Job description
The Comms England team are a multi-disciplined team looking after communications (corporate and consumer); external affairs; and events across England. We lead the communications for all of the BBC’s local services across England (39 local radio stations and 11 regional tv news centres), BBC Radio 5 Live and the Across the UK strategy. 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 part-time role based in Birmingham or Salford (with hybrid working). This role is responsible for delivering an outstanding and varied programme of creative external affairs and events activity across England. We are looking for a public affairs expert who has an enthusiasm for and interest in politics particularly on a local level. No two days are the same from external stakeholder and MP engagement to having the opportunity to work on amazing content: in the last 12 months the team have worked on events and launches for world-class BBC programmes including Waterloo Road, Red Rose, Happy Valley, Gentleman Jack, Commonwealth Games and many more.
If you have the right experience plus lots of enthusiasm and creativity we would love to hear from you!
The role includes travel across England and overnights away from home.
Main ResponsibilitiesAs the Communications Specialist, you will be responsible for the impeccable planning and delivery of external relations including red carpet premieres and showcase events aimed at improving awareness of the BBC’s impact and value across England. Organising an impactful programme of creative engagements to generate excitement about BBC content and growing awareness of BBC services particularly in the North and Midlands, often managing multiple projects at any one time.
This programme should engage influential external and political stakeholders in meaningful ways to share messages and updates around our work. A good understanding of local public affairs and political commentary around the BBC is critical and you will be expected to share updates, conduct research and use this knowledge to inform external engagement strategies. You will be operating within a team collectively responsible for maintaining a comprehensive database of influential people to communicate key corporate messages to. This role is responsible for ensuring all activity complies with BBC regulations around safety, security, data protection and editorial policy.
Are you the right candidate?Do you have an impressive track record for organising unforgettable events in the greatest possible way? Are you savvy about public affairs and politics? If you’re 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 in a part-time role with flexible and hybrid working.
Effective verbal and written communications skills are a must, 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 have a strong aptitude for research to produce effective opinion former lists/guest lists for events and a good understanding of current affairs, public affairs and politics in order to engage corporate guests, MPs and opinion formers.
You would be charged with conducting organic research to update internal databases, inform guestlists and develop strategy for engaging opinion formers and MPs and therefore need a good knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and core IT skills.
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We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of the BBC – whether that’s to contribute to our programming or our wide range of non-production roles. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.
We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles, unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.
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Package Description
Band: C
Contract type: Permanent - jobshare (3 days/21 hours a week)
Location: Birmingham or Salford based with some flexibility - ie hybrid working
We’re happy to discuss flexible working. Please indicate your choice under the flexible working question in the application. There is no obligation to raise this at the application stage but if you wish to do so, you are welcome to. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.
- Excellent career progression – the BBC offers great opportunities for employees to seek new challenges and work in different areas of the organisation.
- Unrivalled training and development opportunities – our in-house Academy hosts a wide range of internal and external courses and certification.
- Benefits- We offer a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week for work-life balance and 26 days (1 of which is a corporation day) with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care, gym and much more.