Communications and Marketing Manager

Connect2Luton are excited to recruit a Communications and Marketing Manager on behalf of Luton Borough council.

Purpose of position:

Communications and Marketing managers are exciting roles operating at the centre of a busy Communications and Marketing Team, with responsibility for managing a portfolio of clients and holding key relationships with senior and middle managers across the organisation and with partner organisations.

This role leads an annual work programme for the corporate portfolio - supporting transformation, housing, corporate services and central services - delivering well planned and evaluated internal and external communications campaigns and projects that change perceptions, attitudes and behaviours.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop and deliver a comprehensive media plan, ensuring proactive management with local, national and trade media, and the efficient management of enquiries.
• Build and manage the relationships with local, national, trade and social media - digital, print and broadcast - and provide expert support and advice to spokespeople in the delivery of the council's key messages
• Lead the council's media activity for emergency and crisis situations and lead the development of the crisis communications plan for the council
• Manage the development and production of 'all-resident' communications - digital and print - including the council's electronic newsletter, e-Luton.
• Lead, develop and deliver an internal and change communications programme to deliver corporate transformation objectives, ensuring staff are informed and engaged.
• Support the Strategic Communications and Marketing Manager in working with service areas to identify priority business needs and to co-develop appropriate campaigns and communications projects to deliver business objectives.
• Building good, productive relationships with key people in directorates to ensure that the communications service understands service needs, and is influential in determining and delivering new ways of meeting those needs.
• Leadership of project teams in terms of managing resources allocated to the project and responsibility for achieving agreed objectives.
• Support the Strategic Communications and Marketing Manager to ensure that the team meets its objectives and targets, and taking the right action if needed to deal with poor performance.
• Engaging with other professionals in the communications and digital services team to co-develop campaigns and to ensure that the right communications channels are used to achieve campaign objectives.
• Hands-on delivery of key elements of communications campaigns in collaboration with other members of the account management team and any service-based staff involved in communications and marketing activity.
• Challenge existing activity and service delivery standards to strive for continuous improvement.
• Contribute as a team member to the work of the Communications and Marketing Service, keeping abreast of new developments in the field and making recommendations and provide expert knowledge and reports to directors, politicians, CLMT, cabinet, partners and stakeholders. Deputise for the service manager as appropriate.
• Develop and deliver contractual agreements for the delivery of communications on behalf of external customers. Negotiate tenders and contracts on behalf of the council with suppliers to achieve the successful implementation of marketing campaigns.
• Management of the team's systems and processes to record activity and measure outcomes and impact.

Skills and Experiences:

• Ability to use well developed communication skills to present complex/sensitive information in an understandable way, to a range of audiences.
• Ability to develop, manage and deliver complex campaigns and projects, to meet service requirements and to ensure the best outcomes for both customers and the Council.
• Ability to produce and analyse internal service and management information to contribute to the development of new communications and digital campaigns and innovative working practices.
• Ability to work independently within clear guidelines and regularly use initiative to make decisions, referring to more senior officers for advice on policy/resource issues.
• Ability to take responsibility for line managing others, providing direction, monitoring progress and empowering them to achieve objectives.
• Ability to deal with high levels of work-related pressure, for example from deadlines, interruptions or conflicting demands.
• Ability to influence others' behaviour through effective relationship building.
• Ability to plan and organise a range of complex activities and priorities within a focused area of service.
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of equality issues and legislation - able to integrate equalities policies into communication and marketing work plan, campaigns and projects and in the management of the team.
• In-depth current knowledge of marketing and communications theory and best practice.
• In-depth current knowledge of legislative requirements in the context of trading opportunities, marketing, PR and media relations, copywriting and publishing.
• Qualified to degree level in marketing or communications (or equivalent relevant workplace experience).
• Recognised professional qualification in Media, Marketing, Public Relations and/or equivalent verifiable experience or training.
• Able to adjust working hours, if the need arises, to meet the requirements of the service.
• Able to travel to locations inside and outside the Borough on average 2-3 times per week.

About Us

Luton Borough Council have partnered with Kent County Council to create Connect2Luton, a recruitment managed service for all contingent temporary agency, contract, and interim roles at the Council.

Our heritage and being local government owned which means we have a wealth of knowledge and expertise within the public sector, with many of our employees having previously worked for the Council or have supplied previously into the Council, for several years.

We are an equal opportunities employment agency and business that positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

Connect2Luton is a trading style of Luton & Kent Commercial Services LLP - A joint venture between Luton Borough Council & Commercial Services Kent Ltd. Connect2Luton is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.