Highways Communication Officer - #2093537

Highways Communications Officer

• Location: Manchester
• Job Type: Full-time
• Hourly rate: £30-£32 per hour Umbrella. Flexibility for strong candidate.
• Length of role: Initial 12 months.

We are seeking a Highways Communications Officer to develop and deliver effective communication plans for our resurfacing programmes. This role involves close coordination with the Planned Maintenance team and requires a proactive approach to stakeholder engagement and content creation.

Day-to-day of the role:

• Develop and implement communication plans for various highway resurfacing projects.
• Coordinate closely with the Planned Maintenance team, including the Team Leader, Engineers, Clerk of Works, Permit Officer, Contractors, and the Asset Team.
• Gather and update information on programmes, phasing and sequencing, material/product selection, and potential risks and delays.
• Engage with key stakeholders such as local councillors, MPs, TfGM Bus Team, emergency services, businesses, schools, and public transport operators.
• Provide advance briefings to stakeholders to prepare them for upcoming projects and respond to enquiries.
• Attend meetings and briefings with the highways delivery team to ensure consistent communication.
• Create clear, accessible content for the council website, social media posts, press releases, and resident communications such as letters and leaflets.
• Act as a communication link between the public and the highways team, responding to social media comments, messages, and phone enquiries.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Experience in highways-related communications.
• Proven ability to manage public "drop-in" events and community engagement sessions.
• Full UK driving licence and access to own vehicle.
• Willingness to visit various sites and, where required, hand-deliver information leaflets.
• Ability to multitask, plan workload, and manage conflicting priorities in a high-pressure environment.
• Politically astute with excellent attention to detail.
• Highly organised, adaptable, and able to think on their feet.
• Skilled in stakeholder management and effective communication across various parties.
• Ability to escalate issues promptly and manage complex complaints effectively.