PR & Campaigns Officer

We have got an exciting opportunity for an experienced PR and Campaigns Officer to join Merseyside Police at their headquarters in Rose Hill Liverpool.

The role's purpose is to provide a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary public relations & external campaigns service to Operation Adder, ensuring that the Prevention Strand of Merseyside Police delivers its strategy; reducing the fear of crime and increasing public confidence.

This role will be a temporary role for 12 months with a view of being extended thereafter. You will be working Monday to Friday (with occasion weekend and evenings) 9am to 5pm.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Work with Senior Managers in the News and Communications team to develop and deliver the annual communications plan in support of Merseyside Police's strategy and the force communications strategy.
• Proactively conduct insight research and identify opportunities to inform and develop campaigns which promote the force and its work and tackle key crime issues. Collate, research and analyse information and data and provide insight to assist the force to understand the issues that would benefit from professional PR and campaign support thereby adding value to the force and delivering outcomes.
• Work with Chief Officers, strand and dept leads and other key stakeholders within the force regarding the identification of themes and issues that would benefit from campaign support and make recommendations as to how communications can have positive impact. Flag issues or risks with the News and Campaigns Manager.
• Develop and produce plans to ensure the effective communication of campaigns to the public via traditional, digital and social media.
• Develop campaigns to tackle issues or support programmes of work using the force agreed OASIS framework as the best practice approach to campaigns delivery. Specific activities include:
• Develop plans which detail timings, budgets, areas of responsibility, evaluation and delivery of key components of the campaign, while obtaining best value for money and maximising best use of resources. Identify opportunities for partnership working, external funding and added value. Consult and involve all stakeholders in the process of project development and implementation to obtain their buy-in.
• Commission work and ensure collaborative working with other colleagues/specialisms within the News and Communications team to ensure all work is integrated and to maximise all key communication channels and opportunities to positively influence knowledge and perceptions of Merseyside Police.
• Take an active part in relevant planning meetings and commit to the agreed plans and activities resulting from those meetings.
• Day to day management of external suppliers and agencies where appropriate. Provide written and verbal briefings for outside creative agencies for the production of communication materials.
• Influence and improve standards of communication in line with force brand guidelines by quality assuring communication materials. Undertake professional evaluation to develop best practice communications.
• Develop relationships and work in consultation with other public and private sector organisations to enhance and sustain force communications activity and create greater awareness of the work of Merseyside Police.
• Undertake all responsibilities relating to information management, data quality and information sharing, intelligence and information security to ensure accordance with the Authorised Professional Practice (APP) on Information Management, issued by the College of Policing, including the Home Office Code of Practice on the Management of Police Information (MoPI).

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Significant experience of delivering PR and campaigns to achieve outcomes for a large organisation.
• Postholder must possess multidisciplinary skills across the news and communication field including media liaison, PR and Campaigns activity, and knowledge of digital and social media and design.
• Must have a well-developed understanding and experience of direct contact with the traditional media, multi-channel campaign work, use of online and offline techniques, customer behaviour. Must have the ability to undertake insight research, analyse, interpret and use data to develop public relations and external campaigns.
• Must understand and know how to utilise digital and social media to enhance Merseyside Police's online presence, engagement and opportunity to communicate key messages.
• Must have strong creative ability with good basic design sense of printed and online communication, with a sound understanding of branding.
• Knowledge of media law to ensure an efficient service is provided or be willing to attend training on media law.
• Good written and oral communication, interpersonal and presentation skills in order to effectively represent the force to the media to ensure that the force strategy is clearly communicated thus reducing the fear of crime and increasing public confidence.
• Ability to represent the force with other forces and agencies as required in different forums, and to present or liaise with internal and external groups.
• Computer literate with a wide knowledge of different packages.
• Ability to summarise complex information in clear, non-specialist language.
• Must have ability to plan and prioritise work, use initiative and meet competing deadlines, while giving attention to detail to make sure content and activity is right first time.
• Experience of working successfully with cross-discipline teams, able to commission and delegate work, able to work collaboratively in a team environment to make sure all activity is integrated and avoids duplication.