Head of Communications and Events - Basildon Borough Council

Head of Communications and Events

Basildon, Essex

£67,512 - £74,341 per annum inclusive of fringe allowance

Full-Time, Permanent Contract

36.25 Hours per Week

Closing Date: Thursday 19th June 2025

Essex County Council (ECC) are delighted to be supporting Basildon Council to recruit a Head of Communications and Events on a full-time, permanent basis.

The Role

Basildon is a borough full of potential. With a bold vision for inclusive and sustainable growth, we are committed to building a thriving future for our residents and businesses delivering high quality homes, revitalised town centres, and a greener, more vibrant environment.

We are offering an exciting opportunity to join us as Head of Communications and Marketing - a pivotal role responsible for shaping and strengthening our relationships with residents, businesses, key stakeholders, and government. With a dynamic agenda of policy developments ahead, we need a strategic communicator to ensure our vision is clearly and effectively shared.

The Opportunity

As Head of Communications, you will play a critical role in defining and promoting our brand - capturing the ambition, energy, and drive of our Administration. Working closely with Members and the senior leadership team, you will be skilled in navigating the democratic landscape and managing a wide range of stakeholders with confidence and diplomacy.

We're looking for a proven leader with a strong track record in communications and event management. You bring the vision, creativity, and leadership to inspire your team, deliver high-impact campaigns, and ensure excellence across all communications channels.

If you are a visionary, collaborative, and results-driven professional ready to make a meaningful impact we want to hear from you.

If you would like to be part of Basildon success, we look forward to receiving your application.

Please note that ECC are recruiting to this position on behalf of Basildon Borough Council.

Accountabilities

· To provide leadership and management of the Communications and Design Team and Events coordination

· To provide communications expertise to the council leadership team, senior officers and elected councillors and to lead a communications service that effectively builds and maintains understanding and support between the council and its key audiences and stakeholders.

· Ensure collaboration, knowledge sharing, and best practices to help embed key priorities across the organisation.

· To provide the required visible leadership and presence in the office for a minimum of three days per week.

· To lead service committees and support Scrutiny Committees as required

The Experience You Will Bring

· Demonstrable extensive experience of communications management, at a senior level and directly with politicians in a large, complex organisation

· Experience of successfully developing and implementing communications strategies to deliver agreed organisational outcomes.

· Up to date knowledge of communication channels, evaluation techniques and the traditional, broadcast and social media environments.

· Up to date knowledge of communication challenges facing local authorities and public bodies.

· Experience of successfully managing relationships and stakeholders within a political environment and at a senior executive level.

· Experience of interpreting information, with a flexible and creative problems solving approach. Making rational, realistic and sound decisions.

· Proven knowledge of the workings of local government and the wider public sector.

· Experience of working in pursuit of collaborative/organisational goals

Why choose Basildon Council?

Basildon Borough Council is one of the largest local authorities in the East of England region and serves a population of approximately 172,000 people. The town of Basildon is regarded as a key economic hub with the main areas of employment being engineering, research and development, distribution and financial services. Basildon is also the second biggest economy in the Thames Gateway, outside of Canary Wharf.

Working for Basildon Borough Council means making a practical and positive difference to the lives of people living and working in the Borough and provides a fulfilling career.

Each of our employees - whatever job role they are undertaking - can feel motivated by having a unique opportunity to use their skills to make Basildon a better place to live. Whether it is conserving our countryside, by regenerating our Borough, by housing our residents or by collecting the refuse on time.

Note: ECC are advertising this role on behalf of Basildon Council.  

Basildon Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults, and expects all employees, contractors and volunteers to share its commitment to prevent abuse, harm or exploitation.

The Council applies a robust recruitment vetting process. If you are successful you will need to undergo a Pre-employment Vetting Procedure.

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you.  

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email Ashleigh.Drake@essex.gov.uk OR EssexSharedServices@essex.gov.uk