Communications Lead

Communication Lead

Locations: London, Manchester, Sheffield

Salary

£74,900 - £85,690

National pay locations: Manchester, Sheffield £74,900 - £82,390

London pay location: London £77,900 - £85,690

A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Business area

Home Office - Communications Directorate

As a member of the Communications Directorate, you’ll be supporting our mission to deliver outstanding public services that work for everyone.

You will join a multi-disciplinary team with colleagues based across the UK, working together to deliver the Home Office’s communications strategy.

We believe a positive, open and supportive culture is essential to help everyone deliver their best work. We value diversity and provide an inclusive and encouraging environment for our team members. We nurture talent and offer a broad range of learning and development opportunities to help our people fulfil their potential.

You will oversee and drive the delivery of highly impactful communications strategies which have the power not just to shift attitudes but also to change behaviours. Our work contributes materially to the delivery of the government’s strategic objectives and those of the Missions and Foundations we support – Safer Streets, Secure Borders and National Security.

You will set the integrated communications strategy for your team, including objectives and KPIs, aspects of the development of an overarching narrative and take responsibility for establishing a long-term delivery plan spanning all the communications channels - media, social media and digital, visits, partner comms, marketing and campaigns and internal communications.

You will build and hold a relationship with the Home Secretary, relevant Ministers, Special Advisers, Director Generals and key senior officials in your area. You will be responsible for explaining how communications can alongside other levers for change, deliver Home Office priorities, and persuade senior colleagues where necessary.

Excellent relationships with private offices and the directorate’s strategy, marketing and leadership teams will help you to find the right balance of formal, submitted advice seeking approval for spend and strategic approach, versus ongoing, routine personal contact with and ad-hoc updates to - Ministers and policy teams.

You will embrace the opportunities to effect meaningful change presented by the new era of Mission-led government, building excellent working relationships with counterparts in other government departments and agencies as well as external organisations spanning the public, private and third sectors. You will exemplify the Home Office’s role as a system leader, role modelling the highest standards in efficient and effective public sector communications.

Reporting to a Deputy Director of Communications, and expected to deputise for them and the director from time to time, you will take overall responsibility for the implementation of campaigns, budget and headcount in your team, in line with the Communications Directorate strategy and Home Office organisational strategy.

You will need sound project management, financial planning and risk assessment techniques to ensure deadlines are met, value created and appropriate mitigations put in place to counter threats. You will be part of the senior management team out-of-hours back-up rota.

You will be expected to contribute to the delivery of the Government Communications Service strategy and to upholding the standards of the communications profession.

Essential criteria:

• Deep practical experience of the full mix of communications channels, including media, low cost and digital communications.
• A strong leader and excellent line manager, adept at building supportive and high performing teams where all individuals feel inspired to contribute and meet their potential and in which they are able to challenge the way things are done.
• Demonstrable poise and authority under pressure and when managing ambiguity. Ability to create structure and narrative and set direction during periods that lack clarity.
• The management skills of self and others to oversee parallel, high-profile projects to meet challenging delivery targets.
• Ability to build strong, influential relationships both in and outside the department, grip complex governance structures and make impactful, insight-led interventions to shape the direction of wider programme delivery.
• Capable of managing (in conjunction with marketing colleagues) substantial campaign budgets, ensuring value for money, financial propriety and extensive evaluation.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail, able to draw conclusions from data and be able to simplify complex policy into clear communications that drive action.
• Experience of working on programmes that address behaviour change challenges, helping teams understand how to achieve the desired results and measuring the impact on actual behaviour.
• Excellent presentation skills and personal impact in order to become a trusted and credible advisor to both Ministers and officials; confident in briefing both verbally and in writing.
• Strong understanding of the political, media and current affairs landscapes, contributing to nuanced and informed political awareness.