Communications & Information Officer

This role offers a platform for development, allowing you to gain hands-on experience in coordinating and leading communication strategies within Children's Services.

Unleash your creativity to discover and deliver innovative ways to increase awareness of key programs among schools, professionals, and parents/carers. Your ideas can shape communication strategies and contribute to the success of Children's Services initiatives.

As a leader in the development and execution of marketing strategies for the Best Start in Life Service which includes the Wraparound Childcare and Holiday Activities & Food programmes, you will see the direct impact of your communication efforts as you effectively reach and engage Dorset families and professionals.

Your role will involve meaningful interactions that contribute to the co-production of information and service improvements, and you will engage in collaborative efforts that will broaden your professional network and enhance your interpersonal skills.

Dorset Council values work-life balance, offering a supportive work environment that encourages productivity while respecting your personal time. Enjoy the flexibility to manage your work responsibilities effectively.

Become part of a workplace that celebrates diversity and inclusion, where everyone feels valued and respected. Dorset Council is an equal opportunity employer that embraces differences and encourages an inclusive culture.

This is your chance to be part of a dedicated team, working towards a common objective of providing the best possible start in life for children in Dorset.

What you will be doing

You will use your skills as an effective communicator to ensure that a wide variety of people, from families and young people to partners and professionals, are kept informed around key initiatives. Your area of focus will be on Best Start in Life plan, which includes the Wraparound childcare programme and Holiday Activities and Food Programme.

You'll develop a comprehensive understanding of the broader context of work in Children's Services, including social services, safeguarding, and health, forming the foundation for informed decision-making.

You will play a key role in contributing to, developing, and leading the marketing strategy for Best Start in Life and Wraparound. This involves ensuring the effective delivery of digital and information services to Dorset families and professionals.

You will discover and deliver creative ways to increase awareness of key points related to Best Start in Life and Wraparound, targeting schools, professionals, and parents/carers through imaginative communication methods.

Building and maintaining relationships are essential. You'll establish connections with internal teams, schools, health professionals, families, and stakeholders, fostering a supportive network within the community.

Your role extends to developing and coordinating materials for websites, social media, and other platforms. Using research and engaging with stakeholders, you'll create informative content to support program objectives.

Active engagement in other Children's Services programs and projects is expected. Collaboration with internal teams and stakeholders is essential for contributing to the success of broader departmental initiatives.

Proactively seeking feedback from parents/carers, children, and professionals is part of your approach. Fostering a collaborative approach to co-producing information ensures stakeholders and service users are effectively engaged. This approach guarantees that information creation aligns with the evolving needs of the community.

About you

You have experience in marketing, communication, or a creative environment. You have effectively used a variety of marketing and communication tools, demonstrating your proficiency in navigating different platforms.

You've successfully engaged with individuals at various levels, managing their expectations and providing excellent customer care. You're known for your initiative, the ability to prioritise your workload, and adept problem-solving skills, ensuring successful management of multiple priorities and meeting or exceeding deadlines.

You have experience in marketing and communication tools, content management systems, and Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and Word. Your expertise extends to using social media for business purposes, reflecting your awareness of modern communication channels.

This is a part time role at 30 hours per week, fixed term until 31 March 2026.

We intend to hold interviews in Dorchester on 28 April 2025.

In-person attendance is preferred but if it is not possible to travel, we can offer an interview on Microsoft Teams.

For further information and an informal discussion, please contact Lee Kevern, Information Development Manager ([email protected] or 01305-228701).

We’re passionate about making Dorset a great place to live, work and visit. Working for us should be no exception. 

At Dorset Council we: 

• provide more than 450 services to over 300,000 residents 
• have ambitious aspirations  
• are excited about our future 
• care about Dorset and all the people who live here 
• know that all roles make a difference and that our employees are key to our success 

You will: 

• have access to a range of employee benefits  
• be part of an organisation that supports each other to grow and succeed 
• have access to range of training opportunities which will help with your personal development and career progression 

We are challenging ourselves to become a more diverse and inclusive organisation. We recognise that recruitment and inclusion of individuals with diverse skills, perspectives and backgrounds will bring real strength to the council and our communities. We have a commitment to equality and welcome applications from everyone. 

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. We offer an interview to everyone who declares a disability and meets the essential criteria for the role. We are keen to make our interviews accessible. Let us know on your job application if you have a disability and need any reasonable adjustments. 

We also look for applicants who share our commitment to our values. We will ask you to evidence when you have demonstrated them as part of the selection process. 

This role is UK based, and we will need to establish your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. 

We use generic job descriptions and person specifications. This means the job title on any attachments may differ from the job title in the advert. We may provide specific information in a context statement if relevant. 

Find out more about how to apply.