LAA Head of Internal Communications

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.