PS/411/B - SM2 - Head of Strategic Communications

Police Staff
Corporate Communications
Bedfordshire Police Force
Headquarters, Kempston, Beds
Corporate Communications
Permanent
SM2
£60,336 - £66,774
Full Time
No
No
*Please note that this vacancy has now closed and is available to redeployees only; it will not be checked on a regular basis by the recruitment team. It is therefore essential that if you apply for this role, you e-mail BCHCareers@herts.pnn.police.uk to notify us that you have submitted an application. We will then process it for shortlisting. If you do not notify us by e-mail that you have submitted an application, it will not be picked up. Please also ensure that you notify your allocated Change Advisor of any redeployee applications that you have submitted.
Redeployees who apply will be given priority over any other internal applicants for permanent roles up until the point that an offer has been accepted either verbally or in writing.
If a role is not filled by an internal candidate and is advertised externally, redeployees will continue to get priority over external applicants until a successful candidate has received a final offer of employment.*

An opportunity has arisen for a new Head of Strategic Communications to join Bedfordshire Police. This role will be pivotal in helping Bedfordshire Police develop and implement a strategic approach to ensure a positive profile for the activities and policies of Bedfordshire to both internal and external audiences.

Understanding and experience of the strategic communications function will enable the post holder to work closely with the Chief Constable (CC) and the PCC, whilst being accountable for setting the CC and PCC’s communication strategies, plans and activities, which will underpin and deliver the Force’s Annual Delivery Plan, Control Strategy and the PCC’s Police and Crime plan. The Head of Strategic Communications will represent Corporate Communications at the PCC’s Strategic Board ensuring priorities and emerging issues are being effectively supported.

The successful candidate will have experience of managing media relations at a senior level and will evidence this further by providing communications advice and support on a range of issues including reputational and crisis management to both the CC and PCC. Whilst previous experience of managing press and public relation staff will assist in building and maintaining effective professional relationships with editors in the county and region in all print and broadcast media as well as with relevant specialists in the Home Office and other government departments.

The ability to make high level decisions under pressure and deal effectively with complex and sensitive issues is also one of the key duties for this role along with overseeing the communications management of major incidents and reputational matters.

The post holder will be expected to build and maintain effective working relationships with equivalent officer holders in other Forces and key partners across Bedfordshire to ensure that the Commissioners and the forces public communications takes account of the work of these organisations.

The Head of Strategic Communications will lead and manage direct reports through 121s, My Conversations, training coaching and mentoring and have overall responsibility for the Corporate Communications department ensuring overarching performance objectives are set and evaluated.

For the purposes of the application you will be expected to provide evidence against the four personal qualities below and the entry requirements:

• We are emotionally aware
• We take ownership
• We are collaborative
• We deliver, support and inspire
• We analyse critically
• We are innovative and open-minded
• Entry requirements

There is a word count limit of 500 words per section

* All applications must be submitted through our online recruitment website by clicking the apply button below.

** All internal applicants must have successfully completed their probationary period in order to apply for this role.

*** Please note that this advert will be live to redeployees throughout the recruitment of this advert. Any redeployee that applies will only need to evidence against the minimum entry requirements of the role profile. To do this if you are a redeployee, write ‘Redeployee’ in the other competency boxes and just complete your evidence against the minimum entry requirements in the relevant box. Redeployees will take priority over other candidates at any point during the recruitment process up until a final offer is produced and you will be notified if this happens.
25 October 2019

This opportunity is closed to applications.