Suffolk Jobs Direct
Communications and Engagement Officer
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- Suffolk County Council
- Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2BX - Hybrid
- Salary: £42,123 per annum (pro rata for part time)
- Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available
- Contract: Fixed Term or Secondment for up to 2 years
At Suffolk County Council, every role is a chance to create positive change. As a Communications and Engagement Officer in the SEND Project Management Team, you’ll see the direct impact of your work on the people and places that make Suffolk special. Join us and turn your passion for progress into action.
Reimagine the possibilities.
Your role and responsibilities
In this exciting role, you will play a key part in supporting the successful delivery of SEND Reform across Suffolk by leading communications, engagement and co-production activity across the local area partnership. You will:
- Lead the SEND Reform communications and engagement strategy, developing and delivering clear plans and campaigns that promote consistent messaging and understanding across partner organisations.
- Drive meaningful engagement and co-production with children and young people, families, education settings, health and social care partners, and voluntary and community sector organisations.
- Create accessible, inclusive and engaging content across a range of channels, including websites, social media, presentations, reports, events and promotional materials.
- Build and nurture strong stakeholder relationships, encouraging collaboration, raising awareness and ensuring partners understand their role in delivering SEND Reform.
- Monitor and evaluate communications and engagement activity, using feedback and insight to measure impact, identify emerging issues and drive continuous improvement.
You will need
We're looking for an enthusiastic and collaborative communications professional who can build relationships, engage diverse audiences and deliver impactful campaigns. You will have:
- Excellent communication and content creation skills, with experience producing engaging and accessible materials across a variety of channels, including digital platforms, social media, reports, presentations and campaigns.
- Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence, collaborate and work effectively with a wide range of partners, including education, health, social care, community organisations, parent carers, and children and young people.
- Experience planning and delivering communications and engagement campaigns, including events, websites and social media activity, ideally informed by audience insight and behaviour-change principles.
- A good understanding of co-production and inclusive engagement, ensuring that children, young people, families and communities have a meaningful voice in shaping services and outcomes.
- Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, stakeholders and budgets effectively.
- A proactive, creative and adaptable approach, with the confidence to take initiative, solve problems and deliver results both independently and as part of a team.
- Knowledge of SEND, children's services or public sector partnership working would be advantageous, alongside experience of working within complex transformation or change programmes.
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You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (JPP), which you can find in the ‘How to apply’ section towards the bottom of this advert.
The team
The SEND Programme Management Office (PMO) Team sits at the heart of Suffolk’s ambitious SEND Reform Programme, driving transformational change that improves outcomes for children and young people with SEND. Working across education, health, social care and partner organisations, the team provides programme leadership, governance, performance insight, stakeholder engagement and delivery support to turn strategic ambitions into real impact. Join us and play a key role in shaping a more inclusive, confident and sustainable SEND system for Suffolk.
Empowering Everyone
We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report [https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/our-aims-and-transformation-programmes/the-councils-equality-and-inclusion-commitment-to-you].
For more information
Please contact Jo Hedley (she/her) for a casual conversation. You can reach her by emailing SENDReforms@suffolk.gov.uk [SENDReforms@suffolk.gov.uk]
If you want to apply for a secondment, read the secondment policy first. Make sure you get permission from your current manager before submitting your application.
How to apply
Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word). [https://sccrecruit.blob.core.windows.net/assets/SCC/24639-Communications-and-Engagement-Officer-SEND.docx]
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template (Word) [https://sccrecruit.blob.core.windows.net/assets/SCC/Other-Docs/SupportingStatementTemplate.docx].
- Tell us about a communications or engagement strategy you have developed and delivered. How did you identify your audiences, select the appropriate channels and ensure consistent messaging?
- Give an example of when you built effective relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders. How did you manage differing priorities and secure their support?
- Describe a time when you involved service users, residents or community groups in co-producing a project, campaign or piece of communication. How did their contributions influence the outcome?
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Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.
For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page [https://www.suffolkjobsdirect.org/#en/sites/CX_3001/pages/657088].
Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately, your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI [https://www.suffolkjobsdirect.org/#en/sites/CX_3001/pages/764097] to understand what’s acceptable.
Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk [recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk] or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages [https://www.suffolkjobsdirect.org/#en/sites/CX_3001/pages/757078].
Closing date:
11.30pm, 11 October 2026.
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid
As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.
In return, you’ll enjoy:
- up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
- membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
- performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
- training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
- a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
- diverse and active staff networks
- flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
Plus lots more!
If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk) [https://careers.suffolk.gov.uk/].
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