Senior communications officer

Band 5 · Communications officer · 371 job evaluation points

Plans and delivers communications for projects and services, handles routine media enquiries, and manages channels.

Responsibilities

Plan and deliver communications for projects and service changes.
Respond to routine media enquiries and draft press releases and statements.
Manage content plans for digital and social media channels, and report on performance.
Write case studies, including patient stories, with consent.
Advise colleagues on writing clearly for patients and the public.
Coach communications officers.

Skills

Skill	Expected level	What this level means
Communications strategy and planningThis reference	Working (2)	You can: write communications plans for projects, with audiences, messages, and channels measure the results of communications activity
Internal communicationsThis reference	Working (2)	You can: write and edit news, briefings, and newsletters for staff plan content for internal channels and measure engagement
Digital and social mediaThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: manage the organisation's digital channels and their content plans handle negative or misleading posts, including during incidents use analytics to improve reach and engagement
Media relationsThis reference	Working (2)	You can: log and respond to routine media enquiries draft press releases and statements for approval monitor media coverage
User-centred content designUK GDaD PCF	Working (2)	You can: design content to meet user needs and make complex language and processes easy to understand present the right information in the right format for what users need show robust experience in writing, editing and publishing digital content, and experience in using content management systems and content production processes to publish content write in plain language in a way that users understand, making information accessible to all understand government accessibility requirements and design content that works with common assistive technologies use data, research and evidence to review and evaluate content to make improvements consistently and effectively apply content standards and style guidelines to your work work to continuously improve content, and understand why content life cycle management is important work autonomously
Communicating informationUK GDaD PCF	Practitioner (3)	You can: work collaboratively in a group and build relationships with others identify issues through Agile 'health checks' and work with others to address them manage stakeholder expectations be flexible and capable of proactive and reactive communication host or moderate difficult discussions within the team or with senior stakeholders
Information governance and data protectionThis reference	Working (2)	You can: apply data protection principles to your work contribute to data protection impact assessments handle information requests and records correctly

Typical qualifications and experience

A degree or qualification in communications or a related subject, or equivalent experience.

Band 5 outline

Knowledge: Professional or technical knowledge, typically from a degree or equivalent experience.
Autonomy: Works to broad objectives within professional standards; plans own work.
Scope: Own professional work within a team or product.
Leadership: May guide and check the work of support staff and apprentices.
Accountability: Quality of own professional work.

Job evaluation (illustrative)

Factor	Level	Level summary	Points
Communication and relationship skills	5	Gives highly complex or contentious information needing developed persuasion and negotiation, presents to large groups, or communicates where there are significant barriers to acceptance.	45
Knowledge, training, and experience	5	Expertise in a specialism, underpinned by theory or practical experience (degree level or equivalent).	120
Analytical and judgemental skills	3	Judgements on a range of facts or situations needing analysis or comparison of options.	27
Planning and organisational skills	2	Plans straightforward tasks or activities, some ongoing.	15
Physical skills	3	Developed skills needing speed or accuracy, such as advanced keyboard use.	27
Responsibility for patient and client care	1	Helps patients, clients, or relatives during incidental contact.	4
Responsibility for policy and service development	3	Implements policies for own area and proposes changes that affect other areas.	21
Responsibility for financial and physical resources	2	Handles cash or valuables, looks after equipment used by others, controls stock, or authorises small payments.	12
Responsibility for people	2	Supervises or coordinates staff day to day, trains others regularly, or gives basic HR advice.	12
Responsibility for information resources	4	Adapts or designs information systems to others' specifications, or runs information systems for a department as the main duty.	24
Responsibility for research and development	2	Regularly does research, development, trials, or equipment and system testing as part of the job.	12
Freedom to act	3	Follows defined policies and procedures; work is managed rather than supervised.	21
Physical effort	2	Frequent sitting or standing in a restricted position, or occasional light to moderate effort.	7
Mental effort	3	Frequent concentration on unpredictable work, or occasional prolonged concentration.	12
Emotional effort	1	Rare exposure, or occasional indirect exposure, to distressing circumstances.	5
Working conditions	2	Occasional unpleasant conditions, frequent travel or outdoor work, or near-continuous screen use on most days.	7
Total (Band 5: 326 to 395)			371