Communications Officer

Temporary, fixed term contract until December 2027 Join us and help tell the story of one of Gloucestershire's most exciting heritage and community projects. Cotswold Canals Connected (CCC) is a major restoration project, funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund, to restore Stroud's waterways and reconnect them to the national network. The project is seeking a creative and enthusiastic Communications Officer to help engage communities with the restoration and celebration of the Stroud canals. Working as part of our Community Engagement Team, you'll play a key role in delivering the project's communication plan and building connections between people and the heritage of Stroud's canals. About The Role This is an exciting opportunity for a communications professional who enjoys creating engaging content and working directly with communities. You'll develop and deliver communications campaigns, manage our digital channels, produce newsletters, identify media opportunities, and support community engagement activities and events. You'll work closely with project partners, voluntary organisations, and Stroud District Council's Communications Team to create a narrative that brings a broad range of audiences along on the restoration journey. Key Responsibilities

• Deliver the Cotswold Canals Connected Communications Plan.
• Create engaging content across digital and traditional communication channels.
• Manage and grow CCC's social media presence across Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
• Produce public-facing reports and promotional materials.
• Identify and maximise opportunities to reach key audiences and stakeholders.
• Support community engagement activities, events and public information sessions.
• Monitor communications performance through website and social media analytics.
• Maintain an organised archive of project images, videos and media content.
• Contribute communications updates to project boards and funding reports. About You We're looking for someone who combines creativity with excellent organisational skills and a passion for community engagement. You'll Ideally Have
• Experience working in a communications, marketing or public engagement role.
• Experience managing social media platforms and creating engaging content.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• A creative approach to reaching different audiences.
• The ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Confidence engaging with community groups, partners and members of the public.
• An understanding of the voluntary and community sector. A genuine interest in local heritage, the environment or community engagement would be highly advantageous. Experience working with volunteers or in the voluntary, public or not-for-profit sectors would also be welcomed. You'll be joining a passionate team working on a nationally significant heritage and community project that is making a lasting difference across the district. CLOSING DATE: 11th October 2026 INTERVIEW DATE: 20th & 21st October 2026 A local government reorganisation is planned for Gloucestershire, which may result in changes to structures and services. Potential changes are provisionally timetabled for April 2028. We are committed to supporting all employees through this transition and ensuring continuity of employment wherever possible. Joining us now means you'll be part of shaping an exciting new chapter for local government. It is important that our staff reflect the diversity of our community, and we therefore welcome and encourage applications from people of all genders and sexual orientation, those from Black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds, and people with disabilities. We recognise the wide range of cognitive strengths that contribute to delivering high-quality services. We are committed to ensuring that every applicant can participate fully and fairly in our recruitment process. To support this, we offer workplace adjustments at every stage. Please let us know if you have any additional requirements as we are here to help create a positive, inclusive, and equitable experience for all. Responsible recruitment practices for safeguarding are in place within the Council's HR policies and processes. This is part of our commitment as a Council to safeguard the welfare of vulnerable adults, young people, and children. Stroud District has an energy unlike any other place. It's green and dynamic, climate conscious and motivated, creative and collaborative, and unapologetically ambitious. To find out more about what makes our place, our people and our businesses so special, please follow the link to our dedicated website: Stroud District – The Natural Place