Strategic communications and campaigns lead (fostering recruitment and support)

Overview

Buckinghamshire Council is transforming its approach to fostering recruitment and support, and we’re looking for a strategic communications professional to lead this change. This is a unique opportunity to shape and deliver high-impact, insight-led campaigns that recruit and retain foster carers across the county.

As Strategic Communications and Campaigns Lead, you’ll be at the forefront of our fostering communications strategy - working across teams, leading integrated campaigns, and building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders. You’ll bring creativity, leadership, and strategic thinking to a high-profile area of work that directly improves outcomes for children in care.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally. 

You’ll join our award-winning Corporate Communications Team, working within a dedicated fostering communications sub-team. We’re a multi-disciplinary group including strategic communications, design, news and social media, consultation and engagement, and internal communications.

We’re ambitious, collaborative, and driven by outcomes. You’ll work closely with the Fostering and Fostering Customer Relations teams to create a seamless journey for prospective carers, from first enquiry to onboarding.

We’ve already seen success, with record-breaking enquiry numbers and national media coverage during phase one of the transformation program. Now we’re building on that momentum and we want you to lead the way.

About the role

This is a strategic leadership role with responsibility for:

• Leading the development and delivery of integrated, multi-channel campaigns to recruit foster carers
• Building and managing forward plans of communications activity, identifying risks and opportunities
• Providing high-level advice to senior managers and stakeholders
• Organising and promoting fostering recruitment events and activities
• Coaching and mentoring junior team members and fostering a culture of innovation and best practice
• Evaluating campaign effectiveness and reporting on outcomes

You’ll also deputise for managers within the communications service and contribute to out-of-hours communications as needed.

Any-Desk:

As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.

About you

You’ll be a seasoned communications professional with:

• Significant experience in strategic campaign planning and delivery
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building abilities
• A creative and analytical mindset, with the ability to lead on crisis and reputation management
• Experience managing and mentoring staff
• Knowledge of fostering in a local authority context (desirable)

You’ll be confident working across teams, managing multiple priorities, and delivering results in a fast-paced environment.

Please see the job summary attached for full details about the role.

Other information

Interviews will take place in person on 8^th September 2025.

Flexible working arrangements available.

For an informal conversation, contact: Laura Cooper, Strategic Communications Manager at [email protected]

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

a fair and inclusive culture

• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

 

About the Business Unit

The Assistant Chief Executive directorate is central to Buckinghamshire Council’s journey to establish itself as one of the best councils in the country. With a clear focus on service improvement through transformation and a drive to build better relationships with the local community, the directorate is fast-paced; but extremely rewarding. Our teams are not only proactively delivering on projects and plans but also reacting to developing situations. If you are ambitious, innovative, and would relish the opportunity to influence change - a role within our service area could be your next career move.

The team includes exciting areas of work, including a brand new localities model – delivering 16 community boards across the county to make it easy for our residents to engage with us as we work together to plan for the future. Other teams include our Policy and Communications and Legal and Democratic Services teams – innovating the way we communicate with our colleagues, Members and the local community, and role-modelling best practice through policy, planning and legal services. If you think you can help us achieve our goals, and want to be a part of this exciting journey, we would love to hear from you!

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/