At the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) we’re unlocking billions of pounds of investment for our region through our devolution deal with government.
Our newly elected Mayor will be a powerful voice on the national stage for the people of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, overseeing devolved powers around transport, housing, skills and adult education, economic development and net zero.
The East Midlands has a rich history and a diverse present on which to build a renaissance. Ambition and culture put us at the heart of the first industrial revolution – and it will put us at the centre of the next. We will make our region more prosperous, sustainable and fairer, helping our people and businesses to create and seize opportunities.
This role has director level responsibility for the leadership and delivery of strategic internal and external communications and engagement activity for the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA). The post holder is the principal communications advisor to the Mayor, the Chief Executive and the Senior Leadership Team.
EMCCA’s overall work programme is evolving, ambitious and focused on the future to deliver tangible, sustainable, lasting and systemic change for our communities within a robust governance framework.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Collaborate across the Executive and with the Mayor and EMCCA to lead, develop and deploy a modern, unified communications and public relations strategy that builds brand and reputation amongst our key audiences, including decision-makers in government and the media, businesses, members, residents and customers, with a clear vision and narrative.
- Provide strategic leadership to raise the profile of EMCCA to identified audiences, partners and stakeholders, including the public sector, business sector, residents and political leaders, with a focus on flexible, pro-active and innovative approaches to engagement, communications campaigns, events and initiatives.
- Lead the management and delivery of the EMCCA brand, identity and narrative, ensuring it is communicated clearly, consistently and creatively.
- Develops a positive and compelling vision and strategic narrative for the East Midlands, leading innovative thinking and approaches that change perceptions of the East Midlands.
- Accountable for the implementation of a regional and national media relations strategy ensuring a modern, digital-first, approach to the use of both traditional and social media channels to influence key stakeholders.
- Lead and develop policy work to build the Mayor’s, EMCCA and Executives’ reputation and position as a thought leader and policy influencer for a wide breadth of social and economic policy priorities.
- Maintain a communications calendar, long term plans and system to identify, implement and track public appearance from the Mayor in support of the policies in their manifesto.
- Provide strategic, effective and highly visible leadership to the communications team and professional communications leadership for communications across the organisation.
- Lead work to build productive national and regional partnerships for the Mayor and EMCCA leaders, particularly focusing on relationships with MPs, ministers of government and the opposition, influential business, academic, trades unions and media relationships and locally building effective relationships with EMCCA constituent local authorities.
- Work with senior colleagues, the Mayor and politicians across the region to protect and enhance EMCCA’s reputation.
- Ensuring a strong customer focus ensuring research and customer insight / behaviour data is gaining multichannel exposure to build awareness and take-up / value in the offers, services and programmes of EMCCA.
- Work closely with policy leads to align PR, communication and marketing activity to the agreed programme of work of the Mayor and EMCCA, identifying opportunities to develop strong relationships with key government and industry stakeholders to ensure the consistent leverage of thought leadership activity to influence and shape public policy.
- Plan a programme of engagement events such as public forums and community activities and support international work to deliver EMCCA’s aims and priorities.
- Lead the planning, development, co-ordination and production of public information products including brochures, fact sheets, news releases, audio/visual and television, website and other informational, educational and promotional materials using current communications technologies. Manages content and scheduling for EMCCA’s website, intranet, external media and mass communications, ensuring strong alignment to the brand and values of the organisation.
For more information on this role, please complete the form or contact the team on EMCCA@osbornethomas.org.