Senior Information Officer – Belfast.

Position: Senior Information Officer

DP Pay Rate: £24.59 per hour

Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week

Hours of Work: 9 to 5 Monday to Friday

Start Date: ASAP

Location: The post will be based at Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, Belfast, BT4 3SG.  The Post holder will be required to travel across NI and therefore must be willing to travel.

Benefits working with NICS:

• On the job training provided
• Long term opportunity
• Gain valuable skills and progress your career
• Diverse and inclusive employer with active social mobility policies

Job Duties:

While the precise duties and responsibilities of individual posts will vary, the main duties and key responsibilities will include:

• To provide strategic communications advice to Ministers and senior officials demonstrating sound judgement, political awareness and sensitivity;
• To provide strategic direction on all communications (traditional, social and digital), ensuring the content, messaging, tone and consistency are in line with the communications strategy;
• To handle complex and sensitive communications issues, providing clear advice to Ministers and senior officials;
• To plan and deliver creative, dynamic and engaging digital solutions;
• To support the Principal Information Officer on all aspects of communications during a crisis, including identifying emerging issues and providing strong proactive advice;
• Contributing to the development and implementation of effective external media handling strategies/plans within a fast changing news environment;
• Managing, maintaining and building good working relationships with key stakeholders, customers and partners;
• Managing and arranging press conferences, radio and TV interviews, and media coverage of important events, announcements and visits;
• Supporting Ministers at site visits within and outside Northern Ireland, including international visits;
• Overseeing the preparation of news releases and other internal and external written communications;
• Responding to media enquiries including briefing journalists and managing relationships with the media;
• Evaluating the effectiveness of communications (including social media) against objectives and business outcomes; and

The above list is not exhaustive however it gives a good indication of the main duties of the post. The emphasis on particular duties will vary over time according to business needs.

Essential Criteria:

• Must have 5 GCSEs including Maths & English (must be able to show certificates)
• A degree
• At least two years’ experience, gained as a practitioner in public relations, journalism, advertising or a marketing environment.
• At least one years’ experience, gained within the last five years, of working with Senior Officials and key stakeholders to develop and deliver engaging digital content to promote important announcements, initiatives, news or events.

Desired Criteria:

• At least two years’ experience of managing social media accounts, producing and editing original, visual and dynamic content working in a communications environment.
• At least two year’s practical experience, working with senior colleagues to handle high-profile and sensitive communication issues.

*The successful applicant will be required to complete an Access NI and CTC during registration*

If interested, please send across your CV to anna.quinn@therecruitmentco.uk