Job Description

Job description

Job Purpose

To lead on the development and implementation of a Communications and Information Management strategy agenda in line with the “Transforming Church, Changing Lives” vision and mission of the Diocese of Guildford and specifically Goal 11. To ensure that Communications, Information Management and IT support the needs of the diocese but are also flexible enough to cope with changes in the organisation, as and when they occur.

Accountability

• Accountable to the Diocesan Secretary for day to day oversight, management and strategic direction of the Communications and Information Management functions.

Responsible for:

• Digital Content and Communications Officer

• Communications Officer

• Database & Information Administrator

To be a professional partner and support to:

• Bishops and their offices

• Archdeacons and their offices

• Directors of Education; DVM; CE; PDE; Finance, Property, HR, Deputy Diocesan Secretary

• Parish, School & Chaplaincy leaders and personnel;

• Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor;

• Communications steering panel;

• Local (and national) media contacts;

• National Communications colleagues;

• Local media journalists and editors;

• Major Incident Coordinator;

• External suppliers of communications services.

Responsibilities

• To take the overall lead for delivery of one of our key goals in the ‘Transforming Church, Transforming Lives’- that every parish and chaplaincy develops effective communications, promoting a church that is visible, attractive and accessible.
• To take responsibility for the strategic direction and day-to-day delivery of the entire spectrum of the diocesan communications and information management function.
• Lead, develop and deliver a successful Communications function that meets the needs of a changing organisation to plan and within budget. This includes: media and public relation, internal communications, brand management, marketing, advertising, digital and social media and production of materials.
• Promote and encourage good communications practice within parishes and to develop model resources and policies for use by parishes, chaplaincies and schools.
• Develop key messages, lead on creating and maintaining appropriate and consistent language and terminology across all media, acting as a ‘brand guardian’ ensuring consistency across all internal and external communications
• Develop, deliver an Information Management Strategy with an evolving integrated information management system that supports and helps increase efficiency and effectiveness of information sharing across and beyond the organisation.
• Take the lead in encouraging employees to share knowledge and information, ensuring they are aware of the information management resources available to support their work, are appropriately trained and are using the systems efficiently and productively.
• Act as the organisation’s data protection officer by managing the organisation’s data protection policies and any breaches, any necessary registration with the Information Commissioner, leading on data protection audits as required.
• At the Bishop’s invitation to attend as required the Bishop’s Staff Meeting offering professional advice to senior colleagues on all communications matters, contributing to the formation of relevant policies.
• Keep up to date on best practice within the charity sector generally and particularly changes to communications and information management innovation, legislation and codes of practice
• Undertake and lead on project or major work streams for the Diocese as required, including deputising for colleagues.

Materials and channels management

• Lead and direct the compilation, writing, editing, design, production and distribution of printed, audio-visual, digital materials, including statements and presentations as required.
• Manage and expand social media presence, sourcing and sharing newsworthy information from across our diocese. Produce regular reports detailing social media activity to share with staff
• Take overall editorial responsibility for the development and management of the website content for internal and external audiences, including generating content, maximising its potential and monitoring its performance.
• Counsel and support stakeholders as they create their materials; contribute to diocesan materials, and adapt and share diocesan materials.

Reputation management

• Identify matters on which our Diocese should comment or take action, including issues that could potentially damage the organisation’s reputation, providing support and advice to senior staff on appropriate messaging and approach. This includes effective surveillance of key websites and other sources of information to ensure that relevant material is extracted and disseminated in a succinct form to the Bishops, Archdeacons, Diocesan Secretary, Senior staff and Trustees.
• Increase the Diocese’s profile across media, and with influencers and other local organisations, developing strong relationships with local media partners; acting as a spokesperson when necessary and developing targets and strategies to ensure positive stories about the Church of England are received beyond the Diocese’s group of core engaged stakeholders.
• Respond to requests from the press for comments, views and supporting information and maximise opportunities for further engagement on relevant topics, overseeing/approving production of media releases/statements, briefing materials, video and audio and features material
• Advise and ensure appropriate training, support & guidance for staff and, where relevant, clergy undertaking press interviews.

Media relationship management

• Deliver a first class media relations service to journalists and media representatives, forging relationships and proactively seeking opportunities for engagement so as to harness the news agenda and market broader knowledge and expertise to contribute to existing and potential stories.
• Receiving and managing press enquiries and ensuring that the out-of-hours press phone is staffed, managing the comms team to provide media relations support for other departments and parishes.
• Provide support for parishes, chaplaincies and schools in crisis situations.

IT and Information Management Systems & development

• Lead and manage the relationship with IT, website, database and online tool providers, ensuring the associated hardware, functionality and support contracts are appropriately managed, supported and developed with roadmaps aligned to our requirements.
• Ensure appropriate service reporting and incident management for Diocesan IT and Information Management System provision in line with SLAs, attending service meetings as required and providing the local interface for assessing IT / System user satisfaction and issue resolution / escalation.
• Take a lead on specification and procurement of IT services, equipment and Information systems for the Diocese, ensuring alignment to requirements, best value for money, well planned and delivered implementation including necessary staff training and information. 

Parish Support and Learner Enabler

• Lead on the design, facilitation and provision of communication toolsets, templates and training for parish personnel including the potential procurement and provision of 3rd party services (IT, Website development & support etc) that parishes can draw on and buy into.
• Empower and enable non-expert stakeholders to engage in effective communications with one-to-one support and mentoring where appropriate.
• To be a point of reference, counsel and advice for general enquiries from parishes, chaplaincies and schools on communications.
• Train and advise colleagues within Diocesan teams on communications matters, in groups and one-to-one.
• Lead on the development of Church of England, Guildford online peer support groups and online knowledge base, and promote sharing of expertise;

Crisis Management

• Map stakeholders and lead on first response planning for the Diocese.
• Lead on crisis media planning protocols, providing the liaison with major incident coordinators to coordinate protocols,
• Develop approved position statements for internal and external audiences; keeping key stakeholders briefed in crisis situations
• To take responsibility for the provision of an out of hours communications service for the Diocese ensuring that this is provided with the support of other communications staff.

CofE Advocate

• Develop understanding of and promote the place of the Church of England, in society and government; its diocesan, deanery and parish structures and the role of diocesan synod; Education and Church Schools; world mission, including diocesan links with Nigeria, Vijborg, and Evry;
• Build and maintain contacts and share expertise with colleagues across the the Church of England, which includes the South East Communications Officer network, the National Communications network and the teams at Church House, London and Lambeth Palace.