Communications and Design Officer, 2 High Street, Perth

Main Purpose of the Role

Working within Perth & Kinross Council is more than a job, it's about being part of an organisation that puts people at the heart of all we do and provides opportunities to make a real difference by enhancing every life we touch.

We currently have the following opportunity:

Communications and Design Officer (Fixed term until 31 July 2028) - PKC14082
£28,560- £30,463 (21.6 hrs per week)
2 High Street

You will play a key role in helping the people of Perth and Kinross feel engaged and informed about plans for an upcoming series of major investments in leisure, housing, public realm, and essential roads and structures. Bringing together a series of projects under an overall vision for the future of Perth city.

This position is politically restricted under the Local Government Officers (Political Restrictions) Amendment Regulations 1998 (as amended). This means that you are prevented from taking part in certain political activities.

Please note, we are currently unable to offer sponsorship for this post.

Skills & Experience Required

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has experience in communications, engagement or public affairs, ideally in a complex or public sector environment
• Can translate complex or technical information into clear, accessible messages
• Is confident working across multiple projects and stakeholders
• Is comfortable with sensitive and sometimes contentious issues
• Has strong planning, organisational and relationship building skills
• Brings a calm, pragmatic and solutions focused approach

You’ll need to be equally comfortable:

• Drafting clear public facing content
• Advising senior colleagues and partners
• Supporting engagement activity on the ground

Degree or equivalent in public relations/communications. Please note equivalent can be alternative qualifications or professional learning plus work experience.

Membership of a relevant professional body, including evidence of continuous professional development, is also an advantage.

Working at Perth & Kinross Council

Our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in the delivery of our key priorities. In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours. Find out more about Perth & Kinross Council and you could soon be joining our team!

Here's what we can offer you:

• A generous annual leave package
• 6 days public holiday and an additional discretionary day
• Eligibility to join our pension scheme
• Family friendly and positive work/life balance policies such as Flexible Working, Maternity, Paternity & Adoption leave, time off for volunteering and our Wellbeing Framework
• Flexi time
• Access to a range of benefits

We recognise there can be benefits to flexible working and where individual jobs allow, we seek to support this. You are encouraged to discuss potential options with the recruiting manager, if this is of interest to you. A healthy work life balance is important to us and we provide supportive management and, where possible, flexible working arrangements to help you achieve that balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.

For purposes of connection and collaboration with colleagues and with the community we serve, our full-time employees work on site for a minimum of 2 days per week with the arrangements for part time employees being agreed on a basis which will ensure that they benefit to an equivalent degree. Our FAQs on hybrid working can be found at Hybrid working FAQs. We are committed to being a more inclusive employer - to ensure we can consider any reasonable adjustments, please either contact the recruiting manager to discuss any individual circumstances, discuss at interview or, if you prefer, after any conditional offer is made.

Next Steps

We would love to hear from you and would encourage you to get in touch with Lisa Potter, Service Manager - Strategic Communications and Engagement lpotter@pkc.gov.uk or 01738 475733 to find out more.

Click “APPLY NOW”

External candidates are required to provide 2 references, including email addresses. One of these must be your current or most recent employer.

Internal applicants applying for secondment must obtain line manager approval through the secondment form available under My Forms – Secondment Request Form on MyView. Please note that secondment requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.

We welcome applications from everyone and as a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to interview applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential requirements of the post. Please contact the hiring manager above or the Recruitment Team on (01738) 475555 or recruitment@pkc.gov.uk to discuss any reasonable adjustments. Appointments are based on evidence supplied during the selection process.

Diversity is important to us and although some of our jobs may be perceived to be traditionally gender specific, we welcome applications from everyone and would encourage you to apply if you meet the job requirements. That includes welcoming applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists. Many of the skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government.

To comply with Baseline Personnel Security Standard, you will be required to complete a Disclosure Scotland check.

If you have lived overseas for a period of 12 months or more (continuous or total) within the last 5 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check.

A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of the above mentioned mandatory pre-employment checks (including references) and will also include eligibility to work in the UK, qualifications and fitness to undertake the post.

All new employees have a four-month probationary period. Further details are available in the FAQs at “How to apply for a job or apprenticeship with us”.