Internal Communications and Engagement Manager

We’re looking for Internal Communications and Engagement Manager to join our award-winning Corporate Communications department, offering a unique chance to make a real difference.

You’ll join a friendly, supportive, and highly motivated communications team dedicated to helping keep people safe, combatting crime and building the trust and confidence of both the public and our 6000+ workforce. You’ll benefit from blended working across home and the office (primarily based at Police HQ in Portishead) and enjoy a fast-paced, forward-thinking environment in an organisation which values its people and giving them the autonomy to be creative and try something new.

The role:

This is a rare opportunity to establish the new role of Internal Communications and Engagement Manager, responsible for developing and managing delivery of an annual internal communications and engagement programme which resonates with a diverse and geographically widespread workforce audience.

Reporting into the Corporate Communications Manager, you will have direct supervisory responsibility for three team leads and oversee a team of nine, covering internal communications and engagement, events coordination and graphic design.

As a core member of the department leadership team you will work closely with internal and external stakeholders and colleagues.

What we are looking for:

We’re looking for a proactive and creative internal communications expert to support organisation, culture and behaviour change and successfully land corporate messaging and national policing updates with our workforce.

You will be a strategic thinker with a proven track record for devising and leading a team to deliver high impact communications which foster stronger connections up, down and across the organisation.  

Key responsibilities:

• Manage the delivery of an internal communications and engagement programme, including events, which resonates with and engages all our audiences.
• Use evidence and best practice to inform and direct a communications programme in support of culture and behaviour change.
• Provide expert communications advice and guidance, sometimes at senior levels. This includes providing advice on how to engage complex and diverse internal audiences and manage difficult conversations on existing or emerging channels.
• Deputise for the Corporate Communications Manager attending and contributing to strategic meetings with chief officers and senior leaders across the force, and with external partners where relevant.
• Lead the delivery of significant / challenging / sensitive communications, writing content that is clear and compelling 

Skills & experience:

• Significant experience of working in an internal communications position at a strategic level in a large and complex organisation
• Experience leading a team of communication professionals and managing performance
• Significant experience of devising and implementing high impact communications and engagement plans and strategies
• Experience of managing behaviour change led communication programmes
• Be a strategic thinker, able to see the big picture and anticipate and manage challenges and risks
• Excellent oral and written communications skills with experience of writing for a range of audiences and channels
• Ability to influence and work with senior leaders, engaging with and managing stakeholders at all levels

Benefits:

We offer a range of benefits and a competitive package, as well as a great working environment within an award-winning team.

The role offers the benefits of hybrid working, we will support you to work flexibly from home, whilst meeting onsite occasionally with your team.