Senior Internal Communications Officer

Job Details:

Job Reference: HCC624364

Salary Range: £40,643 - £45,077 per annum

Work Location: Elizabeth II Court, Winchester (Hybrid Working)

Hours per week: 37

Contract Type: Temporary until 31 March 2028 

Closing Date: 30 June 2026

Interview Date: w/c 13 & 20 July 2026 (These will be in person interviews held in Winchester)

Please note applications will be reviewed once submitted, therefore this advert may close early depending on volumes of applications received

We’re seeking an exceptional internal communications professional to join one of the largest and highest performing county councils in the country. This key role sits at the heart of Hampshire County Council, supporting us to engage and support our workforce, and strengthen organisational culture at a critical moment for local government.

You’ll bring experience of engaging large, diverse workforces through clear, purposeful internal communications – helping colleagues feel informed, supported, connected and confident, as the organisation transitions to a new model of local government under Government’s Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) plans, while also supporting day to day organisational communications activity. This is a rare opportunity to be involved in communicating major organisational and cultural change across a workforce of tens of thousands, at a once in a generation moment for local government.

The Role:

As Senior Internal Communications Officer, you’ll be supporting internal communications across Hampshire County Council, planning and producing excellent content that supports corporate priorities, strengthens organisational culture and enables effective delivery – particularly during periods of significant change.

You’ll report to the Senior Internal Communications Lead, and work closely with leadership teams, HR, Organisational Development, IT and Communications colleagues. You’ll help ensure our workforce receives clear, timely and engaging communications that build understanding, confidence and trust, with a particular focus on LGR, alongside ongoing organisational activity.

What you’ll do:

You’ll deliver internal communications across the organisation, including writing excellent copy, planning content for videos and briefings, and helping to manage our internal communications channels. This will include:

• Supporting the delivery and continuous improvement of the Council’s internal communications strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate priorities, organisational culture, workforce engagement and major change programmes.
• Providing timely and sensitive internal communications during periods of significant organisational change, with particular focus on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) ensuring staff are well informed, supported and engaged throughout transition.
• Producing communications that are clear, timely, consistent, accessible and aligned to the corporate narrative and values.
• Balancing many priorities, including work on internal news articles, staff briefings, leadership communications, organisational updates and engagement activity.
• Working closely with HR, Organisational Development and corporate functions to embed effective internal communications into workforce, wellbeing and engagement activity.
• Evaluating internal communications, using data, feedback and engagement metrics to improve effectiveness, inform future work and demonstrate value.
• Championing modern, efficient and inclusive digital approaches to internal communications, improving reach, engagement and staff experience.
• Ensuring internal communications are inclusive, accessible and compliant with equality, accessibility, data protection and GDPR requirements, reflecting best practice in employee communications.
• Participating in the duty media rota, to manage daily media enquiries, and monitor, record and evaluate the County Council’s daily media profile.
• Providing out-of-hours duty communications support on the team rota, representing Hampshire County Council Communications as required, and deliver major incident and emergency messaging across multiple channels.

What we’re looking for:

We’re looking for a highly skilled internal communications professional, ready to embrace the learning opportunities presented by this unique moment of change in local government, supporting our change communications alongside business-as-usual internal messaging.

You’ll be able to demonstrate:

• You are qualified to graduate level or equivalent professional qualification in communications, public relations or marketing.
• Experience in delivering internal communications, employee engagement or change / transformation communications, ideally within a large, complex organisation.
• Strong understanding of employee engagement, organisational culture and change communication, and how internal communications supports delivery and workforce confidence.
• Excellent editorial judgement and attention to accuracy, clarity and accessibility.
• Outstanding writing and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex or sensitive information into clear, engaging internal communications.
• Proven experience and good skills in content development and promotion through broadcast, print and online media, maximising the use of digital and social channels – to positively engage a wide range of internal and external audiences and deliver excellent results.
• A strong commitment to inclusive, accessible and ethical communications, with good knowledge of equality, accessibility, data protection and GDPR requirements.
• An evidence-based approach, with experience of using insight, feedback and data to evaluate impact and demonstrate value.
• A collaborative and resilient team player, able to work at pace with strong attention to detail, managing multiple priorities and competing demands while exercising sound judgement in complex, high profile and fast-moving environments.
• Excellent media handling skills. Experienced in successfully managing complex and sensitive issues, and protecting and promoting positive reputation and profile, including deft handling of diverse media enquiries and quick responses to urgent demands in a crisis.

Why join us?

Hampshire County Council is recognised nationally as one of the highest performing local authorities in the UK. A modern, forward-looking local authority, it offers a pleasant, supportive, and collaborative working environment.

Hampshire County Council is also a flexible employer interested in making the most of your skills and offers a great work life balance. We invest in you through our internal development programmes and training and offer a competitive salary and benefits package.

Additional Information:

Senior Internal Communications Officer Candidate Pack

Please note this post is Politically Restricted

Vetting Requirements:

This post is subject to a Criminal Records Check.

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

Suzie Southgate, Strategic Communications & Corporate Reputation Business Partner on [email protected]