Policy & Communications Officer

Bradford College • Full-time • Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom • £36,963 - £40,427 / year • 4h ago

We have an exciting opportunity to work directly with Sarah Towan, our Vice Principal of Recruitment & Communications as Bradford College’s Policy & Communication Lead.

The Policy & Communications Officer role is new to Bradford College. We are on a journey to improve our policy influencing capabilities and build reputation with key stakeholders at pace. This is a key role that will support the CEO and Vice Principal particularly, on delivering the stakeholder engagement and reputation strategy. Working across the organisation with senior leaders and operational management, you will pull together essential communications, events and briefing documents to enable the organisation to respond to policy shifts and become a proactive powerhouse in the sector.

Responsibilities include:

Supporting the Vice Principal and wider SLT on researching and horizon scanning future sector policy, helping to shape the organisation's long-term goals and objectives
Supporting the SLT and Student Recruitment Team to deliver the College’s stakeholder engagement and reputation improvement plan.
Analyse developments related to specific funding streams and provide insights and highlight opportunities that align with the College’s Strategic Objectives.
Support the CEO and SLT to manage relationships with key stakeholders, including community leaders and policy influencers, to enhance the organisation's reputation. This will include speech writing, PR and communications, thought leadership content generation, crisis communications and events.
Project Oversight: Lead or support special projects as directed by senior leadership, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities.
Communication: Working closely with the College’s PR and Marketing team to prepare content for internal and external communications, including newsletters and reports, to keep stakeholders informed, building brand and reputation.
Supporting the SLT response to external initiatives and policy changes by producing accurate and timely read-outs of external publications and monitoring the external environment, identifying short and medium-term risks for the organisation.
Generating reports and position papers on a regular basis in relation to policy development in anticipation of emerging themes across the further education landscapes that may be relevant in partnership with relevant strategic college leads.
Influencing and persuading staff and partners on appropriate engagement approaches and delivery options.

For the full job description and person specification, please click here

The Ideal Candidate

Our ideal candidate will be a learner and quality-focused with a commitment to our vision of working together to transform lives. You should be able to contribute to our journey to Outstanding, creating a positive working and study environment, and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion should be embedded within your core values.

As part of the hiring process, candidates will be required to complete a psychometric test, which will provide valuable insight into your potential fit within Bradford College.

Education & Training

Degree educated or equivalent experience in a policy, public affairs or communications role
GCSE 4 – 9 or equivalent level 2 qualification in Maths, or be prepared to pass a test before the interview to demonstrate level 2 ability, and then, if appointed, achieve within an agreed timescale
GCSE 4 - 9 or equivalent level 2 qualification in English, or be prepared to pass a test before the interview to demonstrate level 2 ability, and then, if appointed, achieve within an agreed timescale

Experience

Experience in policy, public affairs or campaigns, ideally within the public sector.
Experience of drafting briefings notes, readouts and/or reports with support from senior staff
The ability to present complex or sensitive information clearly and concisely for different audiences
Demonstrable ability to develop and maintain strong relations with internal and external stakeholders

For an informal discussion about the role, please email recruit@bradfordcollege.ac.uk

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, depending on the level of interest and number of applications, so early application is advised.

Please note that if you are successful and accept a role, any other ongoing applications for other roles with us will be withdrawn automatically.

RECRUITMENT AGENCIES

We kindly request that recruitment agencies not forward any unsolicited CVs in relation to any of our advertised roles or speculatively. If we require support with any of our vacancies, we will get in touch with agencies directly.

We do not recognise submissions of unsolicited or speculative CV applications from recruitment agencies.
We shall not be liable for any fee /commission in the event we employ a candidate that may have been submitted as an unsolicited/speculative application from an uninstructed recruitment agency.

Bradford College

At Bradford College, our ambition is to transform the lives of our learners, help them to aim higher and support them to achieve their goals.

Located in the heart of Bradford, we offer a wide range of courses at varying levels, with something to suit everyone. From undergraduate to postgraduate and professional qualifications, to distance learning and short community courses.

We aim to attract and retain knowledgeable, passionate and focused individuals who can inspire, motivate and support both learners and colleagues. With a can-do attitude and desire for continuous self-improvement, you could make a difference in the lives of everyone at Bradford College.

Should you be shortlisted for an interview, as a Disability Confident employer, where required, we will make reasonable adjustments to your interview to ensure you are given the best opportunity to succeed. If you require any additional support or reasonable adjustments for the interview, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us to discuss your options.

Bradford College is proud to be working towards becoming a Menopause Friendly Accredited Employer. This commitment reflects our dedication to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for all staff. We are implementing policies, resources, and awareness initiatives to ensure everyone feels valued and supported through every stage of life.

Benefits of working at Bradford College:

Generous annual leave entitlement – equivalent to 30 days of holidays, plus bank holidays
Additional college closure days, including a 2-week Christmas closure
West Yorkshire Pension Scheme, with a generous 18% employer contribution
Annual salary reviews
Career progression opportunities – 54% of all vacancies are filled internally
Free sports and gym facilities
Free wellbeing initiatives and access to our exclusive staff indoor and outdoor wellbeing space
Confidential employee assistance service and on-site mental health first aiders
Access to Bradford College benefits hub, offering retail, travel, leisure and dining discounts and cashback
Discounts on greener travel – cycle to work scheme & local MetroCard and Northern Rail discounts
Access to hair and beauty treatments in our student-led Signature Spa
On-site dining facilities, including our award-winning Grove restaurant
A host of training development opportunities
Fantastic campus facilities, a short walk to public transport links in the heart of the City of Culture 2025
The opportunity to work for an organisation that is truly committed to creating a better future for all through education and training.

For full details, please click here

*If you have the drive to further develop your skills and abilities, you will be given the support and opportunities you need to enhance your career. This includes access to in-house training and CPD, professional and academic qualifications and mentoring.

Bradford College is committed to supporting and promoting diversity and inclusion amongst our staff and student body. We promote applications across all sections of the community, recognising the benefits a diverse workforce can bring and therefore particularly encourage applications from groups which are underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expect staff and volunteers to share this commitment. In line with our statutory safeguarding requirements detailed in Keeping Children Safe in Education legislation, this role is subject to an enhanced DBS check, employment references, health screening and social media search.

Please be aware that it is a criminal offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity in connection with children and vulnerable adults.