Communication support officer jobs in Kilbirnie, north ayrshire council

Clinks 

Clinks supports, promotes and represents the voluntary sector working with people in the criminal justice system and their families. Our vision is of a vibrant, independent and resilient voluntary sector that enables people to transform their lives. 

Job purpose 

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced and organised candidate to join Clinks and play a key role in delivering our annual programme of events and training. 

The Events and Training Officer will lead on the planning, coordination and delivery of Clinks’ busy calendar of member engagement activity, including online and in-person events, training sessions, and our flagship annual conference. 

Events and training at Clinks are delivered collaboratively across teams, and the post-holder will help coordinate this programme while also taking an active role in delivery. They will ensure that Clinks’ events and training offer is high quality, accessible, well-promoted, and responsive to the needs of the voluntary sector working in criminal justice. 

This role requires someone who is confident managing multiple priorities, working collaboratively across the organisation, and building strong relationships with external stakeholders. 

Reports to:  Senior Member and Digital Development Officer

Responsible for: None 
 

1. Duties and key responsibilities 

Events and Training Programme Coordination 

• Coordinate the delivery of Clinks’ annual programme of events and training, working with colleagues across the organisation to ensure a consistent, high-quality offer. 

• Manage the full event lifecycle, including planning, logistics, speaker and facilitator liaison, registration, delivery support and follow-up. 

• Act as the main point of contact for all events and training enquiries, providing excellent support to members, delegates and partners. 

• Ensure events are delivered in the most cost-effective way, to budget, and in line with Clinks’ internal processes. 

• Support staff across Clinks to deliver events and training sessions, including providing guidance, templates, systems support and coordination. 

• Promote all events and training opportunities through appropriate channels, working closely with communications colleagues. 

• Manage relationships with external facilitators and event partners to ensure smooth delivery and strong collaboration. 

• Monitor pricing and access to ensure smaller organisations are supported, while also contributing to Clinks’ income generation targets. 

• Collect, analyse and report on feedback and evaluation data to inform continuous improvement. 

Annual Conference Planning and Delivery 

• Lead on the planning and delivery of Clinks’ annual conference, working closely with colleagues across the organisation. 

• Coordinate venue liaison, suppliers, programme planning, speaker management, delegate communications and event-day delivery. 

• Develop and manage the conference project timeline, ensuring milestones are met and risks are proactively addressed. 

• Support opportunities for sponsorship, partnerships and income generation linked to the conference. 

• Ensure the conference reflects Clinks’ strategic priorities and provides an engaging, inclusive experience for members and stakeholders. 

Membership Engagement Support 

• Support the wider Membership team to ensure events and training align with Clinks’ membership offer and benefits. 

• Encourage member engagement through forums, learning opportunities and networking events. 

• Work with colleagues to identify unmet need across the sector and shape future event and training activity accordingly. 

• Contribute to the development and implementation of Clinks’ membership and engagement strategy, particularly where it connects to events delivery. 

Systems, Administration and Digital Support 

• Oversee event booking and registration systems, ensuring accurate records and smooth user journeys. 

• Maintain and update relevant website content linked to events, training and learning resources. 

• Ensure event data is recorded accurately to support evaluation and reporting. 

• Support ongoing improvements to systems and processes for managing events and training efficiently. 

General responsibilities 

• Represent and be an ambassador for Clinks 

• Work to support the mission, ethos and values of Clinks 

• Be flexible and carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop or be assigned in line with the broad remit of the position 

• Support and promote diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace 

• Work collaboratively with others in all aspects of our work 

Person specification

Experience 

Essential

· Experience of planning, coordinating and delivering events or training activity, both online and in-person.

· Experience of managing event logistics and administration, including booking systems, delegate communications and follow-up.

· Experience of working with a range of stakeholders, such as members, external partners, speakers or facilitators.

· Experience of working collaboratively as part of a team, while also being able to take responsibility for tasks independently.

Desirable

· Experience of coordinating or supporting delivery of a large-scale event such as an annual conference.

· Experience of evaluating events or training activity and using feedback to inform improvements.

· Experience of supporting income generation through events, training or related activity.

Skills and abilities 

Essential

· Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a busy programme environment.

· Excellent attention to detail, including accurate handling of event data, bookings and communications.

· Confidence delivering training sessions or contributing directly to delivery where required.

· Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with colleagues, members and external partners.

· Ability to work proactively, using initiative to solve problems and improve processes.

· Confidence using digital tools and systems, including online event platforms, booking systems and databases/CRMs.

Desirable

· Ability to support the development of new event and training offers in response to member need.

· Experience of supporting marketing or promotional activity for events and training.

· Understanding of accessibility and inclusion in event delivery, ensuring a positive experience for all participants.

Knowledge

Essential

· Understanding of the role of the voluntary and community sector, and the importance of strong networks, learning and collaboration.

· Awareness of the need for events and training to be high quality, accessible and responsive to stakeholder needs.

Desirable

· Knowledge of the criminal justice system and/or organisations working within it.

· Understanding of the challenges faced by smaller VCSE organisations, particularly around access, capacity and resources.

Personal attributes and other requirements

· Able to travel nationally across England and Wales.

· Able to work evenings and weekends and stay away from home overnight where necessary.

· Work well as part of a small team and independently, with a flexible approach to work.

· Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities. An ability to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work.

· Commitment to the values and ethos of supporting people in the criminal justice system.

This job description does not form part of your contract of employment and can be amended from time to time as the needs of the organisation require.