Press and Communications Adviser (OFFA)

Press and Communications Adviser (OFFA)
Press and Communications Adviser Pay Band 8 (OFFA) £31,984 - £36,781 Based in Bristol Are you an excellent communicator with significant experience in press relations? OFFA, the independent public body that helps safeguard and promote fair access to higher education, is looking for a Press and Communications Adviser to help us communicate our messages effectively to diverse audiences. You will be an experienced communications professional with excellent written and verbal communication skills, mature judgement, a confident and positive approach and good interpersonal skills. As a member of a small communications team (there are two other staff), you will be expected to help meet all OFFA`s communications and press needs including our publications and website. However, your chief responsibility will be press relations. You will need to have a proactive approach, an ability to think creatively and strategically, and be capable of keeping a cool head in challenging, fast-changing situations. You will also be responsible for developing and maintaining our stakeholder relations management plan. OFFA`s small size means you will need to be able to prioritise effectively and work flexibly with colleagues to help meet changing demands. It also means you will enjoy considerable autonomy, deputising for the part-time Communications Manager where necessary and contributing to our strategy and policy planning from a communications perspective. If you have the above qualities and some experience, knowledge or interest in higher education, we would very much like to hear from you. Benefits include 25 days` annual leave (pro rata), a comprehensive staff development programme, and the opportunity to join the Civil Service Pension scheme. Whilst the current Government recruitment restrictions apply, only internal candidates and candidates from eligible Civil Service departments or accredited non departmental public bodies (NDPBs) can apply for posts advertised by HEFCE within the first 10 working days. For this post, that is between 19 November 2012 and 30 November 2012. Eligible Civil Service departments are defined on the Civil Service website www.civilservice.gov.uk/jobs/departments-ndpbs-atol/departments-ndpbs.aspx. Candidates who are not currently employed in an eligible Civil Service department will not be considered for the vacancy within the first 10 days. If there is an adequate candidate pool after the initial 10 working days advertised, i.e. by 30 November 2012, we will close the vacancy on that date. Therefore, internal candidates and candidates currently employed on permanent or fixed term contracts within the Civil Service or accredited NDPBs should apply within the first 10 days of the vacancy being advertised, i.e. before midnight on 30 November 2012. If we have been unable to gain an adequate candidate pool after 10 working days the advertised closing date will apply, during which time we will accept applications from individuals external to the civil service. OFFA is supported through a service level agreement with the Higher Education Funding Council for England and staff are covered by the same pay, conditions and human resourcing policies. For further information and to apply (CVs will not be accepted) please visit our website at www.careers.hefce.ac.uk Closing date for completed applications: midnight on 6 January 2013
Location	Bristol
Salary	£31,984 - £36,984
Reference Code	337
Interview Date	21-01-2013
Close Date	15-12-2012 23:55:00
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