Communications & Media Officer

Job Purpose

Internal Job Title: Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) Communications & Media Officer

Advertised Salary: £33,000 + benefits

Location: Remote, with regular travel across our network required. See here: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/canals-and-rivers

We're the charity who look after and bring to life 2,000 miles of waterways across England and Wales, because we believe that life is better by water. Every role across the Trust plays its part in transforming our canals and rivers into spaces where local people want to spend time and feel better, bringing wellbeing benefits to millions.

We currently have an opportunity for a Communications & Media Officer to join our team. This role will help help enhance, promote and protect the Boat Safety Scheme 's reputation to meet its strategic objectives. Find out more here: https://www.boatsafetyscheme.org/about-us/

Large parts of this role will include:

• Enhance, promote and protect the Boat Safety Scheme's reputation to meet its strategic objectives.
• Delivery of communications and campaigning materials in support of the Scheme's purpose to help minimise the risks related to the condition, equipment and use of boats.
• Produce communications strategies, materials and content to support the engagement with all stakeholders and media contacts.
• Responsible for ensuring that spend on events, campaigns, photographers, design and print etc. is delivered on time and on budget.

Experience delivering communications/media/campaigns work for marine/boat/waterway/engineering specific organisations is advantageous, but not essential.

Location & coverage

The position will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces and or other navigation & harbour authority offices throughout the UK as and when required for team working and collaborative meetings. Travel throughout the waterway network is expected in order to conduct site visits.

BSS Limited represents numerous navigation authorities throughout the UK, we have training centres at Evesham, Northampton and Norwich. We hold technical conferences in numerous locations but mainly based in Warwick. Our monthly meetings are held In Hemel Hempstead.

When travelling on Boat Safety Scheme business, hire cars, train tickets, and accomodation (when overnight stays are applicable) are bookable through designated apps and websites.

See our canal network here: ( https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-network ).

About BSS

The BSS purpose is to help minimise the risk of boat fires, explosions, or pollution harming visitors to the inland waterways, the waterways' workforce and any other users and to help protect adjacent property, as it is to these parties that the Navigation Authorities may have duties in law. The purpose is equally to contribute to the common goal to make the waterways a safe, attractive and pleasant environment for all.

The BSS helps control the hazards which are introduced by boats which have been inadequately constructed or maintained or hazards introduced by boat owners who misuse the boat's equipment. The Navigation Authorities employ, through the BSS two broad approaches in respect of privately owned and privately managed boats.

Knowledge, Skills/Qualifications & Experience

Key accountabilities:

• Play an important role in the success of the BSS by delivering communications, marketing plans and projects.
• Act as first point of contact for media enquiries.
• Provide communications support to colleagues, stakeholders - specifically BSS Examiners, navigation and harbour authorities, marine trade, the boating community and specialist teams including but not restricted to, our fire & carbon monoxide safety partners, accident & investigation media etc - to help achieve objectives in BSS profile raising and safety awareness campaigns.
• Responsible for developing strong relationships with opinion-makers, and for developing relevant training materials for navigation authority staff, BSS Examiners, and volunteers.
• Producing news releases, articles, posters, leaflets, blogs, website and social media content, and other communication materials aimed at local, national, and international audiences.
• Delivering agreed campaigns (integrating media relations, digital, and traditional marketing) to meet the Scheme's strategic goals around influence e.g. to attract and retain further navigation & harbour authorities to adopt the BSS.
• Lead campaigns to raise awareness of project partners, as well as encouraging deeper engagement and involvement through participatory activities.
• Protecting the Scheme's reputation in response to crises and providing professional guidance for BSS spokespeople.
• A collaborative approach is also very important, as you will be working in partnership with all kinds of people and will often have to balance the needs of different stakeholders throughout your work.
• Always display the Scheme's values and behaviours.
• Ensure that diversity and inclusion are integrated into all aspects of BSS life and promote inclusion by challenging behaviour, practices, actions, or decisions that are counter to the objectives of the Scheme's policies and values.

This post requires effective relationships with our external stakeholders across 18 navigation & harbour authorities throughout the United Kingdom, and with individuals at every level of their organisations. Some of the key relationships include:

• Association Inland Navigation Authorities, Broads Authority, Canal & River Trust, Environment Agency, and Scottish Canals.
• BSS Examiners and their representative organisations.
• Boater owners and their representative organisations.
• British Marine and the marine industry.
• Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Royal Society Prevention of Accidents.
• Dept. for Transport, Marine Accident Investigation Branch and Maritime Coastguard Agency.

About you

Technical:

• Educated to degree level, or equivalent, ideally in a relevant discipline.
• Ideally a member of, or working towards membership of, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.
• Understanding of the UK print, broadcast, and social media - leisure, specialist, and trade - and experience working with journalists.
• Experience of contributing to the creative development of new ideas, strategies, and stories as part of the wider communications team.
• Ability to identify, compile and use evidence in effective communication strategies.
• Evidence of delivering integrated campaigns and producing marketing materials for various target audiences.
• Expertise in content creation, including proven technical and campaign copywriting and proofreading skills.
• Experience in communications measurement including the success of campaigns and strategies, as well as social media monitoring (e.g. using tools such as Hootsuite, Google analytics, sentiment trackers, etc)

General:

• Self-motivation, ability to work independently with minimal supervision, ability to meet tight deadlines and work under pressure in a small team environment.
• Ability to prioritise effectively.
• Collaborative team player with good influencing skills.
• Experience of training and liaising with staff and volunteers with varying levels of understanding and competency in social and digital
• Experience of working in a not-for-profit environment and safety campaigning preferable.
• Excellent understanding of GDPR and other relevant data protection legislation

To apply: click on the "Apply for this job" button and follow the process - complete the application form & upload current CV

Interviews: Initial interviews will be conducted virtually.

If you have any questions about the role please contact CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk

What We Offer

In addition to your annual base salary of £33,000 , we also offer a competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, and numerous other employee benefits, including several salary sacrifice benefits we are also open to flexible working arrangements.

• Competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, where we will double your contribution to a maximum of 10%.
• 25 days paid holiday (plus paid Bank Holidays), increasing to 30 days after 5 years.
• Home working status with 'hub' facilities available should you need the flexibility to work outside of home.
• Annual £200 personal learning & growth award to spend on any learning related activity.
• Free access to specialist counselling on a range of issues, e.g. health, financial, well-being and domestic matters.
• Access to a range of employee benefits including store discounts, boating holiday discounts and holiday purchase scheme.
• 2 days paid volunteering leave per annum, allowing you to volunteer for a local community project etc.
• Free fishing facilities across our canal network.

At the Trust we care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We strongly believe that a diverse workforce brings with it a diversity of ideas, thinking and ways of working which enhances what we do as a Trust. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.

All candidates will be treated on the basis of their merits, skills and abilities and solely by being assessed against the requirements for the job.

When you join the Canal & River Trust you become a member of an engaged team working to preserve our heritage for future generations. Come and share your passion and knowledge with a team that makes a difference to millions of people every day.

Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us]]>