I’m really excited…

I’m really excited and happy today as I am now officially the councils Digital Communications Manager (Strategic Lead) which has a range of responsibilities including the management of the corporate website and intranet, so in a way I’m also the corporate web manager.

The purpose of the post is to support the Council to develop strategies and deliver innovative solutions for the effective deployment of new technologies to engage and involve citizens and encourage greater democratic and community participation.

The role itself is based within Corporate Communications which means I have now formally left corporate ICT, although still very much have a role in informing and influencing the strategic direction of the web channel and I’m probably considered even more of a geek by my communications colleagues 🙂

The post has a number of opportunities and challenges which I’m already starting to get my teeth into and what is even better is I won’t be alone, I’m managing a team of 6 web colleagues  who now form the Web and Digital Communications Team, which is a consolidation of  directorate and corporate web development teams (exception being the main ICT web team).

The three main priorities for the team are:

1. Corporate Website
2. Intranet
3. Business Application of Social Media (this also includes training and awareness of staff and members)

We also have a couple of added value activity areas where we will be supporting advising and generally getting involved which are:

• Digital Engagement and Participation
• Open and Linked Data

So expect to see more details about our journey over the coming weeks and months and look out for the new Web Development Blog (Project Beta) over the summer. The aim of which will be to share the thinking around, stats behind, feedback about and direction of the corporate website.

I’m naturally excited and I am looking forward to helping the council develop the Digital agenda.