Deputy Head of Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement - Planning and Visits

• Grade: G6

• Location: National

• Salary range: £71,381 - £80,419 (National) £75,674 - £85,257 (London)

Vacancy description:

The newly formed Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement team sits at the heart of the MoJ’s communications directorate tasked with ensuring the department’s communications activity advances the Government’s key priorities. Its purpose is to increase strategic direction, co-ordination and impact of communications and deliver Ministerial visits, speeches and stakeholder activity to the highest professional standards.

You will work alongside a second Deputy Head of Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement, responsible for the MoJ communications strategy and external affairs, and Chief Speechwriter and Head of Editorial Strategy, in an overall team of about 25 people.

As Deputy Head of Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement, you will play a key role in shaping how we communicate with our audiences, leading on communications planning and managing our Ministerial visits and events programme.

It is a challenging and high-profile post in the communications directorate and you will be required to work collaboratively across different disciplines to co-ordinate plans and campaigns.

You will work closely with Special Advisors, Ministers and senior civil servants in ensuring departmental communications tell a clear story about the Government’s Plan for Change and help to deliver its priorities.

You will need to play an active role in supporting colleagues of all grades across the directorate to work more strategically as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

The role is suited to an established Grade 6 or 7, with excellent judgment and organisational skills. You will directly manage a G7 Head of Communications Planning and G7 Head of Visits and Events, with a wider team including 3 SIOs and 4 IOs.

Key responsibilities:

• Maintain a strategic forward look for the department’s communications, anticipating reputational risks and opportunities.

• Support the G7 Head of Communications Planning to provide regular communications plans to Ministers and SpAds in a clear and accessible format.

• Act as a key liaison with No.10 to build confidence in MoJ’s strategic communications programme.

• Work with the other Deputy Head of Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement to ensure communications activity is strategic, insight-driven and innovative.

• Work with policy, communications and operational colleagues to align communications activity into long-term storytelling that changes public opinion and behaviour in line with the government's key priorities.

• Build and maintain strong working relationships across the department and with wider Government Communications, particularly with the Home Office on the Safer Streets mission.

• Role model collaboration and play an active role in building strategic planning capability across the wider communications function.

• Lead the strategic planning and delivery of the department’s visits and events programme.

• Support the G7 Head of Visits to develop and expand the new function, ensuring activity aligns with our communications strategy and delivers Ministerial priorities.

• Work with the wider team to streamline processes around visits, speeches and stakeholder engagement, and build links with Private Office to professional and speed-up delivery of communications plans.

• Play an active role in ensuring the new Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement team prioritises professional development, innovation and wellbeing.

• Act as a visible and inclusive senior leader within MoJ Communications, contributing to directorate-wide strategy, prioritisation and decision-making.

Essential criteria:

• Significant experience in strategic communications planning at a senior level

• Proven track record of developing and delivering successful communications strategies and campaigns

• Experience managing complex visits and events programmes, including high-profile stakeholder events

• Strong leadership and people management skills, with experience of developing and motivating teams

• Excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders

• Experience working in a fast-paced environment and managing multiple priorities

• Experience building effective relationships with diverse stakeholders

• Understanding of the modern communications landscape including media, social media and third-party channels.

• Experience of building capability and championing learning and development within teams.

Application process:

As part of the application process you are asked to submit a CV and personal statement of suitability.

Your personal statement should be no more than 750 words, explaining why you are interested in the role and how your experience makes you the best candidate. This should include examples of how you meet the

the following Civil Service behaviours at G6-level:

Seeing the big picture

• ensure plans and activities in your area of work reflect wider strategic priorities and communicate effectively with senior leaders to influence future strategies

• adopt a government wide perspective to ensure alignment of activity and policy

• bring together views, perspectives and diverse needs of stakeholders to gain a broader understanding of the issues surrounding policies and activities

Leadership

• promote diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity, respecting difference and external experience

• welcome and respond to views and challenges from others, despite any conflicting pressures to ignore or give in to them

• stand by, promote or defend your own and your team’s actions and decisions where needed

• seek out shared interests beyond your own area of responsibility, understanding the extent of the impact actions have on the organisation

• inspire and motivate teams to be fully engaged in their work and dedicated to their role

Changing and improving

• encourage, recognise and share innovative ideas from a diverse range of colleagues and stakeholders

• give people space to take initiative and praise them for their creativity

• create an environment where people feel safe to challenge and know their voice will be heard

• make changes which add value and clearly articulate how changes will benefit the business

Working together

• actively build and maintain a network of colleagues and contacts to achieve progress on shared objectives

• ensure consideration and support for the wellbeing of yourself and individuals throughout the team

• create an inclusive working environment where all opinions and challenges are taken into account and bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable

• remain available and approachable to all colleagues and be receptive to new ideas

If you are invited to interview, these are the behaviours we will ask you about.

Further information

If you have any queries about the application form, terms of employment, the recruitment process or you need any further information about the vacancy you are encouraged to contact:

Richard Mellor, Deputy Director, Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement: richard.mellor@justice.gov.uk