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General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £58,511 - £65,329, London salary range is £63,343 - £70,725. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
Birmingham, London, Nottingham
Region
East Midlands, London, West Midlands
Closing Date
20-Feb-2026
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
Grade 7
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
14317

Descriptions & requirements

Job description
LAA Head of Internal Communications 

Organisation: Legal Aid Agency, Ministry of Justice
Grade:  Grade 7
Job title: Head of Internal Communications
Location: National: Birmingham, London or Nottingham

Vacancy description 

Are you a strategic communications leader with a passion for driving engagement and organisational change? We're seeking an exceptional head of internal communications to lead our established team at the Legal Aid Agency.

This role offers a unique opportunity for an experienced communications professional to shape our internal communications strategy. As part of the Ministry of Justice corporate communications unit, you'll lead a small but high-performing team, providing strategic direction and creative excellence that supports our organisational priorities.

The ideal candidate will bring proven leadership experience, exceptional stakeholder management skills at senior levels, and a track record of developing both communications strategies and team members. You'll have the confidence to operate independently, providing trusted communications counsel to our executive team while maintaining the high standards expected within the Government Communication Service.

The Ministry of Justice is a major government department, at the heart of the justice system. We work to protect and advance the principles of justice. Our vision is to deliver a world-class justice system that works for everyone in society. Within the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) our role is to provide civil and criminal legal aid and advice to help people deal with their legal problems.
If you're ready to apply your expertise in a purpose-driven organisation that's at the heart of our justice system, delivering vital services to people across England and Wales, we want to hear from you.

Note the successful candidate will work from one of the following three MOJ hubs: Birmingham, London or Nottingham.

Job profile

You will be a trusted adviser to the Legal Aid Agency’s (LAA) leaders, working in partnership with them to engage staff in delivering priorities and supporting organisational and culture change.

You will lead LAA’s internal communications strategy, which has an ambitious programme of work, including leading the organisation through change, delivering creative content and behaviour change campaigns, and supporting the business embed digital and data at the heart of service delivery, improving outcomes for the public. 

You will continually look for new ways to improve our offer, both at a strategic and channel level, and inspire and empower a team of outstanding communications professionals. 
The postholder is a key member of the MoJ corporate communications senior leadership team. The team works hand in glove with policy and functional leads, senior leaders and private offices across the department to deliver an exceptional internal communication service. 

Responsibilities 

• Trusted adviser to the CEO and LAA’s leadership team, working collaboratively to build effective relationships.
• Develop and deliver LAA’s internal and change communications strategy.
• Develop and deliver creative internal communications campaigns to support business outcomes and effect behaviour change on LAA priorities.
• Writing exceptional copy for leaders and corporate channels
• Oversee and develop all LAA internal comms content and channels 
• Respond to challenges with innovative communication methods, deploying them at pace to support business objectives, based on insight and informed by Government Communication Service best practice. 
• Evaluate the effectiveness of communications and deliver ongoing improvement.
• Leadership of a team of three
• Key member of the LAA corporate service SMT and MoJ corporate communications leadership team

Person specification – essential criteria

You will be an experienced communications professional, with proven expertise in leading a high-profile communications team. You will have extensive understanding of strategic communications campaigns, including measuring effectiveness, with a track record of effective decision-making, being calm under pressure and managing crisis communications and complex high-profile issues. You do not have to have experience working in internal communications. You will deliver your work in line with the Government Communications Service Internal Communications Principles https://www.communications.gov.uk/guidance/internal•communication/
In this role, it is important that you demonstrate the following three areas:

Communications judgment

You'll need excellent communications judgment, a strong news sense and proven ability in advising and influencing senior stakeholders on internal communications, making decisions and plans based on insight and evaluation You will play a role advising on protecting the organisation’s reputation, and aligned with MoJ values. This includes:

• Having a curious and adaptable mindset, with a drive to improve the service you deliver
• Being comfortable operating in ambiguity in a complex operating environment
• Have experience in deciding where to focus attention and finding solutions when given different opinions and priorities and multiple sources of information
• Building strong relationships through excellent interpersonal skills, and demonstrate excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Quality controlling the team's work to ensure consistently excellent output and providing editorial guidance and maintaining high standards across all channels, including the intranet

Managing competing demands

You'll need the capability to handle multiple priorities under pressure, multi-tasking across LAA's various internal priorities and channels, while balancing both strategic and tactical demands. This includes:
• Identifying and managing competing priorities and changing deadlines
• Working with ambiguity and identifying where communications can support business delivery, advising leaders accordingly
• Balancing the needs of multiple high-level projects and events alongside day-to-day operations
Creativity 

You'll bring strong creative capabilities, continually looking for new ideas and ways to improve our service, use communications to supporting business outcomes and to engage staff. This includes:

• Being a self-starter who thrives in a flexible environment where you'll drive campaigns, channels and ideas
• Operating effectively in a complex organisation with high levels of approvals and multi-layered decision-making
• Leading all stages of the team's work from creation and planning through to delivery
• Ensuring all campaigns and content across owned channels is engaging, accurate, timely and informative
• Providing direction and clarity to MoJ agency communication teams through collaborative working
• Identifying opportunities for improvement and development
• Applying good knowledge of the communications landscape and the role of digital communication in internal communication

As a communications leader, you'll be part of the MoJ corporate communications SMT, contributing to our strong collaborative, inclusive and supportive culture. You'll focus on your leadership role with accountability for your team's work, while also contributing to the wider corporate communications team and MoJ communications function.
You will be responsible for maintaining team engagement and building a culture where team members feel supported and challenged, continuing to develop themselves and the work they deliver for the MoJ.

Applying

To apply please submit a 750-word statement of suitability setting out how you meet the criteria in the entirety of the job and person specification; and also a CV (maximum 2-pages of A4). 
In the event of a high volume of applicants, we will sift on ‘communications judgement’ so please make sure you include this within your statement.
If you have any questions about the role contact MOJCommsBusinessOffice@justice.gov.uk and put ‘LAA head of internal communications’ at the start of the subject header.

About the interview process: Interviews will take place in person in London and include a panel interview and written task; there will also be a pre-interview task to complete in the days before the interview.


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 role: all successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale.  This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity). 

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

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 watch our animated videos.

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 TBS 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.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
  • Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 14317

HMPPS:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 14317

Application form stage assessments

Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
Can you set out how you meet the criteria in the entirety of the job and person specification
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
To be confirmed
Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing
Seeing the Big Picture
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
GCS Technical - Insight
GCS Technical - Implementation

Other Assessments

Which assessment methods will be used?
Written Exercise
Level of security checks required
Security Clearance (SC)

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.  Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.