Description
Job Purpose:
The role of the Communications Executive in the Communications & Marketing team is to:
- Handle media enquiries effectively and efficiently on all areas of FSS's business, including incidents and emergencies
- Work closely with colleagues across FSS to develop and implement proactive and reactive media communications
- Participate in the on call press office team for approximately one week out of every four, including monitoring the daily press/media distribution when they are on call
- Be the tactical lead for EITHER social media or internal communications, implementing in accordance with the FSS social media/internal communication's strategies
- Implement proactive communications projects and campaigns
- Work closely with colleagues in Scottish Government Communications, Food Standards Agency England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and other key partners and stakeholders as required on UK-wide media stories
- Undertake other duties within the External & Internal Communications team as required
Key Responsibilities:
The post-holder will:
- Support the Communications team in all Press Office activities
- Participate in the on call duty rota (1 week out of every 4)
- Handle press enquiries accurately and often to tight deadlines
- Research and write news releases and articles, arranging and overseeing broadcast interviews, and monitoring media coverage
- Handle and process the daily media monitoring when on call, using the press monitoring and management tool, and distribute office-wide as required
- Progress the media monitoring and evaluation for FSS including researching and preparing monthly media reports
- Proactively monitor media coverage and activity in relation to the FSS remit and make recommendations on necessary opportunities
- Have a good understanding of all FSS policy areas and work with policy colleagues to add value and ensure all FSS communications are of the highest quality
- Research and write digital communications including news alerts and web stories
- Work closely with the team and officials to identify risk, media opportunities and features to proactively communicate the role, remit and key messages of FSS through the media
- Work closely with external PR Agency (and on occasion other Communications and Marketing Agencies) and develop a close collaborative relationship
- Maintain lines of communication with Internal Comms colleagues in SG, Food Standards Agency and other key partners and stakeholders as required to ensure staff are kept updated on any relevant developments in external and associated organisations
- Undertake administrative tasks as part of the role, and request additional resource from the shared AO pool when required.
The post holder will EITHER be the tactical lead for internal communications OR social media. However, both poster holders will be required to deputise for the other and where relevant provide support on internal communications and social media activity.
They will:
Internal Communications
- Be the tactical lead on FSS internal communications for both office- and field-based staff
- Implement the FSS Internal Communications Strategy
- Take responsibility for updates to communicate with staff via Saltire Intranet
- Participate in regular Staff Forums to ensure the views of staff are considered in any internal comms activity
- Co-ordinate and disseminate weekly all-staff email updates from the Chief Executive
- Co-ordinate and disseminate monthly email updates from the Head of Operations
- Develop and distribute FSS's quarterly newsletter: The Standard
- Represent communications at any meetings in relation to internal communications
Social Media
- Be the tactical lead on FSS social media, managing PR agency on the production of annual plans covering the Food Standard Scotland remit
- Implement the FSS Social Media Strategy
- Work closely with FSS's policy areas to handle consumer social media enquiries
- Manage monthly evaluation of FSS social media activity
- Monitor Food Standards Scotland's keywords using social media listening tool and report on relevant activity