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APPENDIX C
JOB DESCRIPTION
Before completing this form, please read the BTP ‘Guide to writing job descriptions for Police Staff roles’ Appendix B to the SOP.
A.
B.
POST DETAILS:
Job Title:
Senior Internal Communications Officer
(Transformation)
Current Grade:
B001
Department:
Transformation, Corporate Resources
Area:
FHQ
Reports To:
Internal Communications Manager
No of Posts:
1
Level of
vetting:
MV
Post Number:
PURPOSE OF THE POST: Why the post exists and what it has to achieve
British Transport Police (BTP) is currently running a long-term Transformation Programme in order to introduce
new ways of working and initiatives that will enable the Force meet future service demands. A dedicated
Transformation Senior Internal Communications Officer is required to manage communications for the employee
audience group, consisting of over 5000 officers and support staff.
BTP has a challenging set of targets to reach by 2019 to:
 Reduce crime on the railway network by 20%
 Reduce disruption on the railway network by 20%
 Increase passenger confidence by 10%
The Force is experiencing an increase in demand for services, due to higher passenger numbers and more
freight being transported across the railway network. The Senior Internal Communications Officer will be
responsible for creating and delivering internal communications relating to the Transformation Programme.
They will liaise closely with senior management, departmental heads, the Internal Communications Team,
Transformation Programme Team, and all associated project teams, establishing and maintaining excellent
working relationships with key internal stakeholders.
Utilising a range of communication channels and techniques, the Transformation Internal Communications
Officer develop and improve internal communications, to foster employee commitment to the programme and to
ensure that information is being properly disseminated at every stage.
Reporting to the Internal Communications Manager, the successful candidate will develop communications
strategies and plans to help ensure successful delivery of each strand of the Transformation Programme,
including major portfolios such as ‘people’ and ‘information’ portfolios. They will consult with business units
across the Force to continuously agree messaging, review communication methods (to ensure they are fit for
purpose), identify gaps in communication and recommend and implement solutions.
The Senior Internal Communications Officer will provide support and advice on internal communication
throughout the organisation, in line with the corporate communications approach. The post holder will be
responsible for obtaining authorisation / sign-off at the appropriate level for all transformation communications
and for measuring engagement levels resulting from communication activity.
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DIMENSIONS OF THE POST The key statistics associated with the post
Financial – Direct or Non-Direct
Yes – Non-direct, e.g. for design, print and event costs
Staff Responsibilities – Direct or Non-Direct
Yes – non direct, e.g. for project administrators, communications officers and communications administrator
Any Other Statistical Data
Delivery of regular communications reports to the Programme Board and Senior Command Team members,
project managers and Internal Communications Manager. Production of communication plans, communications
logs and employee engagement reports.
D.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES: What the job is accountable for and required to deliver
 Accountable for managing the successful delivery of internal communications to support the Force
Transformation Programme and its associated projects
 Positively influence the content, timing and delivery internal communications
 Accountable for writing and delivering detailed communication plans and making interventions to ensure
that they remain on track
 Accountable for ensuring that any conflicting schedules or inter dependencies between communications
are identified and managed
 Accountable for ensuring that all communications follow corporate style and branding regulations and
tone of voice guidelines
 Accountable for regularly reporting progress to the Transformation Project Board and Senior Command
Team and providing guidance and assurance relating to communications
 Represent Internal Comms Manager where required at project board meetings
 Accountable for the collation of Transformation communications content and the generation of internal
messages to drive strategic change initiatives and projects
 Responsible for carrying out monitoring practices for internal communications and adapting
communication plans and strategies as required
 Accountable for the production of reports to demonstrate success rates and levels of engagement during
the transformation programme and beyond and for informing relevant parties about progress and status
 Responsible for influencing the behaviour of colleagues, to promote best practice for internal
communication and engagement techniques
 Fostering of excellent working relationships to achieve the best possible outcomes for the delivery of
communications and project outcomes
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E.
DECISION MAKING:
Make decisions
Make day-to-day decisions on transformation internal communications strategy and plans, appropriate content
and suitable channels - consulting with Senior Command, Departmental Managers, Programme Leads, Project
Managers and the Internal Communications Manager as appropriate.
Significant say in decisions
Yes, to ensure timely and accurate communications. Regularly required to influence, guide and make
recommendations to colleagues at all levels of seniority. Significant say in decisions at transformation and
project boards regarding communications.
F.
CONTACT WITH OTHERS: The frequent contacts the post holder has with others and for what purpose
Internal:
Yes, extensive liaison with Chief Officers, heads of departments, project managers, Internal Communications
Team, wider Media and Marketing Team and all officers and staff.
External:
Yes, regularly with delivery partners and agencies, including the British Transport Police Authority, stakeholders
and design agencies.
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G.
REQUIREMENTS: The skills, knowledge, experience, qualifications and training required to perform the job.
Essential Criteria:
Qualifications and Training:
 Educated to degree level, preferably in a communications or marketing discipline or equivalent
experience
 Evidence of qualifications or training in project management, internal communications and / or employee
engagement
Experience: The Transformation Internal Communications Officer will have:
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At least two years in a change communications role within an employee engagement, internal
communications or project management team
Experience of planning and delivering successful change communications and monitoring impact
The ability to construct and deliver difficult messages
Evidence of delivering important strategic messages using multiple internal channels
Experience with Content Management Systems (preferably Alterian and SharePoint)
Demonstrable experience in the delivery of change management related, integrated internal
communications campaigns
Skills: The successful applicant will have:

Excellent change management communication skills
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Very strong influencing techniques
The ability to identify missing or inaccurate information and to find solutions to challenges
An excellent writing and editing skills with ability to contextualise complex material into plain English
Very strong customer service and administration skills with a keen eye for detail
Tasking and planning
Ability to work to tight deadlines
Excellent customer service skills
Ability to form outstanding working relationships with individuals at all levels to leverage those
relationships to achieve goals
Exceptional organisational skills, and the ability to prioritise
Managing workload within a pressurised environment
Creative in approach and the ability to utilise a wide range of communication channels
Flexibility
Self motivation and personal drive with the aability to work without supervision, setting own priorities
based on personal and organisational objectives
A questioning and challenging approach
Confidence to provide alternative approaches
Ability to take the initiative and suggest opportunities for improvements and change
Commitment to internal customers with recognition of the associated external impacts
Writing skills for corporate intranets, and hard copy materials including project documentation
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Comfortable and confident in delivering information to, or obtaining details from senior colleagues
Ability to manage multiple project related tasks simultaneously and to work to deadlines
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Knowledge:
Candidates will be required to have the following:
 Extensive knowledge of how to manage change communications
 Clear understanding of employee engagement
 Deep knowledge of large scale change communication programmes
 Project delivery and methodologies
 Planning and scheduling tools and techniques including project dependency mapping and prioritisation
 Managing change programme communications within an internal environment
 Thorough understanding of the principles and benefits of internal communications and employee
engagement with demonstrable knowledge of planning and delivery
Desired Criteria:
Qualifications and Training:

Photoshop (or similar) and Content Management System (CMS) training (preferably SharePoint or Alterian)

Video / podcast production training
Experience:
 Photography, video-editing, e-newsletter production
 Writing for print publications, such as posters and leaflets, as well as for electronic channels
 Liaising with designers and writing creative briefs
 Managing / coordinating design campaigns
Skills:
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Digital communications skills including intranet content
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Event planning, coordination and delivery
Knowledge:
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H.
Knowledge of the police profession and preferably the rail industry would be an advantage
ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Information relevant to the role, including any particularly challenging/ difficult aspects of the
job. If competencies have been developed for this post, these can be listed here.
The ability to multitask and prioritse work is essential. Strong influencing techniques are also a prerequisite
along with the ability to work with colleagues of all rank and levels of seniority.
Decision making, including the appropriate timing of communications, topics, content and audiences will be a
very important and key aspect of this role.
I.
AUTHORISATION DETAILS
Prepared By:
N.Wesley / T.Seabrook
Area Commander /FHQ
HoD:
H.Evans
Evaluation Panel:
Emma Norman
Date:
25th July 2014
Date:
25th July 2014
Date:
30th July 2014
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