External Communications Manager

Job summary

Scottish Forestry is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government responsible for forestry policy regulatory and support functions.

The Corporate Affairs and Communications Branch is split into two main teams. The Corporate Affairs team covers Ministerial liaison, Parliamentary business, FOIs, correspondence, corporate governance and services the key management boards. The Communications team handles internal and external communications, media, social media, strategic communications, brand, publications, Gaelic Language Plan and the website. As both teams are relatively small there is a lot of interaction across work areas.

The role involves working with colleagues across Scotland and supporting Ministers on forestry publicity visits at times, therefore some travel will be required.

Job description

Scottish Forestry is at the heart of protecting, expanding and promoting Scotland’s forests and woodlands. We’re looking for an experienced professional to support on media relations, social media and stakeholder communications - ensuring our vital work is clearly understood by the public, stakeholders, and government.

As part of a small, friendly, and collaborative team, you’ll support the Senior Media Manager on external media activity (traditional and social), providing expert advice to colleagues at every level - from local office staff, to policy advisers and the Senior Executive Team.

You will support SF media and communications work by giving expert advice on communications and ensuring delivery is carried out to a high standard, promoting the organisation’s work, raising awareness on Scottish Forestry’s priority work in delivering woodland creation, biodiversity and economic policies.

The role will involve managing media enquiries and Scottish Forestry’s social media presence, sourcing and developing proactive stories, arranging interviews as and when required and briefing senior members of staff appropriately as well as supporting on wider external stakeholder engagement. You might also provide media support on Ministerial visits.

If you’re an experienced communicator with sound news judgment, government/public sector awareness and a passion for Scotland’s environment, this is your opportunity to make a real impact - supporting sustainable forestry and helping tell one of Scotland’s most important environmental stories.

Main Duties

• Develop proactive media stories/releases and respond to media enquiries.
• Design and deliver media strategies to promote Scottish Forestry’s initiatives and messaging.
• Provide timely, professional advice on media matters to support SF’s profile.

• Consult line manager regarding Ministerial support on forestry related visits:

• Manage Scottish Forestry’s social media channels, ensuring engaging, on-message content and reporting on performance.
• Collaborate with the wider communications team to generate and repurpose content so that news items can be used on a variety of platforms and channels.

• Support colleagues with the creation of engaging and relevant multimedia content. Including press releases, articles, videos, and social media posts.
• Monitor and analyse media coverage and engagement metrics to assess the effectiveness of media campaigns and prepare regular reports and presentations showcasing media performance and future plans.
• Ensure all media activity is consistent, and is compliant with relevant regulations, and ethical standards.
• Assist the Head of Corporate Communications with stakeholder engagement strategy, providing insights on audience behaviours, influencer networks, and communication flows.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with partner media teams (agencies, SG, other bodies)

Person specification

Success Profile

The Success Profile below set outs the essential and desirable elements that make up the vacant position - you’ll be expected to demonstrate how you meet the Experience and Technical criteria at application and/or interview stage. Any Behaviours will be assessed at interview stage.

Experience

Essential:

• Strong track record of delivering impactful media activity – newspapers, digital and broadcast platforms.

• Evidence of building relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders including colleagues, leaders, journalists and other key influencers.

• Ability to support stakeholder engagement, including providing insights on audience behaviours, influencer networks, and communication flows to inform decision-making.

• The ability to work at pace when opportunities or problems arise, reacting quickly and giving timely and professional advice.
• Ability to write clear, concise and targeted copy, for news releases, social media and other editorial content.
• Proven experience in developing attractive content for a range of social media platforms, setting out a social media strategy and delivering at pace.

Desirable:

• Experience of working within Civil or Public sector

• Experience with working in a team and of contributing constructively to the shared outcomes of the team.
• Presenting media reports on media coverage and strategy.
• Experience in audience analysis, influencer mapping, and using data-driven insights to shape stakeholder engagement strategies.

Technical

Essential:

• Excellent copywriting, editing and proof-reading skills.
• Degree, and / or professional qualification relating to communications and / or relevant experience.

Desirable:

• Experience of media management platforms
• Working knowledge of website platform systems for inputting news content and blogs.
• Microsoft operating systems
• A clear understanding of Civil Service / public sector regulations.

Behaviours

Behaviour 1 and Lead Criteria: Seeing the Big Picture

Behaviour 2: Communicating and Influencing

Behaviour 3: Delivering at Pace

Behaviour 4: Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,166, Scottish Forestry contributes £12,794 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

See more information on our recruitment portal.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : sfrecruitment@forestry.gov.scot
• Email : sfrecruitment@forestry.gov.scot

Recruitment team

• Email : sfrecruitment@forestry.gov.scot

Further information

https://www.forestry.gov.scot/