HQ Job Description (JD)
Band 9
Directorate: Generic - Programmes & Projects
Job Description - Head of Communications and
Stakeholder Engagement
Document Ref.
HQ JES 0041 Head of Communications and Stakeholder
Engagement v2.0
Document Type
Management
Version
2.0
Classification
Official
Date of Issue
5 July 2021
Status
Baselined
Produced by
Job Evaluation Assurance and Support Team
Authorised by
Reward Team
JD Evidence
HQ JES 0041 Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement v2.0
Job Description
Job Title
Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement
Directorate
Generic - Programmes & Projects
Band
9
Overview of the job
We are looking for a brilliant communications and stakeholder engagement
professional to join our team.
An exciting opportunity has arisen to be part of a new programme of work aimed at
promoting key corporate objectives throughout HMPPS. This may also be through
large-scale programme that aims to bring about long term, sustainable change for
both staff, children and people in our care.
Your role will be to lead on both internal and external communications for the
programme, bringing consistency and a systematic approach to these.
As Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement, you will play a key part in
ensuring HMPPS staff, children and people in our care and stakeholders are aware of
the programme and its key deliverables.
The job holder is responsible for the ongoing management of Communications and
Engagement Strategy and will therefore need to demonstrate experience and
understanding of stakeholder management in relation to programmes and projects.
Summary
The Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement role is a critical
component to the successful delivery of the programme.
We are looking for a strong leader with demonstrable experience of leading
Communications and Stakeholder Engagement for large and/or complex projects or
programmes.
The post holder is responsible for setting direction and vision for communications
and stakeholder engagement across a Programme or initiative, ensuring delivery of
strategically coordinated communications plans and stakeholder engagement
strategy.
The job holder will ensure efficiency and effectiveness of current, planned and
future communication activity, working across functional and organisational
boundaries, representing your directorate within the Ministry of Justice and other
government departments and external bodies.
The role will be seen as providing leadership, communications support and guidance
to the whole Group/Directorate/Team and task managing where appropriate
Responsibilities,
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities
Activities and Duties
and duties:
Strategy - setting direction and vision for communications and stakeholder
engagement
• Developing and delivering the Communication/Stakeholder engagement
strategy, setting clear vision, direction and evaluation measures to
accurately map, monitor and assess strategic relationships, including at
project and programme level.
• Establishing relevant communications priorities in accordance with
programme/stakeholder needs.
HQ JES 0041 Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement v2.0
Delivery - ensuring delivery of communications plans and stakeholder engagement
strategy
• Working in collaboration with the HMPPS teams to align messages and
commission and develop products against the Comms plans during the
programme lifecycle.
• Developing high quality comms products to raise awareness of and promote
the ambitions, obtain buy-in from a wide range of stakeholders, and engage
HMPPS staff in order to maximise programme outcomes. Co-ordinating
comms campaigns including organising events to promote Directorate/
Team/Unit/Programme products and priorities.
• Ensuring delivery of the full communications plan including liaising with
press office on media handling issues of policy or programme impact.
• Delivering a range of engagement activities with stakeholders and partners
as required by the Programme Board, and Programme Director.
Planning, research and evaluation - ensuring efficiency and effectiveness of current,
planned and future communication activity
• Identifying and utilising audience insight and stakeholder mapping
techniques with other internal colleagues to build recommendations for
communications strategy and planning.
• Ensuring appropriate channels are used in order to maximise desired
outcome.
• Monitoring delivery of all communications outputs against agreed
objectives and compliance with frameworks and strategies for:
o Brand and corporate identity
o Channel and content strategies
o Supplier frameworks to ensure quality and value for money
Collaborative working - working across functional and organisational boundaries
• Ensuring that all areas of HMPPS (HQ, YCS, Prisons and Probation) are kept
well informed of the programme and programme activity.
• Presenting recommendations to senior leaders and negotiating buy-in and
support for the communications plan and its implementation.
• Acting as a conduit to ensure consistency in all communications in line with
MoJ and HMPPS communication objectives.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not
intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable
alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant
adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall
be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.
Behaviours
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
Strengths
It is advised strengths are chosen locally, recommended 4-8.
Ability
N/A
Experience
• Have significant communications experience at a senior level, in a large
organisation
• Experience of liaising and working with a diverse set of stakeholders, across a
complex organisation
• Effective leadership, interpersonal and communication skills
HQ JES 0041 Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement v2.0
• Ability to negotiate and influence stakeholders within and outside the
programme including at the most senior level
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with significant experience of
producing communications in a range of formats for a wide range of
audience
• Demonstrable understanding of barriers to accessibility in communications
and experience of embedding accessibility from the outset
• Experience of dealing with sensitive information and ensuring that
appropriate approval processes have been followed
Technical
N/A
Minimum Eligibility
• All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post.
• All external candidates are subject to 6 months’ probation. Internal candidates are
subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within
HMPPS.
• All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or
organisation which HMPPS consider to be racist.
Hours of Work
(Unsocial Hours)
Allowances
HQ JES 0041 Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement v2.0
Success Profile
Strengths
Behaviours
It is advised strengths
Ability
Experience
Technical
are chosen locally,
recommended 4-8
Seeing the Big Picture
Have significant communications
experience at a senior level, in a
large organisation
Delivering at Pace
Experience of liaising and working
with a diverse set of stakeholders,
across a complex organisation
Working Together
Effective leadership, interpersonal
and communication skills
Communicating and Influencing
Ability to negotiate and influence
stakeholders within and outside
the programme including at the
most senior level
Excellent written and oral
communication skills with
significant experience of producing
communications in a range of
formats for a wide range of
audience
Demonstrable understanding of
barriers to accessibility in
communications and experience of
embedding accessibility from the
outset
Experience of dealing with
sensitive information and ensuring
that appropriate approval
processes have been followed
HQ JES 0041 Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement v2.0