Are you a creative communicator with a passion for communicating with diverse audiences? Are you comfortable working across a range of communication channels and platforms? Can you help our teams reach new audiences by bringing our stories to life? If the answer is yes, you could be exactly who we are looking for.
We’re looking for a Strategic Communications Manager to help us communicate our work and connect with our audiences. As an independent public body, the Judicial Appointments Commission is responsible for designing, planning, and running recruitment campaigns to select judges in the courts and tribunals, up to and including the High Court, as well as non-legal tribunal members. You can read more about our work on our website.
With a new recruitment campaign launched every couple of weeks, and statutory responsibilities to make sure we select candidates on merit and through fair and open competition, it’s essential that our processes are robust, inclusive, and attractive to candidates from the widest possible backgrounds. It’s also essential that our audiences and stakeholders understand our work and our commitment to support a diverse judiciary that represents the society it serves.
Our Strategic Communications Manager plays a vital role in helping us to achieve that ambition. The role works closely with the Stakeholder Engagement and Outreach Manager, Diversity Policy Manager and operational teams to deliver communications campaigns that explain and promote our busy programme of selection activity. From developing case studies that inspire new audiences, to demystifying our applications processes and helping candidates access the support they need to consider a judicial career, our Strategic Communications Manager is at the heart of bringing our work to life.
Working across a range of channels, the Strategic Communications Manager will deliver outreach activities, support media enquiries, monitor and analyse our media coverage and ensure our website, social media channels, newsletters and internal communications products meet the needs of our audiences.
You should relish the challenge of working in a small but dynamic team, collaborating with colleagues who are passionate about the JAC’s mission.
Reporting to the Senior Strategic Communications Manager, your main responsibilities will be to:
Provide communications advice and support for JAC colleagues including managing the website and intranet, collating newsletters, supporting the handling of media enquiries, and media monitoring.
Working closely with the Stakeholder Engagement and Outreach Manager, advise on effective communication approaches and support the delivery of outreach and engagement campaigns for JAC selection exercises, using a variety of channels to suit the audience. This includes measuring and evaluating outreach campaigns, ensuring lessons learned are recorded for future campaigns.
There may also be a requirement to support the delivery of outreach and engagement campaign for selection exercises, particularly those that have historically seen limited underrepresentation of the JAC’s target group candidates.
Create and publish written and visual content for JAC operations and policy teams across digital (including social media), print and internal channels.
Leading and delivering projects outlined within the Communications and Engagement Strategy.
Contribute towards regular evaluation of communications campaigns and activity, analysing findings and making recommendations for change and improvement.
Identify the best channels and formats for information and suggest ideas to reach relevant audiences.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, interpersonal skills and ability to build good working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Ability to prioritise a busy workload and manage multiple priorities to agreed timelines while ensuring a high-quality service.
Knowledge of different communications channels and tools and ability to provide advice on the most appropriate channels depending on context and user needs.
Experience of producing content for a range of channels including digital, social and/or print.
Strong team working skills and ability to work flexibly to support a small team.
Strong IT and digital skills, including the ability to quickly learn to use unfamiliar software to a good standard, with appropriate training.
Knowledge of campaign planning methodology.
Knowledge of evaluating communication campaigns, including using web analytics tools, and how to use this data to improve communications.
Experience in project management.
We offer a range of benefits including an attractive annual leave allowance, flexible and hybrid working opportunities, and choice of pension schemes. We actively encourage all staff to undertake learning and development as part of their personal objectives and have a range of networks to support and promote inclusivity, wellbeing, and dignity at work among other things.
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the recruitment process:
Communicating and influencing
Working Together
Managing a Quality Service
Your CV
A statement of suitability detailing the relevant experience and skills you have that would make you suitable for the post (500 words max).
Written evidence of 2 behaviours: Communicating and influencing and Working Together (250 words per behaviour)
Applications will be sifted based on the CV, Statement of Suitability and the 2 behaviours: Communicating and Influencing and Working Together.
If a large number of applications are received, we will sift on the CV, statement of suitability and lead behaviour which is Communicating and Influencing.
At interview you we will assess you against 3 behaviours: Communicating and influencing, Working Together, and Managing a Quality Service. You will also be asked about your experience. You can find out more about the Civil Service success profiles here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles
Applicants invited for interview may be required to undertake a work exercise as part of this interview process. Candidates may be asked to complete this in the week before their scheduled interview slot or may alternatively be asked to complete a task on the day of the interview. Further information about what task will be required will be provided to candidates shortlisted for interview.
As well as appointing to the vacancy listed above, we may place other candidates on a 12-month reserve list for future vacancies.
Office Attendance
JAC staff are currently working in a hybrid way with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office. Applicants for this role should note that they may be required to attend the office more than 2 days per week in line with business need.
If after reading this job description you require any further information, please contact Caitlin Smith-Mullally, JAC Senior Strategic Communications Manager, at Caitlin.Smith-Mullally@judicialappointments.gov.uk
If you have any questions about the recruitment campaign, or any terms and conditions relating to the role, please contact the JAC Recruitment Team:
Recruitment@judicialappointments.gov.uk