About Us:

This department is responsible for housing, communities and improving the lives of local residents. This includes landlord services and estate management, planning, refurbishment, and advice and support to help maintain healthy and safe homes.

A significant part of our work is focused on creating stronger communities, by working together with local residents on recovery following the Grenfell tragedy. 

In response to London’s affordable homes crisis, we are committed to building more social housing to help people on lower incomes to live, work, and raise their families in the borough. Our housing team also work closely with affordable housing providers and other agencies to manage homelessness, and give support to older residents to live independently.  Find out more about our vacancies here.

The Role:

At the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, we want to create an area that our residents are proud to live in. Which is why we’re involving our communities from the start. But we need to continue engaging with the people of our borough, and making them feel part of the Housing services we provide. After all, only when we know what they need can we make sure we provide it. That way, you won’t just work for our residents, you’ll work with them. 

As a Communications and Public Information Manager in the Housing team, it’ll be your role to portray the values of the Council throughout all our communications. You’ll do this by making sure any internal and external texts are in line with our corporate identity, so that the Council’s respect, integrity and collaborative spirit come out in everything we do. As part of this, you’ll draft, edit and proofread information including (but not limited to) letters, leaflets, newsletters and web copy.

Responsible for writing for a variety of audiences, you’ll need to be an effective communicator who can present ideas and information simply and clearly. Ideally, you’ll know about the public sector, particularly in the housing area. Combining that with your previous experience of managing public information - as well as your attention to detail - you’ll ensure all Housing communications are consistent and up to the Council’s standards. However, to really stand out against other candidates, you’ll also bring effective leadership skills. They’re essential to the role, as you’ll develop communications strategies, manage two members of staff and brief designers and printers.

In you are interested in working in a fast moving environment and committed to delivering the highest standards of public service then this is a role for you.

About You:

Knowledge & Experience

• Significant and demonstrable experience of leading on communications plans
• Well developed written and oral communication skills with an ability to interpret complex information and present it simply and clearly
• Excellent proofreading skills and close attention to detail
• Ability to produce information in a variety of formats
• Experience of commissioning design and print
• Ability to manage a busy workload, prioritising and juggling multiple priorities
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team and be self-motivating
• Experience of managing and developing staff
• Ability to build relationships with key personnel within and outside of the organisation
• Ability to communicate effectively and confidently with all levels of staff, external agencies and residents, being diplomatic and tactful
• Good keyboard skills, sound experience of Microsoft Office
• Must demonstrate the highest levels of integrity and professionalism and be politically sensitive when acting as a representative of the Council
• A flexible approach to working hours - willing to attend Council meetings and respond to changing deadlines

Role Requirements:

To act as a central point of contact for the Housing Department in overseeing and ensuring effective communication is in place through a robust communications strategy. It includes coordinating numerous internal and external publications for a variety of audiences including staff and residents. You will play the key role in document development, publicity materials and website development.

For an informal discussion to find out more about the role please contact: Amanda Johnson on 020 7361 2178.

Closing date: 6 December 2019.