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External Communications Manager (1687)

Salary - £36,944 - £42,244 (plus, a £2,000 post-specific recruitment and retention Pay Supplement, rising to £3,750 after 12 months satisfactory service)
Location - Dundee or Glasgow
Hours - 35 hours per week
Closing Date - 16th July 2025 at 23:55
Reference - 1687
Employment Type - Permanent

Overview
This is an exciting opportunity to join the busy, friendly and creative Strategic Communications, Marketing and Engagement team at Social Security Scotland, an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government.

Social Security Scotland was created by the Scottish Government to deliver a number of benefits. These includes payments that support families, young people, carers, disabled people and young people starting work.

The Strategic Communications, Marketing and Engagement team is responsible for communications advice, planning and delivery of communications and engagement activity to raise awareness of benefits administered by Social Security Scotland, helping eligible people get the financial support they are entitled to.

The successful applicant will act as an account manager who collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that communications outputs and partnership activity are effective, clear and reach people in engaging ways. This person will be responsible for implementing strategic communications, marketing and engagement plans based on robust audience insight and data. This will include supporting the delivery of creative outputs across a range online and offline channels.

This team plays an active role in media management with a focus on specific audiences and payments, alongside a broader understanding of corporate issues and the wider context of devolved benefits. This includes proactive PR and also responding to any reactive media enquiries. The successful candidate will be part of an out-of-hours, on-call media rota.

The External Communications Manager will contribute to the ongoing evaluation of the teams outputs and will use this analysis to influence work plans.

Pay Supplement
This post attracts a £2,000 post-specific recruitment and retention Pay Supplement, rising to £3,750 after 12 months satisfactory service. Pay supplements are temporary payments designed to address recruitment and retention issues caused by market pressures and are subject to regular review.

Main Duties
• Source, write, edit and manage high quality content for a range of Social Security Scotland channels – including media releases, website articles, social media content, client literature (e.g. factsheets, leaflets, posters) and marketing materials.
• Supporting creation and implementation of coordinated strategic communication, marketing and engagement plans using insight and analysis to develop and deliver creative communications plans, advising on the best messages, methods and channels to reach and influence audiences both internally and externally.
• Supporting proactive media and PR activity, such as writing press releases, securing feature articles and editorial partnerships, and supporting Ministerial visits including media interview bids and managing reactive enquiries (including on call responsibility).
• Managing the regular review of communication and marketing materials to make sure that these are up to date, accurate and that we are continually improving.
• Provide credible and authoritative communications advice and support to colleagues, including senior leaders.
• Work flexibly with colleagues across the communication team to deliver integrated external and internal communications across multiple platforms and channels.

Further Information
Social Security Scotland are a Disability Confident Employer. We will consider and implement any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process and during the course of your employment, should you be successful in securing a post. If you feel you may require assistance with any part of our recruitment process, please contact us at Recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot.

More information about the role and how to apply is available at:
Careers at Social Security Scotland

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