Communications & Media Officer

Our team

Boat Safety Scheme Limited, or BSS, is a public safety initiative run as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. Our role in supporting navigation and harbour authorities, is to help reduce the risk of boat fires, explosions, carbon monoxide or pollution from boats harming visitors to the inland waterways, the waterways' workforce, other waterways users and property on or alongside the waterways.

This has to be achieved in a way that balances the responsibilities of the navigation authorities and the responsibilities of individual boat owners.

The BSS comprises a team of 10 operating across the UK supporting 16 navigation & harbour authorities. BSS colleagues are Canal & River Trust employees permanently seconded full time to BSS Limited.

Our opportunity

Our Communications & Media Officer helps with the delivery of communications and campaigning strategies and materials in support of the Boat Safety Scheme’s (BSS) purpose to help minimise risks for people and property related to the condition, equipment and use of boats. This will include;

• Producing communications strategies, materials and content to support the engagement with all stakeholders and media contacts.

• Ensuring that spend on events, campaigns, photographers, design and print etc. is delivered on time and on budget.

• Enhancing, promoting and protecting the Boat Safety Scheme’s reputation to meet its strategic objectives.

Find out more about what the BSS do here: https://www.boatsafetyscheme.org/about-us/

Location & coverage

The position will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces and or other navigation & harbour authority offices throughout the UK as and when required for team working and collaborative meetings. Travel throughout the waterway network is expected in order to conduct site visits.

BSS Limited represents numerous navigation authorities throughout the UK, we have training centres at Evesham, Northampton and Norwich. We hold forum meetings in numerous locations but mainly based in Warwickshire and Hertfordshire. Our monthly meetings are held In Hemel Hempstead.

When travelling on Boat Safety Scheme business, train tickets, and accommodation (when overnight stays are applicable) are bookable through designated apps and websites.

See the links to most of our navigation and harbour authority stakeholders here: www.aina.org.uk 

About the role

Supporting the BSS General Manager, and working with BSS colleagues in producing communications strategies, materials and content to support the engagement with all stakeholders and media contacts.

• Ensuring that spend on events, campaigns, photographers, design and print etc. is delivered on time and on budget.

• Enhancing, promoting and protecting the Boat Safety Scheme’s reputation to meet its strategic objectives

• Ensuring our publications and online presence is accurate, accessible, attractive and persuasive

Key accountabilities:

• Play an important role in the success of the BSS by delivering communications, marketing plans and projects.

• Act as first point of contact for media enquiries.

• Provide communications support to colleagues, stakeholders – specifically BSS Examiners, navigation and harbour authorities, marine trade, the boating community and specialist teams including but not restricted to, our fire & carbon monoxide safety partners, accident & investigation media etc - to help achieve objectives in BSS profile raising and safety awareness campaigns.

• Responsible for developing strong relationships with opinion-makers, and for developing relevant training materials for navigation authority staff, BSS Examiners, and volunteers.

• Producing news releases, articles, posters, leaflets, blogs, website and social media content, and other communication materials aimed at local, national, and international audiences.

• Delivering agreed campaigns (integrating media relations, digital, and traditional marketing) to meet the Scheme’s strategic goals around influence e.g. to attract and retain further navigation & harbour authorities to adopt the BSS.

• Lead campaigns to raise awareness of project partners, as well as encouraging deeper engagement and involvement through participatory activities.

• Protecting the Scheme’s reputation in response to crises and providing professional guidance for BSS spokespeople.

• A collaborative approach is also very important, as you will be working in partnership with all kinds of people and will often have to balance the needs of different stakeholders throughout your work.

• Always display the Scheme’s values and behaviours.

• Always displaying our values and behaviours, including best practice whilst ensuring that diversity and inclusion are integrated into all aspects of working life and promoting inclusion by challenging behaviour, practices, actions, or decisions that are counter to the objectives of our policies and values.

About you

Qualifications: 

• Educated to degree level, or equivalent, in public relations, communications or media production disciplines.

Technical: 

• Understanding of the UK print, broadcast, and social media – leisure, specialist, and trade – and experience working with journalists.

• Experience of contributing to the creative development of new ideas, strategies, and stories as part of the wider communications team.

• Ability to identify, compile and use evidence in effective communication strategies.

• Evidence of delivering integrated campaigns and producing marketing materials for various target audiences.

• Expertise in content creation, including proven technical and campaign copywriting and proofreading skills.

• Experience in communications measurement including the success of campaigns and strategies, as well as social media monitoring (e.g. using tools such as Hootsuite, Google analytics, sentiment trackers, etc)

• Experience of commissioning new data insight to identify improved customer experience.

General: 

• Report writing and data analysis capabilities.

• Appropriate proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, Salesforce & SAP, beneficial. 

• Self-motivation - ability to work independently with minimal supervision, to meet tight deadlines, prioritise effectively & work under pressure in a small team environment.

• Collaborative team player with good influencing skills.

• Excellent understanding of GDPR and other relevant data protection legislation. 

Beneficial:

• Experience of training and liaising with staff and volunteers with varying levels of understanding and competency in social and digital. 

• Experience of working in a not-for-profit environment and safety campaigning. 

If you have any questions about the role, please contact CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient suitable applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

What we offer

When reading this section, it is important to understand that the BSS Office team are Canal & River Trust employees on permanent secondment to BSS Limited

In addition to your salary of £30,000 - £33,000 (depending on experience), you will benefit from a competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, great holiday entitlement and numerous other employee benefits, including several salary sacrifice benefits, all of which can be found here (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits).

• Competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, where the Trust doubles your contribution to a maximum of 10%.

• 25 days paid holiday (plus paid Bank Holidays), increasing with years of service to up to 30 days after 5 years, plus holiday purchase scheme.

• Home working status with ‘hub’ facilities available at Trust, or possibly other navigation authority, offices should you need the flexibility to work outside of home.

• As a Trust employee, you get free access to specialist counselling on a range of issues, e.g. health, financial, well-being and domestic matters.

• As a Trust employee, you get access to a range of employee benefits including store discounts, boating holiday discounts and holiday purchase scheme.

• You will have 2 days paid volunteering leave per annum, allowing you to volunteer for a local community project etc.

• Free fishing facilities across the Trust canal network.

We care passionately for the waterways of the British Isles, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We strongly believe that a diverse workforce brings with it a diversity of ideas, thinking and ways of working which enhances what we do. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.

All candidates will be treated on the basis of their merits, skills and abilities and solely by being assessed against the requirements for the job. 

We, as Trust employees are empowered to flow and thrive both on and off the water. Our colleagues enjoy a variety of benefits that enhance their lives while working in a place that positively impacts others. We take pride in protecting people, property, history and wildlife. We’re all about the future of our colleagues and the future generations who love and use the nations’ navigations and harbours. Inspired by people, we harness the different ways of working and thinking, ensuring our teams grow and reach their full potential.