ARE YOU READY TO SHAPE THE STORY OF THE UK GOVERNMENT?

We’re looking for an impactful, innovative and visionary leader of the Strategic Engagement teams within the Communications Directorate at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
We are looking for someone with a consistent track record in delivering world-class communications to engage audiences, build trust, change behaviour and deliver outcomes. The successful applicant will have an expectation of professional excellence, take pride in pioneering and will be experienced in bringing people together and breaking down boundaries.
You will lead our communications strategy and planning across the breadth of its portfolio, for both external and internal communications. As part of the Senior Management Team, you will be responsible for four teams; Strategic Comms, External Affairs, Internal Comms and Campaigns. You will lead these teams to deliver strategic planning; horizon scanning; campaign development, implementation and evaluation; stakeholder management, insight and evaluation strategy and its use across communications; talent and capability; and internal communications strategy and delivery.
The successful candidate will be instrumental in promoting and supporting the DSIT agenda – prioritising pro-tech/pro-innovation messages and new impactful campaigns. As a young and evolving Department, it will be critical that the postholder supports the establishment of DSIT’s culture and internal brand and reputation.

WHO WE ARE

Government Communications is a diverse community of passionate professionals with expertise across all communication disciplines, united in changing behaviour for the public good. We support and promote the work of 24 ministerial departments, 20 non-ministerial departments and over 300 agencies and other public bodies. A network of communicators are also based in Posts around the world, supporting the government’s diplomatic and development work. We work in partnership to help tackle the big challenges facing the country, supporting the government with a modern, mission-led, audience-first approach.

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

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)
• 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

OUR ROLE ALONGSIDE GOVERNMENT

Government Communications is the professional body for public service communicators working in government departments, agencies and arm’s length bodies. Communication is one of the four main critical levers of government for effecting change alongside legislation, regulation and taxation. We provide an exceptional standard of professional practice in service of the government’s Plan for Change. Delivering the Missions - growing the economy, an NHS fit for the future, safer streets, opportunity for all and making Britain a clean energy power - and the foundations of a stable economy, secure borders and national security, requires the very best communications advice and expertise.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading relationships with DGs and Ministers in relation to our strategic priorities and the longer-term narrative the department wants to tell.
• Oversight of communications planning and priorities across the Departmental brief and ensuring join up with other departments in support of DSIT, cross-Whitehall and No10 objectives, as well as the government’s Missions.
• Working with partners, colleagues and stakeholders across DSIT and Whitehall to provide strategic oversight of horizon scanning and ensuring effective departmental comms planning.
• Overseeing the data, research and evaluation programme and ensuring all insight is useful and well used within communications.
• Working closely with HR and Ministers, develop and lead a strategic internal communications strategy that is closely linked to our priorities and delivers strong engagement across the organisation.
• Helping to create and deliver the DSIT Communications Plan.
• Managing the Directorate’s campaign budgets, meeting efficiency targets, and overseeing business planning and programme management for their teams.
• Providing active and visible leadership to your team and the wider Directorate, taking into account hybrid and multi-site working, and embodying the DSIT values and behaviours, and building on the diversity, talent and skills of team members. By doing this you will prioritise strong team performance and morale.
• Contributing to the leadership of the GCS Profession, ensuring that professionals across disciplines are supported to move into the mission-led future of Communications

To be successful in this role, you will need to be an exceptional senior communications leader with a strong track record of delivery in large, complex organisations. In addition, you will also need to be able to demonstrate your capability and potential against the following essential criteria:

• Demonstrable experience of using a strategic approach to developing integrated Communications delivery, in a high-profile and fast-moving environment.
• A strong vision for what government strategic communication should look like now and in the future, and the capabilities, tools and expertise required to deliver them.
• An ability to work with partners and colleagues from a wide network to provide strategic oversight, horizon scanning and effective join-up of communications planning and delivery.
• A consistent track record in delivering world-class communications to engage audiences, build trust, change behaviour and deliver outcomes.
• Experience of working at a senior level as part of a management team to set and achieve joint goals on strategy, finance and developing the organisation.
• Proven track record of extensive working with ministers/C-suite, or similar senior stakeholders. Able to build excellent relationships and give robust advice whilst bringing a proactive and collaborative approach – you should be as comfortable talking to the Secretary of State as to apprentices.
• An inspiring, confident and empowering leader who comfortable leading a large, multidisciplinary team; able to provide visible, strong leadership that can motivate, engage and get the best out of people.A demonstrable commitment to continuing professional development and willingness to contribute to the leadership of the Comms Directorate and Government Communications Profession as a whole. Taking pride in pioneering new approaches with experience in bringing people together and breaking down boundaries