43552 - Office of the Public Guardian, Head of Communications

£52,119 - £72,000
1
12 Months
East Midlands, West Midlands
Birmingham , Nottingham
AXIS BIRMINGHAM, B1 1TG, NOTTINGHAM OPG NOTTINGHAM, NG2 1AR
Grade 6
Grade 6
Permanent
Full Time, Flexible Working
Communications / Marketing

We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity

Organisation

Ministry of Justice 

Unit name

Communication and Information Directorate

Grade

Grade 6

Location

Birmingham or Nottingham, with some travel to London; or London, with regular travel to Birmingham/Nottingham

Vacancy description 

Are you a communications professional with the skills and experience to lead a high-profile team? Are you passionate about the role of communications in continuing the build the reputation of a successful organisation and dedicated to the highest standards of public service? This is a challenging, high-profile and rewarding role for a creative and motivated senior communications professional.   

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is a major government department, at the heart of the justice system. The organisation works together to bring the principles of justice to life for everyone in society. Our four strategic priorities to deliver our vision are: 

• A prison and probation service that reforms offenders 

• A modern courts and justice system 

• A Global Britain that promotes the rule of law 

• A transformed department 

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is an executive agency of MoJ. Our role is to support people who may lack the mental capacity to make certain decisions for themselves, such as about their health and wellbeing or financial affairs.  

We enable people to plan ahead so that someone they trust can support them, or make certain decisions for them, if they lose capacity in the future. We also supervise people appointed by the court to help manage someone’s affairs where they’ve lost mental capacity. This could be due to age-related conditions such as dementia, mental illness, ill health or an accident. 

We are looking for an experienced senior communicator with an interest in leading an award-winning team. Someone who can drive forward our plans to create excellent communications that speaks to our audiences. Someone who can lead our diverse and experienced team to help unleash their talents and further motivate them to be the best they can be.  

We encourage anyone with experience as a senior communications leader to apply. If you’d like to discuss the role in confidence, please contact sara.vogt@justice.gov.uk

Head of Communications 

You will lead and manage OPG’s communication team, inspiring them to deliver high-quality communications products which engage our stakeholders, support our corporate objectives, enhance our reputation and are robustly evaluated; and be able to articulate with energy OPG’s ambition to protect peoples’ best interests now and into the future.  

You’ll be at ease across a wide range of communications disciplines, including: media, campaigns, digital, internal and events. You’ll have a strong track record of using your considerable expertise for real impact. 

You’ll play a vital role in overseeing outstanding behaviour change communications, including our award-winning internal-facing inclusion campaign, and our award-winning public-facing campaign – ‘your voice, your decision’. Our first ever marketing campaign ‘your voice, your decision’ will help us further reach lower socio-economic groups and those from a minority ethnic background using innovative and engaging content through targeted approaches.   Find out more at our campaign site - https://powerofattorney.campaign.gov.uk/ 

As a senior leader and member of the Executive team, you will be a trusted adviser to OPG’s leaders, and non-executive directors, working in partnership with them to develop the overarching approach to communications. You will lead the development and delivery of the OPG external and internal communications strategies, and continually look for new ways to improve our offering. 

You’ll be able to operate strategically and with autonomy across a complex landscape. With a flexible approach, a can-do attitude and excellent relationship management skills.  

You’ll be based in our Birmingham or Nottingham office, although the team are working from home until further notice.

This role includes oversight and project management of the internal and external communications teams, totalling 12 individuals, including 2 G7s, who cover a range of specialisms.

It will report directly to the Deputy Director, Corporate Communications (MoJ).  

Job profile: 

As a senior leader and member of the ExEc team, you will be a trusted adviser to OPG’s leaders, and NEDs, working in partnership with them to develop the overarching approach to communications. You will lead the development and delivery of the OPG external and internal communications strategies, and continually look for new ways to improve our offering. You will oversee two team leads covering internal and external communications. You will use insight from within MOJ, across government and external sources to ensure OPG is developing and modelling best practice in Communications.

The post holder will:

• Provide senior counsel to OPG’s leaders, on both long-term issues and short-term handling, and overall lead on external stakeholder relationships

• Lead on the future direction setting for OPG Communications and new ideas development

• Oversee OPG’s external campaign on uptake on lasting powers of attorney

• Oversee the OPG external and internal communications strategy with a focus on creating innovative practices 

• Be an active member of the Change Committee

• Oversee delivery of communications both externally – including across campaigns, digital and stakeholder engagement – and internally – across vision and leadership, culture change, transformation and day-to-day.

• Cross-agency working – sharing learnings and insights with other agencies across MOJ and in wider organisations

• Bringing in insight and best practice from sources outside OPG

• Taking a strategic approach to insight, research and evaluation, ensuring all work is based on evidence, and learning from what works.

Person specification: 

• Provide visible senior leadership across OPG, and be a role model for inclusive leadership. 

• Own and set direction for the development and delivery of OPG’s communications and engagement strategy, taking responsibility to ensure all activities reflect and support OPG and MoJ priorities as well as wider Government policies. 

• Provide timely, clear and decisive communications advice as required to the Chief Executive, and senior leadership team, recommending the most effective options whilst balancing risks with the opportunities to support the Agency's objectives and enhance its reputation. 

• Inspire and shape the OPG communications team as an inclusive, high-performing and innovative team. Foster a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring team members understand their roles and responsibilities and are able to take advantage of training and development opportunities which enhance the capability of the team and organisation. 

• Oversee delivery of communications both externally – including across campaigns, media, digital and stakeholder engagement – and internally – across vision and leadership, culture change, transformation and day-to-day. 

• Develop a network of colleagues from other organisations and government departments to showcase our work and share best practice. Be seen to be a role model within the wider Government Communications Service and other government departments and use these opportunities to represent OPG and promote our values and expertise. 

• Take a strategic approach to insight, research and evaluation, ensuring all work is based on evidence, and learning from what works as well as what doesn’t 

Personal qualities and skills required for the roles: 

• Strong leadership skills, confident in creating and delivering complex strategies 

• First-class expertise across a wide range of communications disciplines, including media, digital, stakeholder, and branding, with strong evidence of impact and results 

• Strong understanding of stakeholder engagement and confidence in working with stakeholders to achieve results 

• An enthusiastic team-player, with strong interpersonal skills and a proactive and collaborative attitude, able to inspire the confidence of colleagues 

• Effective at negotiating and influencing at a senior level 

• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills, with experience of delivering multi-faceted projects within tight time frames 

• Confident in challenging conventional thinking on the use of communications approaches, including digital, and show evidence of adapting to change  

• Budget management or an ability to learn this quickly in post 

• Good political understanding or ability to pick up this thinking swiftly in post 

We will be recruiting to this role using Success Profiles. Details of the Success Profiles competencies can be found online: Success Profiles: Civil Service Behaviours 

Please note - we will usually recruit individuals at the bottom of the salary scale for all our communications roles. 

Working Arrangements & Further Information

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Support

·         A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.

·         Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits,retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.

·         For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers

·         Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.

·         Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

1-    To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);

2-    To Ministry of Justice Resourcing (resourcing-services@justice.gov.uk);

3-    To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity.

There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Grading Structure Review

The Ministry of Justice is currently undergoing a review of posts which are currently graded at Band A to realign our grading structure with the majority of the wider Civil Service.

Posts advertised at Band A may be graded at either Grade 6 or Grade 7 once the review has taken place.  

Interviews will be scheduled in due course.

19/05/2021, 23:55 hours.

If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com Please quote the job reference - 43552.
Security Clearance (SC)

To apply for roles in MOJ you will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of application so that pre-employment checks (BPSS) can be undertaken. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why. 

For some roles you will be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorism (CTC), Security Clearance (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) level as a condition of appointment. To meet CTC/SC/DV requirements you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3/5/10 years prior to the date of application (The level of checks that are required are stated in the advert).

If you do not meet the above requirements, you may still be considered if, for example:

  • You've been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government
  • You were studying abroad
  • You were living overseas with parents

In such cases you will need to be able to provide referee cover for the period(s) of residence overseas. The duration of overseas residence and the country of abode will also be taken into account.

Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance.

if you feel that your application has not been treated in line with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance

We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.


Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing - 500 word limit
Leadership - 500 word limit
Experience
CV
Technical Skills
Communications: Insight - Core - 500 word limit
Communications: Implementation - Core - 500 word limit
Communications: Ideas - Core - 500 word limit
Communications: Impact - Core - 500 word limit

Interview stage assessments

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.
Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing
Leadership
Technical Skills
Communications: Insight - Core
Communications: Implementation - Core
Communications: Ideas - Core
Communications: Impact - Core

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

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) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

· 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 (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

This Vacancy is closed to applications.