An exciting opportunity has arisen to join West Oxfordshire District Council’s Communications team on a fixed-term basis to cover maternity leave.
Working closely with the Communications Manager, communications colleagues and teams across the council, you will help deliver clear, engaging and effective communications that support local residents, businesses, stakeholders and communities across West Oxfordshire.
This is a busy and varied role, supporting the planning and delivery of both internal and external communications activity across a wide range of council services. You will play an important part in ensuring council messages are accurate, accessible and timely, while contributing to the protection and enhancement of the council’s reputation.
As a Communications Officer you will take a hands-on role in delivering campaigns, media activity, digital and social content, and internal communications. Working to agreed priorities and deadlines, the role also involves providing expert communications advice and support to councillors and officers, helping to deliver a modern and effective communications service.
This is a hybrid role, with a mix of working from home and from our offices in Witney, so you will need to live within a reasonable commuting distance.
The post is offered on a 12-month fixed-term contract for maternity cover, or until the postholder returns – whichever is sooner. The working pattern is Monday to Friday.
We are looking for someone who is confident communicating at all levels, with excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong news sense, and experience of delivering effective communications across a range of channels. You will be comfortable building relationships with colleagues, Councillors and external partners, and confident providing professional advice in a fast-paced environment.
If you are a proactive, creative communicator looking to make a real impact in a public sector setting, we would love to hear from you.
You will need
- Experience in a communications, marketing or other related role with required skillsets
- Demonstrable up-to-date understanding and experience of effective communications techniques and practices across a wide range of channels including digital, print, out-of-house, etc
- Excellent standards of written and verbal communication with the ability to produce copy for a wide variety of audiences and communicate complex information
- Creative, self-starter with the confidence and ability to take ownership and responsibility for work
- Ability to influence and inspire colleagues to successfully deliver high quality communications and marketing
- A degree in communications, marketing, public relations or a related subject, and preferably at least two years’ experience working in a communications, marketing or related role
Special Conditions
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle
- This post designated as politically restricted in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Politically restricted post holders are restricted from canvassing on behalf of a political party or for a person who is, or seeks to be, a candidate for election to a local authority, the House of Commons, or the European Parliament.
For more information about this role please see the Job Description/Person Specification.
Interview Date: 16th, 17th & 18th February 2026
What we can do for you
- Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working
- Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role)
- 27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays, which increases to 30 days after five years’ service and 33 days following 10 years’ continuous service
- In addition you will have an extra two volunteering days a year for you to support a charity of your choice
- Renewed again for another year there is a Health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care
- Generous contributory local government pension scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues
- Cycle to work scheme
- Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with significant tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars
- Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements