SIO Change Communications Manager - Legal Aid Agency (FTC 12 Months) 

Vacancy Description 

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is undertaking a major transformation programme to support priorities to rebuild confidence in the criminal justice system and deliver accessible, modern civil, family and administrative justice. Communications are central to the success of this programme. 

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced communications professional to join a high-performing internal and external communications team at a pivotal point. Reporting to the Head of Internal Communications, you will play a key role in shaping and delivering integrated communications to support system recovery and transformation, working closely with the Head of External Communications and the Transformation Comms and Engagement Lead. 

We are looking for a collaborative, high-performing communications professional who can operate as a trusted adviser to senior leaders, providing clear, strategic communications in a complex and fast-paced environment. 

Job Description 

This role bridges internal and external communications, ensuring transformation activity is clearly understood, consistently communicated, and effectively delivered across the LAA and its stakeholders. 

You will develop and deliver an integrated communications approach that informs and engages staff, while building understanding, confidence and trust with external audiences including providers, representative bodies and stakeholders. You will ensure a single, consistent transformation narrative runs across all channels. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Lead the development and delivery of integrated internal and external communications to support transformation and system recovery, aligned to organisational strategies 

• Act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders, providing strategic and reactive communications advice in a complex, high-profile environment 

• Develop and maintain a clear, consistent transformation narrative that: 

• explains how change improves access to justice and system effectiveness 

• reflects operational challenges and recovery context 

• demonstrates value to staff, providers and the public 

• Translate complex transformation activity into clear, practical communications tailored to internal and external audiences 

• Plan and deliver communications for key milestones, ensuring activity drives engagement, understanding and adoption of change 

• Ensure alignment between internal and external messaging, equipping staff and leaders to confidently engage external stakeholders 

• Work closely with LAA and MoJ colleagues to support public-facing communications, with a focus on providers and representative bodies 

• Build strong relationships with programme leads and stakeholders to embed communications within delivery plans 

• Create high-quality content across channels, including briefings, intranet content, digital and senior leader communications 

• Gather and use insight from staff and external stakeholders to inform communications, strengthen feedback loops and support continuous improvement 

• Evaluate communications effectiveness and adapt approaches based on evidence, engagement and impact 

• Identify risks and issues, and ensure communications support effective programme delivery 

• Support business-as-usual communications where required, ensuring transformation activity is integrated and coordinated 

Person Specification 

Essential Skills and Experience 

• Proven experience delivering communications for large-scale organisational change 

• Strong understanding of end-to-end communications planning, from strategy through to evaluation 

• Excellent ability to translate complex information into clear, accessible and engaging content 

• Experience working across internal and external communications, aligning messaging across audiences 

• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to advise and influence senior leaders 

• Ability to work at pace in a complex environment, exercising sound judgement and prioritising effectively 

• Experience using insight, feedback and evaluation to improve communications outcomes 

• Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities 

Core Behaviours and Approach 

• Trusted adviser with the confidence to challenge and influence 

• Highly collaborative, building strong relationships across teams and stakeholders 

• Proactive, solutions-focused and accountable for delivery 

• Comfortable working with ambiguity and creating clarity for others 

• Strong judgement and decision-making skills in complex environments 

• Committed to continuous improvement and innovation 

Desirable 

• Familiarity with change management approaches (e.g. Prosci) 

• Experience of working in government or within the justice sector