Communications Manager - South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU)

Full Time

Part-time hours will be considered

Permanent

SWROCU Northern Hub, Bristol, near BS34 6PY

Please note that the location of the role will have an impact on the terms and conditions. If you have any concerns about your ability to regularly travel to this location using your own transport, then please speak to the hiring manager before submitting an application.

If you are applying from one of the Regional Forces you will be seconded to SWROCU in line with the Joint Services Agreement and will remain on your home force terms and conditions and graded pay scale for the role. This recruitment platform is hosted by Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

Salary:

A&S: PO6-9

Role Description

The South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) is looking for a Communications Manager keen to support its critical work in tackling serious and organised crime.

As Communications Manager, you will devise and deliver impactful internal and external communication strategies aligned to regional and national priorities. You’ll work closely with senior leaders, officers and staff from across our capabilities to ensure the specialist services provided by the unit are promoted effectively to relevant audiences, including key stakeholders. Partnerships are central to our work, and you’ll be linked in with a huge range of organisations across law enforcement and other sectors to help deliver the unit’s strategic objectives.  You’ll provide expert advice on the best communications approach for sensitive investigations and tactics and be confident in working collaboratively with the media. Importantly, you’ll know the value of internal communications and thrive on supporting initiatives to recognise our brilliant people and ensure they feel informed and supported.

SWROCU is a collaboration of police officers and police staff from the five South West regional forces. We’re part of a national network of nine ROCUs covering England and Wales.

We have more than 20 capabilities that staff and officers work in to Pursue offenders, Protect and Prepare individuals and organisations, and Prevent people from engaging in serious and organised crime.

Our capabilities are here to advise, to assist, or to fully adopt investigations.

We work with local forces and national partners to target and disrupt criminals posing the greatest risk of Serious and Organised Criminality (SOC). This includes offenders involved in cyber threats, economic crime, drug conspiracies, modern slavery and human trafficking, and child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Police staff in one of our five regional forces can find out more about the work of this team and read first-hand accounts of people working at SWROCU at https://www.southwestrocu.police.uk/

You can find out more about SWROCU on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/south-west-regional-organised-crime-unit-swrocu

We’re looking for committed people with the right skillset – or ambition to develop that skillset – to join us.

What we can offer you –

  • Flexible working – with many of our roles we can be flexible regarding working hours.
  • Continuous professional development – we encourage and support career growth, giving you the opportunity of a flourishing career.
  • Well-being support – we have many support mechanisms in place to assist in improving your personal health and wellbeing.

Skills, experience and qualifications required

Essential:

  • Substantial experience of developing and delivering high impact, integrated and significant communications and/or campaigns.
  • A natural communicator with exceptional writing skills and ability to develop compelling content for different audiences.
  • Experience of managing a portfolio of communication channels, including the intranet and or operating web and/or internet-based content management systems.
  • Have excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Significant experience in a fast paced journalistic, press office and / or communications role operating at a strategic level in a large and complex organisation;
  • Experience of devising and implementing media and reputation management strategies.
  • Experience of working with senior leaders to devise and deliver accurate communications
  • Experience of managing queries from local and national media, preparing media releases, statements, briefings and guidance.
  • Experience of writing for external websites and social media using appropriate tone of voice.
  • Organised with a good network of relationships with local/national media.

Recruitment and Selection

  • Recruitment webinar: Thursday 23rd July, 12:00
    This is an opportunity to find out more about the role, the team you would be part of, and ask any questions.
    Please contact swrocurecruitment@avonandsomerset.police.uk, whereby invites will be sent accordingly. Please note that webinars will not be recorded
    General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - we would like to make you aware that this webinar will be a group video call which may show your personal details, such as your name and email address, to other attendees on the call. Attendees also need to be mindful of the misuse of personal data and information displayed in the webinar.
  • The closing date for receipt of applications is: Tuesday 28th July, 09:00
  • Shortlisting will take place week commencing: Tuesday 28th July
  • Interviews will be held week commencing: TBC

How to Apply

All applications are processed through the Avon and Somerset Constabulary online Oleeo portal.

Contact SWROCURecruitment@avonandsomerset.police.uk for further information.

If you reach the assessment/ interview stage of a process and become a reserve applicant, we would like to retain your application. This will be pending further vacancies arising for the same role in a 6-month period. By giving your consent this does not prevent you from applying for any other opportunities.

Additional Information

Vetting and safeguarding

This post is subject to a higher security clearance at MV and SC – Management Vetting and Security Clearance Level.

To be eligible to apply for this role you must have a five-year ‘checkable history’ in the UK – ideally this means that you would have been resident in the UK for the last five years.

In accordance with the National Vetting Policy, SWROCU are committed to safeguarding and operate safer recruitment processes, to ensure a police service that employees are proud to work for because they feel safe, valued and part of a happy and supportive work environment. All employees and volunteers therefore will be subject to background checks including vetting and references.

Police Barred and Advisory lists

Individuals placed on the Police Barred and Advisory lists will not be considered for employment by the police for a minimum of five years from the date of listing in the case of gross misconduct, or three years from the date of listing in the case of poor performance.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

SWROCU is working hard to increase diversity and inclusion where communities are currently under-represented including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, people of all ages, abilities, faiths, religions, gender, LGBTQ+ communities and those from disadvantaged or marginalised backgrounds who share our values and wish to make a difference to the communities we serve. All applications will be treated on merit, based on the evidence provided in your application and suitability for the role you have applied for.

Flexible and Part Time Working

All requests for flexible working patterns and part-time working will be considered and be dependent on the role, this includes job shares and part-time hours.

Travel to Work Protocol    

This is an incentive whereby staff working for SWROCU may be able to claim compensation for travelling to work if they meet a set criteria.  

For more information, please refer to a copy of the protocol attached. Should you have any questions please make contact with SWROCUBusinessTeam@avonandsomerset.police.uk

If you are interested to find our more information about this post, please email us at: SWROCURecruitment@avonandsomerset.police.uk

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