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WECA’s new head of communications could be paid £50k more than mayor
The next head of communications for the West of England mayor could rake in £138k a year and get discounted bus tickets.
The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) is advertising for a new director of communications and corporate affairs for a hefty salary of £102k to £138k, depending on experience. The top salary is £50k more than mayor Helen Godwin earns herself but will still come with discounted bus tickets.
WECA wants someone to “define and amplify the region’s voice.”
is needed now More than ever
Helen Godwin was elected as the region’s new mayor in May – photo: Karen Johnson
The job advert states: “You will be an accomplished professional and a collaborative communicator with a strategic mindset and proven political acumen.
“Your experience of leading a high-performing communications function in a complex public-facing or political organisation will be critical to our success.
“As this role comes with genuine breadth and depth, we need a leader capable of both successful delivery of reputation-shaping campaigns and of effectively handling media crises and managing reputational risk.”
The high salary is understood to have been established through benchmarking against similar jobs at the same level at similar organisations. The lucky candidate will also get 31 paid days of annual leave on top of bank holidays. The job application is open until August 10.
The discounted bus tickets are available as WECA is a member of the First Bus Commuter Club, which companies can join for free to get discounted tickets for staff in the region.
Other organisations which subscribe to the scheme include local councils, the Avon Fire and Rescue Service, and Aardman Animations.
It comes after WECA chief executive Stephen Peacock told the combined authority’s scrutiny panel on July 14 that WECA had breached its own procurement rules, although not the law around public procurement, when it brought in two consultants to address issues in communications and the overall organisation.
WECA spent £150k to bring in the head of former mayor Marvin Rees’ office, Kevin Slocombe, between July 2024 to March 2025, and spent £118,200 to bring in Bristol’s former Clean Air Zone communication and engagement director Nicki Beardmore from July 2024 to June 2025. Slocombe has since been appointed deputy to Labour Avon and Somerset police and crime commissioner Clare Moody.
Created in 2017, WECA is made up of Bristol City Council, South Gloucestershire Council, and Bath and North East Somerset Council. Its main role is as the regional transport authority, ensuring public transport covers the area, but has a major role in several areas of local government which will only get significant under the Labour government’s “English Devolution” plans.
Main photo: WECA
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