SEND & Inclusion Communications Officer

Reporting to the SEND Relationship Manager, you'll provide strategic leadership on communications across the SEND & Inclusion service. You'll design and deliver clear, consistent and impactful messaging that aligns with directorate and corporate priorities, while responding to the needs of diverse stakeholders. You'll act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders on service communications, leading key channels and campaigns, supporting SEND's digital presence (including the Local Offer), and helping protect and enhance the reputation of the SEND service. Collaboration will be central to your role-working closely with families, partners, colleagues and corporate communications teams to ensure a unified and credible voice across the SEND landscape. What you'll be doing

• Developing and delivering a comprehensive SEND communications strategy aligned with corporate and Local Area Partnership priorities
• Driving the editorial direction of SEND & Inclusion communication channels, ensuring they are trusted, relevant and accessible
• Supporting and developing SEND's digital presence, including the Local Offer, using insight, engagement and co-production to shape content
• Providing strategic communications advice to senior leaders and supporting high-profile, politically sensitive messaging
• Planning, delivering and evaluating communications campaigns, events and engagement activity with measurable impact
• Championing inclusive, accessible communication that reflects Birmingham's diverse communities and meets equality and legal standards
• Working collaboratively with corporate communications, marketing and branding teams to ensure consistency and quality
• Establishing evaluation frameworks to measure reach and effectiveness, using insight to drive continuous improvement
• Supporting team priorities through guidance, coaching and cover as required
• Working within set budgets to ensure value for money and alignment with strategic priorities
  
  You'll bring a strong background in communications or marketing, with the confidence to manage complex messages and build positive relationships in a local government or similarly complex environment. You'll be organised, adaptable and calm under pressure, with a commitment to inclusive practice and continuous improvement., A degree in Marketing and/or Communications, or equivalent professional experience
• Experience working in a communications environment, managing projects, campaigns or events
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information for diverse audiences
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with a collaborative approach
• Experience using digital tools and platforms to support engagement and innovation
• An understanding of stakeholder engagement and multi-channel communications
• Knowledge of the SEND system and the sensitivities of a local government political environment (or the ability to quickly develop this)
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in everything you do
  
  Please upload an up-to-date CV and Supporting Statement via the attachments part of your application. The Supporting Statement should outline how you meet the criteria for the role through your personal qualities, skills and experience and include your motivation for applying to the post. Note the Personal Statement should be no more than 1500 words. Unfortunately, we cannot consider any applications without a CV and Personal Statement attached
Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer, and we are committed to employing, retaining and developing all of our people. We want to ensure your recruitment journey with us is a positive and equitable one, so please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments, additional support, accessibility needs, or if there is any way in which we can support you through your application. For any informal enquires please contact the Resourcing Team A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be undertaken. Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed., Working for Birmingham City Council is more than just a job; it's about making life better for the 1 million plus people who live and work in the city., The Council is a fantastic place to work. You will find an organisation that is both challenging and supportive; with a leadership impatiently adventurous in its pursuit of excellence. There is a clear vision which is ensuring that the Council is working for communities today and building for tomorrow, we focus our resources on five key priorities:
• A Prosperous Birmingham: through a focus on inclusive economic growth, tackling unemployment, attracting inward investment, and maximising the benefits of the Commonwealth Games.
• An Inclusive Birmingham: through a focus on tackling poverty and inequality, empowering citizens, promoting diversity and civic pride, and supporting and enabling all children and young people to thrive.
• A Safe Birmingham: through a focus on making the city safer, safeguarding vulnerable citizens, increasing affordable housing, and tackling homelessness.
• A Healthy Birmingham: through a focus on tackling health inequalities, encouraging physical activity and healthy living, supporting mental health, and improving outcomes for adults with disabilities and older people.
• A Green Birmingham: through a focus on street cleanliness, improving air quality, continuing the route to net zero, and becoming a city of nature.
We see the Council's role as providing strategic leadership - that's being able to visualise a new future for the city and equipping others to share our vision. We want to ensure the provision of services for all, so we can support those least able to support themselves by working with partners and putting citizens and neighbourhoods at the heart of our decision-making. We are always looking for people who put the customer at the centre of their approach, with a commitment to excellence to help us achieve our vision. We will support you to develop and thrive in your role, building a pathway for long-term success, with lots of development opportunities, such as apprenticeships.

In return, we offer you excellent terms and conditions, generous annual leave, a great pension scheme, well-being support, annual travel passes and discounts at a number of city centre establishments.