SYP - Communications Hub Manager

Role: Communications Hub Manager

Department: Corporate Communications

Location:  Carbrook, Sheffield

Salary: £40,950 - £45,546

Hours: 37        

Contract Type: Temporary until 31st March 2025

We have an exciting opportunity for a Communications Hub Manager to join our Corporate Communications Department on a temporary basis until 31st March 2025.

Do you have the drive and ability to lead South Yorkshire Police’s busy media desk? If you are up for the challenge, we want to hear from you.

As temporary Communications Hub Manager you would be leading a team of five communications officers, working in an exciting, fast-paced environment. This role delivers a proactive and reactive, quality multimedia news service for SYP, managing media interest in significant and often sensitive matters.

You will support the team to develop effective strategies as we work to build trust and confidence among our communities, and work closely with partner organisations to ensure a coordinated, multi-agency response to major incidents. You will direct communications activity in line with the force’s strategy and the Police and Crime Plan, and be confident in providing advice, guidance, and at times professional challenge, at all levels of the organisation.

Our ideal candidate will have experience of managing a team in a busy newsroom or similar environment, strong knowledge of media law and a proven track record in managing significant and protracted media interest. You will also have experience of content planning across different platforms – previous experience of generating stories and features and editing publications are desirable.

Working together with the wider communications management team, you will support the consistent, strategic activity, in a joined up approach across internal and external communications.

The role is based at our headquarters in Carbrook, Sheffield but hybrid working is available and encouraged - on average staff work around two to three days per week in a police building.

The successful candidate will be joining a driven and personable team with colleagues from a range of backgrounds including journalism, design, PR and public sector communications.

Skills and experience:

• Hold a degree in a relevant marketing or Journalism arena or have equivalent professional experience.
• Demonstrable experience in the delivery of strategic communications media services in a large organisation.
• A proven track record managing significant and protracted media interest in the context of high profile / crisis management stories.
• Demonstrable experience in the co-ordination of multi-agency communications activity, tactics and stakeholder management.
• A proven ability to generate positive media coverage.
• Significant experience in engagement and evaluation techniques.
• Extensive experience of using a wide range of communications products and traditional and social and digital media platforms to engage with diverse audiences.
• Excellent knowledge of legislation which impacts upon media coverage and criminal justice procedures.
• Previous supervisory experience.
• Able to work evenings and weekends as and when required for pre-planned events and to take part in an on-call rota.
• Proficient in the use of various computer systems and databases including Microsoft Office, Photoshop and in the use of social and digital media platforms.

For further information relating to the role, skills and experience for this role, please refer to the attached role profile.

What we offer:

We offer generous entitlements and supportive policies to enable a better work-life balance, some of which are listed below:

• A highly competitive salary and access to a generous pension scheme
• Generous annual leave allowance
• A wide range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Flexible working arrangements including flexi0time and hybrid working
• A transparent and collaborative team culture underpinned by our core values of Fairness, Integrity & Trust
• Comprehensive range of development and leadership courses to develop your career with South Yorkshire Police
• Employee Assistant Programme (accessible 24/7) offering confidential support and advice
• Flexible lifestyle benefits such as: Blue Light Card, Company Shop, Cycle to work scheme
• Committed to embedding sustainability: Force sustainability strategy - SYP (southyorkshire.police.uk)
• Membership to the Sports and Social Club
• Access to a wide range of staff support groups and networks

Eligibility:

Applicants must meet the minimum requirement checkable history criteria, which must be taken into account for individuals applying to work with South Yorkshire Police in any capacity. A minimum checkable history of 5 years is required for this role and successfully undergoing recruitment vetting procedure is a pre-requisite of employment with South Yorkshire Police.

Appearance & Standards:

South Yorkshire Police is committed to striking a proportionate balance between self-expression and the need to maintain role sensitive professional standards in dress and appearance. Officers, staff, and volunteers of South Yorkshire Police are permitted to have tattoos visible whilst on duty provided the tattoo is not considered to be unacceptable or otherwise inappropriate. Tattoos will be reviewed as part of the recruitment and selection process.

Smarter ways of Working:

South Yorkshire Police is committed to developing working practices which assist staff to balance their personal and professional lives, whilst meeting the needs of the organisation. This in turn enables South Yorkshire Police to provide an outstanding service to the community.

There are 3 different categories as part of this which are: Fixed, Field and Hybrid.

This role has been evaluated as a Hybrid role.

Hybrid: Applicable when the work can be undertaken at any location, whether that be a SYP building or from home.

South Yorkshire Police’s Key Values:

At South Yorkshire Police we have 3 key values which run through everything we do Fairness, Integrity & Trust, the attached document details the key behaviours we expect all employees to adhere to.

Contact details:

For further information about the role, please contact:  Kirsty Haken on 07464 983894 or kirsty.haken@southyorkshire.police.uk

Closing Date: 21st April 2025

Closing dates are not normally extended, other than in exceptional circumstances and agreement is made between the Talent Acquisition Manager and the Line Manager for the role.

How to apply:

Please click ‘Apply’

Candidate Information:

Please note that, should you be successful at the interview stage and before appointment, the relevant pre-employment checks are required. These include references, medical clearance, vetting clearance and sickness absence criteria check.

Diversity & Inclusion:

Expressions of interest are particularly welcome from female and ethnic minority candidates.

It is really important to us that the department represents the community we serve, in order for us to provide the best service, utilising a range of backgrounds, experience and skills. We support and value all officers and staff and the unique experiences they bring to the role. We strongly encourage and welcome expressions of interest from these valuable underrepresented groups.

If you are from an underrepresented group and want to find out more about the support we can offer, please contact our dedicated team on positiveaction@southyorks.pnn.police.uk

In addition, we will look to support anyone who requires Part Time/Job share working hours.

Internal Candidates:

This vacancy is temporary therefore, you must have the support of your current Line Manager to apply. If you are a permanent member of staff, this would be classed as a secondment opportunity. If you are on a fixed term contract, you must contact the Talent Acquisition Team before applying. 

Please ensure that you and your current line manager complete the attached consent form.  Please email the completed form to the hiring line manager, with the role title and the closing date stated in the subject of your email.

Without support, your application will not be considered any further.