NLRF Media and Communications Officer

Salary: Band 6, £29,055 - £31,296

Location: Agile working across Etal Lane Police Station and homeworking, with travel to partner organisation premises as required

Hours/Contract: 37 hours per week, fixed term / secondment for 12 months

Working for #TeamNP

Our purpose at Team NP is simple: to keep people safe and to fight crime. But it takes more than officers alone to do the job – and that’s where our 2,000-strong team of police staff and 200 volunteers come in.

As one of the largest police forces in England we have a huge variety of departments and specialisms offering you endless opportunities. From mentoring and coaching schemes and online soft skills courses to leadership development programmes; we’ll give you the support, training and time to carve out the career you always wanted.

As one of the top 50 UK inclusive employers and a disability confident employer, we promote a culture of respect in the workplace so everyone can feel seen, heard and valued.

Whether you’re a member of staff or a volunteer, you can also expect first-rate support to manage your health and wellbeing. With year-round events, a 24/7 welfare support hotline and a leading approach to neurodiversity, our initiatives enable you to be at your best.

Above all else, here at Team NP, we can offer you a career that is so much more than just a job, it’s a chance to be part of something that really matters.

Learn about our full benefits package

The role

Here at Northumbria Police, we think our region is amazing! It takes a great deal of people from different backgrounds, with diverse skills and experience to serve our force area effectively, think you have what it takes to help us make a difference? This could be the perfect time for you to join us in our NLRF Team as a NLRF Media and Communications Officer.

We are seeking a dynamic communications professional to support the delivery of a comprehensive, proactive, and reactive external communications service in line with the Northumbria Local Resilience Forum (NLRF) External Communications Strategy. This role involves creating engaging, high-quality content tailored to a range of audiences and platforms, helping to maintain and enhance the profile of the NLRF while building public trust and confidence in its work.

You will lead the development and execution of multi-media communications across traditional and social media channels, ensuring consistent and impactful messaging. By fostering strong relationships with media outlets and key partners, you will play a vital role in securing positive coverage and amplifying the voice of the NLRF. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to public safety and resilience through strategic communications that make a real difference.

What you’ll do

Support the delivery of a comprehensive external multi-media communications service for the Northumbria Local Resilience Forum (NLRF), working under the direction of the NLRF Chief Resilience Officer, NLRF Manager, Media and Communications Manager, and Head of Communications and Engagement. Provide additional support to the wider NLRF team as required.
Build and maintain strong working relationships with communications and engagement teams across NLRF partner organisations. Collaborate to deliver timely, accurate, and effective proactive and reactive communications to target audiences.
In consultation with the NLRF team and partner communications departments, develop engaging written and visual content for external audiences. Take initiative in content creation and advise on the most effective platforms and methods for delivery. Work collaboratively to produce communications that support NLRF priorities, enhance community safety, and build public understanding, trust, and confidence in the Forum.
Collaborate with NLRF Media Advisers, officers, and staff to share information that increases community safety and enhances the profile of the NLRF. Support the dissemination of content through media outlets and NLRF’s external channels, including social media.
Assist NLRF Media Advisers in managing media enquiries from local, regional, and national outlets. Formulate and deliver clear, effective responses on behalf of the NLRF, ensuring messaging complies with media law and maintains public confidence. Identify and escalate issues that pose significant reputational risk to the NLRF.

Sound interesting? For further information, and to support your application, please view the job description

What you’ll bring

Possess a good standard of education with excellent computer literacy and IT skills, including the ability to quickly learn new systems. Demonstrate a working knowledge of social media platforms and the ability to adapt content appropriately for each. Confident in creating, shooting, and editing engaging multimedia content tailored to various digital channels and audience types.
Ability to manage and plan own workload effectively, working independently to meet tight deadlines and support the wider team in a fast-paced environment.
Demonstrate initiative and a proactive approach to work, with the ability to self-learn and develop new skills on digital platforms and systems used within the Force.
Ability to work independently using own initiative, while also collaborating effectively as part of a team. Demonstrates a flexible and adaptable approach to work.
Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills.

We know it's important for you to feel that you're not only part of a great team, but part of a community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

Harnessing these differences creates a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, and their talents are fully utilised. Appointments are based on merit alone.

Interested to learn more? For further information about the role please contact John Heckels, NLRF Manager via email at john.heckels@northumbria.police.uk or Andrea Fryer, NLRF Community and Societal Resilience Coordinator via email at andrea.fryer@northumbria.police.uk

What we offer

26 days’ leave (increasing to 30 days for 5 years+ service) plus 8 bank holidays
NHS Fleet Solutions Car Lease Scheme
Enhanced maternity, shared parental and adoption leave
Flexi time - allowing you to fit your working hours around your individual needs
Flexible working (we are happy to discuss options such as compressed hours)
Fantastic market-leading public sector pension scheme with up to 16% employer contribution
Corporate travel schemes – local rail, bus services and metro discounts
Access to private healthcare and eye test vouchers
Discounts on shopping and eating out thanks to the Blue Light Card and Blue Light Tickets
We’ve invested in extensive paid sick leave, trained mental health first aiders on-site, an employee advice service for the times you need that additional support
Access to gyms in some stations
Sports & Social Club – join our thriving sports scene at Team NP and enjoy further exclusive discounts on days out and travel
Cycle to work scheme
Opportunity to volunteer in local community

We are committed to building a dynamic, agile workplace where meaningful connection are key. For roles designated as agile or home-based, employees will work from a Force site at least once a week, with two days recommended. Hiring managers will be happy to discuss how this works in practice at interview stage. This approach helps build strong relationships, supports wellbeing, and fosters collaboration across teams.

Just so you know

Our application form will help us understand how your work, education and life experience has prepared you for the role of a NLRF Media and Communications Officer with #TeamNP. To help support your application research what makes us tick here at Northumbria, the role you’re applying for and the values and behaviours that contribute.

The recruitment process will consist of the initial application form followed by a face-to-face interview. Just so you know, you can save your application and come back to it any time prior to the closing date on the advert.

We are proud members of the Business Disability Forum, with whom we collaborate with to improve the lives of disabled employees. We are also a Disability Confident Employer, therefore if you demonstrate that you meet the minimum criteria for this role as stated in the advert, we will progress your application and offer you an interview.

If you tell us that you have a disability, we can make adjustments to support you through the recruitment process (for example we can arrange extra time for tests or provide a sign language interpreter) You can get in touch with us via careers@northumbria.police.uk for any support regarding the application process. Please provide us with plenty of notice so we can ensure your visit goes smoothly.

Use of AI in Applications: At Northumbria Police, we embrace innovative technologies to enhance our recruitment process. We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While AI can be a valuable resource, we encourage applicants to ensure their submissions accurately reflect their personal qualifications, experiences, and skills. Our selection process includes thorough evaluations to verify the authenticity and suitability of all applications. We value genuine and thoughtful responses that showcase your unique strengths and perspectives.

If your application is successful, we’ll ask you to complete a Management Vetting (MV)/ Security Clearance (SC) form, therefore you must be a resident of the UK for a minimum period of 5 years to ensure vetting checks can be successfully performed. A job offer will be dependent upon vetting clearance, medical information, and references.

Terms of appointment

This is a fixed term role subject to a six-month probationary period.

If you are successful in your application, you will have a six-month probation period with us where you will be unable to apply for any other post advertised internally or externally.

Please note if you are interested in applying for this secondment opportunity, please discuss this with your Line Manager and gain agreement prior to applying.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.