Communications Specialist Communications Specialist

Comms England are a multi-disciplined team looking after communications (corporate and consumer); external and public affairs; and events across England. We lead the communications for all of the BBC's local services across England (39 local radio stations, digital and 11 regional tv news centres), BBC Radio 5 Live and drive the BBC's wider priorities on a local level. Our team is split across two bases - Salford and Birmingham., We have an exciting opportunity for a Communications Specialist to join the team in a full-time role based in Salford (with hybrid working). This role is part of a team responsible for delivering an outstanding and varied programme of external affairs engagement across England supporting the division's overall mission to demonstrate the value and purpose of the BBC. We are looking for a public affairs expert who has an enthusiasm for and demonstrable knowledge of politics and the creative sector particularly at a local level.

Our work varies in scale and purpose - from screenings of new BBC dramas and entertainment formats, to corporate events to smaller briefing meetings and digital communications. In the last 12 months we have led local activity and engagement around Eurovision, BBC Sports Personality of the Year and BBC dramas This Town, Time and Domino Day. At this critical time for the BBC this role is important to help showcase the BBC to media, stakeholders and audiences illustrating our unique role as a public service supporting the creative economy across the UK., Identifying and engaging with local opinion formers, influential organisations and individuals in the creative industries in meaningful ways to foster relationships and share updates. A strong understanding of local public affairs and commentary around the BBC is essential to conduct research to precisely inform external engagements.

Maintaining a comprehensive knowledge and recording contact in a dedicated database. Keeping constantly up-to-date with news and intelligence across key areas to inform strategic comms.

Producing newsletters, briefings and speech materials to carry key messages and coming up with creative ways to do this.

Impeccable planning and delivery of external relations including event project management of red carpet screenings and showcase events designed to improve awareness of the BBC's impact and value across England.

Following best practice - all activity must be complied with BBC regulations around safety, security, data protection and editorial policy.

Do you pride yourself on being up-to-speed on local public affairs and politics? Are you passionate about the BBC, our purpose, content and future? Do you have a close attention to detail and curious mind for research and strategic stakeholder communication? Are your standards second to none when it comes to the communication around, the set-up, safety and overall experience of an event?

If you're a problem solver, full of ideas and enthusiasm for how to improve awareness of the BBC's work across England, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.
You will have a track record in organising and delivering external relations and engagement activity and be excited to apply this to improve awareness of the BBC's impact and value across England.
Effective verbal and written communications skills are a must as well as the ability to project manage live events, being assertive and resourceful under pressure. Good interpersonal skills to establish and maintain credibility and effective working relationships with a wide range of contacts - journalists, senior managers, broadcasters, editorial staff and opinion formers.

Prioritising and working across multiple projects simultaneously is key and your experience should include events management; producing events to budget in compliance with industry safety standards.

You would be charged with conducting organic research to update internal databases, inform guest lists and build strategies for engaging opinion formers and MPs. Therefore, essential skills include a good knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, including PowerPoint, using social media and other resources for monitoring and research purposes, and core IT skills.