Communications Officer

Salary Scale: P01 – NJC scale 29-32 (£39,862 - £42,839)

Job Summary: As Communications Officer for the Building Resilient Institutions for Development, Governance & Engagement (BRIDGE) project the postholder will be responsible for all Communications activity relating to the project, key elements include public and stakeholder engagement, public relations, media relations and event management. The postholder will play a crucial role in developing and coordinating communication activities to achieve the programmes’ objectives and to ensure that all communications requirement of the PEACEPLUS Programme are adhered to:

• To raise awareness among local elected members, public officials, and community stakeholders about the BRIDGE project’s goals, objectives, and partner roles.

• To keep stakeholders informed through regular updates on project progress, milestones, and outcomes via newsletters, online platforms, and public briefings.

• To encourage participation from local East Border Region Ltds, community organisations, businesses, and disadvantaged groups, ensuring inclusive engagement in training and collaboration activities.

• To highlight the benefits of the project, including improved governance, leadership capacity, and enhanced service delivery, and showcase success stories to inspire further participation.

• To acknowledge PEACEPLUS funding and its role in enabling the project’s achievements.

• To contribute to maintaining effective internal communications to support the Project Steering Group throughout the project lifecycle.

BRIDGE Project Background

The Building Resilient Institutions for Development, Governance and Engagement (BRIDGE) project is a cross-border initiative that aims to strengthen governance, leadership, and institutional capacity in the border counties of Northern Ireland and Ireland. Led by East Border Region (EBR) and supported by the Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN), the partners will engage with 12 local authorities and involve 775 participants, including locally elected members and local government officials over 3 years.

Key project activity:

Leadership & Skills Development.

• To provide a strategic leadership and decision-making training programme for 100 participants.

• Collaborative governance and ethical leadership training for 80 participants.

• Financial management and budgeting training for 60 participants.

• A cross-border governance and policy alignment programme for 75 participants.

• Cross-border working groups in tourism, economic development and regeneration and environment with 90 participants.

• Training in marketing, communication, and public engagement for 50 participants.

• Digital media and public messaging training for 40 participants.

Collaboration & Institutional Networks.

• Border corridor and functional area networking for 60 participants.

• Cross-border knowledge exchange and institutional collaboration programme for 80 participants.

• European Knowledge Exchange Symposium, engaging 60 participants.

• To produce a consensus-based decision-making framework with the involvement of 80 participants.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Developing and implementing a robust Communications Strategy for the BRIDGE project.

• To create marketing and promotional materials through various means including; press releases, websites, social media (Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok), blogs, brochures.

• To manage and update all communications channels, both online and offline to enhance the profile of the BRIDGE Project.

• To co-ordinate a range of communications activities throughout the project lifetime to generate regular news and social media content and sustain a high profile for the project in the public domain.

• To assist in the planning and co-ordination of the Project Launch event, Project closure event, and any publicity events to mark key milestones throughout the project lifetime.

• To ensure that all Communications and Publicity is in accordance with PEACEPLUS Guidance.

• To deliver presentations, reports and updates to EBR and SEUPB as required.

• To collate available feedback from delivery agents and practitioners to evaluate training and events.

• To advertise and promote the training and events, highlighting their value and outcomes.

• To raise awareness among local elected members, public officials, and community stakeholders about the BRIDGE project’s goals, objectives, and partner roles.

• To keep stakeholders informed through regular updates on project progress, milestones, and outcomes via newsletters, online platforms, and public briefings.

• To encourage participation across the project area, community organisations, businesses, and disadvantaged groups, ensuring inclusive engagement in training and collaboration activities.

• To highlight the benefits of the project, including improved governance, leadership capacity, and enhanced service delivery, and showcase success stories to inspire further participation.

• To be ready to implement crisis communications plan if needed to protect reputation.

• To liaise with external service providers for e.g. Communication, Marketing and Website developers.

The list of duties / responsibilities must not be considered comprehensive nor exhaustive. They are simply a summary of the main duties / responsibilities that the post holder will be required to undertake. No Job Description can cover every issue that may arise within the post at various times and the post holder is expected to carry out other duties from time to time which are broadly consistent with those in this Job Description.

Educational and Professional Qualifications

Essential

• 3rd level qualification in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or related field.

Previous Experience / Training

Essential

• At least 1 year experience of below;

• developing and executing communications strategies.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for multiple audiences.

• Familiarity with digital communication tools and platforms.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office packages (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook).

• Ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines.

• Ability to work collaboratively within and across projects.

Other

Essential

• Willing and able to travel within NI, the border counties and occasionally further if required.

• Willing and able to work occasional extended hours if required (within East Border Region’s time off in lieu policies).

• Hold a full current driving licence and access to transport, or access to transport to meet the requirements of the post.

Salary Scales

• Communications Officer: Scale PO1, NJC spinal point 29 - 32, £39,862 - £42,839 (plus 19% employer pension contribution).

Terms and Conditions

Pay

Pay frequency is monthly by BACS (Bank Automated Clearing System) in arrears on the third last banking day of the month.

Flexi Scheme

This post is not eligible to participate in a Flexi Scheme.

Annual Leave

23 days a year plus statutory bank holidays.

Notice

(i) Giving notice: you are required to give written notice to terminate your employment. Subject to (Probationary Period), the minimum period of notice you must give the East Border Region Ltd to terminate your employment shall be 1 month.