, senior managers, Directors and senior management, staff, and partners on matters of varying complexity. Apply professional judgement and experience to communications challenges and refer complex, high-risk and/or sensitive matters and issues to senior managers
• Manage and ensure the effective use of allocated resources, IT and engagement processes to achieve the best outcomes within the resources available, prioritising tasks and projects for yourself and team members where required
• Research, collate and analyse data from a variety of internal and external sources to monitor reputation and engagement, and to inform decisions around communications strategy, tactics and communications planning
• Establish relationships with partner communications contacts to develop a shared strategy where necessary and agree shared protocols. In all partnership working, ensure directorate/corporate aims and outcomes are achieved and gain support for new approaches to communications
• Produce high-quality evaluation, written reports, presentations and/or business cases that clearly communicate complex information and make recommendations to senior management as appropriate
• Be responsible for your own professional learning and development. Contribute to team development by sharing knowledge and best practice, and the development of methodologies and toolkits
• Participate in the duty media rota, to manage daily media enquiries, and monitor, record and evaluate the County Council’s daily media profile
• Provide out-of-hours duty communications support, representing Hampshire County Council Communications as required, and deliver major incident messaging across multiple channels
• Support the ongoing promotion of the County Council’s corporate identity, including advising on its correct application across all County Council communications

What we’re looking for:

• Qualified to either graduate or equivalent public relations, marketing or communications professional qualification
• Significant experience of delivering successful outcomes while working in a busy and high-pressured communications/ public relations environment, ideally gained within a public sector/local government setting
• Excellent organisation and planning skills. Proficient in developing, implementing and managing successful communications strategies and plans to promote and enhance positive reputation
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Able to draft effective and engaging communications plans/initiatives/campaigns and successfully adapt and communicate complex messages to varied audiences and via various channels
• Excellent PR and media handling skills and a strong track record in proactively securing positive publicity. Experienced in successfully managing complex and sensitive issues, including crisis communications and communicating in major incidents
• Evidence of successfully developing and delivering creative and engaging digital, video and social media content to build online audiences and enhance profile
• Effective interpersonal skills, including management, teamwork, networking and negotiation skills and the ability to motivate team members and influence others, possibly from other directorates, when managing projects
• Strong stakeholder management skills and able to build and maintain strong and trusted connections and relationships
• Good political awareness and understanding of the issues facing local government and the role of communications in this context
• Able to deal confidentially and diplomatically with Councillors and staff at all levels of seniority, including giving advice at a senior level. Able to deal appropriately and confidently with corporate partners
• Understanding and practical application of the use of technology relating to internal and external communications including across digital and social media platforms
• Skilled in the effective and proactive use of data and analytics to inform communications strategy and activity and evidence impact and value. Experienced in the use of Google Analytics, social media insights and other metrics to measure, evaluate and continuously improve effectiveness of activity
• Working knowledge of corporate and statutory initiatives, including equalities and health and safety policies and procedures, sustainability, flexible working, efficiency and Government guidance. Ensure all communications take into account corporate and statutory requirements, positively promoting initiatives where appropriate. Contribute to service planning that reflects best practice of these
• Understands the implications of libel laws, copyright and data protection, and ethical communications practice
• Understands and applies Hampshire County Council’s values and behaviours, at all times. Encourages others to do the same
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office tools, Vuelio, social media posting and scheduling tools

Our benefits package includes details of the holiday entitlement, pension scheme, flexi-time scheme, family friendly policies and interest free travel loans and discounts. We offer a flexible, motivating and inclusive workplace. We have created an environment that you can look forward to being a part of, where you are empowered to be your best and a workplace built on teamwork where people can grow and develop in their roles.

If you think you have what it takes to make a real difference in Hampshire, get in touch!

Hampshire County Council is recognised nationally as one of the highest performing local authorities in the UK. A modern, forward-looking local authority, it offers a pleasant, supportive, and collaborative working environment.

Hampshire County Council is also a flexible employer interested in making the most of your skills and offers a great work life balance.

Please note this post is Politically Restricted.

Vetting Requirements:

This role is subject to a Criminal Records Check.

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies.

We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.