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General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £56,532 - £64,048, London salary range is £61,201 - £69,338 . Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Flexible Working
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
10-Jan-2025
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
Grade 7
Number of jobs available
1
Job ID
1337

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

 

About u 

 

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales. Our roles support our service users and colleagues, where people and businesses access potentially life-changing justice.  We’re looking for individuals who are committed to public service and want to make a difference in people’s lives in delivering justice. If youre interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply. 

The role of the HMCTS Communications and Engagement Directorate is to:  

 

  • enhance and protect our reputation 

  • facilitate corporate communication and engagement with internal and external stakeholders and users 

  • advise, challenge and support the organisation to communicate and engage effectively  

 

About the role 

As Head of Communications and Engagement (Crime) you will play a key role in ensuring the Communications Directorate and HMCTS achieve their strategic goals through high quality communications. Your deep understanding of our audiences will enable you to design and deliver impactful communication plans and messages that resonate with our range of audiences. You'll be the ‘go to’ communications expert among senior leaders in your area, guiding and advising them to add value to their work through your specialist knowledge. 

In this influential senior management position, you'll be dynamic in leading communications and engagement relating to the criminal courts, one of the most fast-paced, high-profile and demanding areas of HMCTS. 

Given the structure and purpose of the organisation, you’ll primarily lead on the delivery of operational communications and engagement. Within this varied role, however, you’ll have the opportunity to deliver your goals through a blend of communications disciplines, including press, stakeholder engagement, digital, strategic and internal comms, as well as the occasional campaign.    

Your role as the Head of Communications & Engagement (Crime) will cover several key aspects including but not limited to: 

  • Leading stakeholder communications and engagement work - from planning to implementation – and line-managing a team to support you in doing this  

  • Contributing to providing an integrated communications service that delivers content seamlessly and consistently to external and internal audiences using a range of channels. Playing a key leadership role in ensuring the communications team is effective and innovative   

  • Fostering strong working relationships with officials, providing them with communications advice and support to help them meet their business objectives 

  • Directing and quality assuring the creation of stakeholder content and products, including being accountable for planning, promotion and delivery of stakeholder events and webinars 

  • Advising internal ‘clients’ on best practice, emerging issues, risks and opportunities, guiding on the manner in which messages and key themes are communicated to ensure consistency, clarity and impact 

  • Acting as the key point of contact between the HMCTS communications team and MoJ press office and aligning HMCTS stakeholder communications activity with that of the wider Ministry of Justice group 

  • Managing and co-ordinating crisis communications plans and responses in the event of a major incident 

 

Please refer to the attached role profile for a comprehensive overview of the role. 

Who are we looking for? (Person Specification) 

The ideal candidate for this position should demonstrate the following 

Essential  

  • Experience of leading stakeholder communications - both developing plans and operational implementation - in a large and complex organisation 
  • Proven experience in copywriting and adapting writing style for different audiences and channels, with robust editorial skills 
  • Strong relationship management skills, effective at negotiating and influencing at a senior level 
  • Confident giving presentations, leading meetings, and workshops, and credible when speaking with the Senior Management Team or operational leaders 
  • Strong planning, organisational and people skills, including delivering communication products to tight deadlines
  • Proven ability to quickly analyse and interpret data, transforming it into actionable insights to inform strategic decisions and drive impactful communications outcomes
  • Can work quickly and effectively under pressure and through ambiguity, managing competing priorities and changing deadlines
  • Good knowledge of the communications landscape
  • Experience of leading a team, working collaboratively with diverse a mix of stakeholders to deliver results  

 

Further information: 

 

This is a full-time role, where flexible working arrangements will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

 

The successful candidate may be required to travel to any HMCTS site in line with business needs.  

 

How to apply 

 

Please submit your most recent CV and a 750-word statement of suitability demonstrating your relevant skill, experience and knowledge to meet the criteria in the above ‘Person Specification. 

 

Candidates successful at sift stage will be invited to a blended interview assessment in line with the Civil Service Success Profile Framework and the Government Communications Service (GCS) competencies.  

 

For those successful in passing the sift stage, interviews will take place over two stages.  

At both stages of interview, candidates will be assessed against the Civil Service Success Profiles and Government Communication Service (GCS) competencies below at Grade 7 level. 

Guidance for these can be found below:  

 

The first-stage interview will be held remotely via Microsoft Teams. At this stage, you will be assessed against the following behaviour, strength and technical questions:  

 

Success Profiles Behaviors  

  • Leadership 
  • Communicating and Influencing 

 

GCS Technical Competency: 

  • Impact 

 

Strength areas are not shared in advance.  

 

Successful candidates will then be invited for the second-stage interview which will be held in person either in 102 Petty France, London, SW1H 9AJ or another appropriate site outside of London depending on their location. The location will be confirmed once the first stage interview results are released.   

 

At this stage, you will be asked to prepare a 15-minute presentation followed by questions from the panel. You will be assessed against the GCS Technical Competency - Implementation.  

 

The presentation brief will be shared with you in advance of your interviews.  

 

Please note that travel fares will be the responsibility of candidates and cannot be reimbursed. 

 

About our benefits 

 

We reward our people for their hard work and commitment. We have a number of family friendly and flexible working polices that will help you achieve a healthy work-life balance. In addition, we offer a range of employee benefits which include generous annual leave, a highly competitive contributory pension scheme, childcare benefits, season ticket and bicycle loans. 

 

Proud to serve. Proud to keep justice going.

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Support

  • A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
  • Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please see our Disability Confident Scheme Frequently Asked Questions webpage.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Contact Information
If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com.

Please quote the job reference 1537

Interview stage assessments

Behaviours
Leadership
Communicating and Influencing
Strengths
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here.
Technical
Government Communications Professional Competency - IMPACT

https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Government-Communications-Professional-Competency-Framework.pdf
Government Communications Professional Competency - Implementation

https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Government-Communications-Professional-Competency-Framework.pdf
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

Other Assessments

Which assessment methods will be used?
Presentation