Job Description

Location: Hybrid Working from Home and from Head Office at Lancaster House, Hampshire Court, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7YH
Rate of Pay: £15.17ph
Hours: Full time 9am-5pm
Start Date: ASAP

Job description:

Communications and Engagement Officer, Inshore Vessel Monitoring System (I-VMS) Project, Marine Management Organisation
The fishing industry is a key stakeholder as the UK Government works towards delivering an enhanced marine management strategy for our seas.
We are currently looking to recruit an experienced communications professional, initially for 6 to 12 months, to deliver a campaign aimed at rolling out vessel monitoring devices within England`s under 12-meter fishing fleet. Our objective is to ensure that the fishing industry, colleagues across Government, partners and the public understand and respond positively to our plans and that industry understand the process of roll-out of the devices and their responsibilities.
Working as part of a small communications and engagement team supporting this key change project, the successful candidate will be able to demonstrate a track record in delivering communications products and plans to tight deadlines and a creative approach to engaging audiences around difficult issues.

Engagement officer:

The successful candidate will have a strong track record in developing and delivering effective communications and show an ability to quickly understand complex information and communicate it to our target audiences. They will have an appetite for grasping the details of complex problems and a belief in the difference that effective communications can make. They will also be skilled in developing relationships and providing sound advice.

A professional background and relevant experience in communications is essential and this may have been gained in media relations, campaigns, strategic communications or marketing roles.

In the role you will:

- Develop and support the delivery of communications and engagement plans for the I-VMS project
- Produce a wide range of written materials, including press releases, blogs, articles, social media posts, case studies and briefings
- Build key relationships across the organisation and its partners (including Defra Group policy teams, media offices and third-party communications contacts)
- Provide robust, proactive media support to the team, provide crisis management, draft lines to take, statements and advise the MMO on appropriate media responses
- Be effective at building relationships across the MMO, including developing close partnership working across all 14 of our coastal offices
- Identify and build audiences, gather insight and deliver engagement
- Spot opportunities to advance our communications objectives and identify and manage risks.

Personal qualities and skills required:

- A passion for delivering communication strategies and campaigns
- Excellent copy writing skills, an instinct for the story and experience of developing case studies and media handling
- Excellent planning, management and organisational ability
- Experience of effectively working with and advising senior leaders
- Ability to work well under pressure and manage multiple priorities and tight deadlines
- Strong analytical skills, plus excellent written and oral communications skills reflecting the need to explain complex policy areas to non-specialist audiences in a clear and engaging way.


If you feel that this role is well suited to you and you fit the criteria, please apply below.