Job Description

We're looking to appoint maternity leave cover for the role of Strategic Communications Manager in our award-winning Corporate Communications and Engagement department. This would be an attractive role for someone with a strong communications and / or PR management background or for someone already working in a leadership position within policing communications and looking for the next step in their career.


You'll join a friendly, supportive, and highly motivated communications team dedicated to helping keep people safe, combatting crime and building the trust and confidence of both the public and our 6000+ workforce.


Benefitting from hybrid working across home and our offices in Portishead, you'll enjoy a fast-paced, forward-thinking environment in an organisation which values its people and gives them the autonomy to be creative and try something new.

The role:

This is a rare opportunity combining the skills of programme management with strategic communications.


In this role, you will be responsible for developing and managing delivery of our annual strategic communications programme to achieve high impact results against clearly defined objectives.


Reporting into the Head of Corporate Communications, you will have direct supervisory responsibility for two team leads and oversee a team of 13, covering external campaigns, digital and social media communications, and multimedia content creation.


As a core member of the department management team you will work closely with internal and external stakeholders and colleagues, including the communications department for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

What we are looking for:

We're looking for a strategic thinker with a proven track record for leading a team to manage our external communications programme which helps to safeguard vulnerable people, prevent crime and support culture, perception and behaviour change.


You will embody our values of caring, courageous, inclusive and learning, overseeing multi-channel communications that complement our overall strategy and vision of 'outstanding policing for everyone'.

Key responsibilities:

Manage the delivery of a creative communications and engagement programme which delivers high impact results against clearly defined objectives. Use evidence and best practice to inform and direct a communications programme in support of culture, perception and / or behaviour change to have impact in areas such as conduct and standards and legitimacy. Provide expert communications advice and guidance, including at senior levels across the organisation. Deputise for the Corporate Communications Manager attending and contributing to strategic meetings with chief officers and senior leaders across the force, and with external partners where relevant. Lead delivery of significant / challenging / sensitive communication campaigns, drive visibility and improve positive impact Maintain an innovative and award-winning approach to communications development, delivering a programme of communications which is inspiring and engaging to our audiences

Skills & experience required:

Significant experience (ideally over 5 years) of working in a communications position at a strategic level in a large and complex organisation Significant experience leading a team of communication professionals and managing performance Proven ability to devise and implement high impact, multi-channel communications and engagement plans and strategies Be a strategic thinker, able to see the big picture and anticipate and manage challenges and risks Excellent oral and written communications skills with experience of writing for a range of audiences and channels Ability to influence and work with senior leaders

Benefits:

We offer unique careers where you will be valued, inspired and feel rewarded, you will receive a competitive starting salary of 52,491 plus access to our extensive benefits package.


This role offers the benefits of hybrid working, splitting your time between Police HQ in Portishead and home.

Additional information:

Interviews will take place on 14th August 2025.


If you think that you have these qualities and are interested in joining our team, we would love to hear from you.


To be eligible to apply for this role you must have a 5 year 'checkable history' in the UK - ideally this means that you would have been resident in the UK for the last 5 years.



Please note that we are currently recruiting for a number of roles within Corporate Communications. Please refer carefully to the attached Role Profile before submitting your application.



For further details, please contact Kimberly Holder via email on kimberley.holder@avonandsomerset.police.uk

About us

Diversity is a strength and individuality is an asset.

We recognise the benefit different life experience and perspectives can bring.

We are on a journey to become the most inclusive police force in the country.

Find out more about our benefits and culture

Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.

Blended Working/ Hybrid Working

Avon and Somerset Police encourage flexible working where operationally possible.

This role has been identified as a blended role.

The successful candidate for this role will have the opportunity to work from home whilst also at a secondary work location, which will be a police premises. The successful applicant will have the option to discuss working arrangements with their line manager. All applicants must reside within the UK.

Important information before you commence an application (for external applicants)

You will require the following detail to complete this application form:

National Insurance Number Identification Detail e.g. passport Address information including proof Referee information Full employment history including dates and any qualifications you may have attained Tattoos - you will also be requested to provide photos and describe of any visible tattoos you have

If the role requires you to drive you will also be required to upload details from your full driving licence including photos.

Important information before you commence an application- for ALL applicants

The application system only remains active on a single page for a period of 60 minutes.


Please ensure you allow time to complete your application fully as part complete pages do not save.


If the role has evidence questions you may wish to save these remotely and paste your answers into the boxes at time of submission.