28441 - Communications Officer (Stakeholder)

New recruits to the Civil Service joining MoJ are expected to join at the band minimum. For an exceptional applicant and under exceptional circumstances, managers have discretion to set starting salaries above the pay range minimum.

About HMCTS:

HM Courts and Tribunals Service is responsible for the management and administration of the justice system. Our courts, across the criminal, civil and family jurisdictions, run throughout England and Wales. Our tribunals are based throughout the United Kingdom, and include the non-devolved jurisdictions in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

We operate on the basis of a partnership between the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice and the Senior President of Tribunals, each of whom have specific leadership responsibilities entrenched in statute. As an Agency established underneath that partnership, our aim is to run an efficient and effective courts and tribunals system, enabling the rule of law to be upheld, and providing access to justice for all.

What we do:

We handle about 4.4 million cases, claims and appeals a year; and operate from 338 courts and hearing centres. We currently have over 16,000 members of staff, most of whom work in frontline, operational roles and play a vital role in supporting the independent judiciary in the administration of justice. Together, we are responsible for:

- providing the supporting administration for a fair, efficient and accessible courts and tribunal system
supporting the independent judiciary in the administration of justice
- driving continuous improvement across all aspects of the administration of courts and tribunals
- collaborating effectively with other justice organisations and agencies, including the legal professions, to improve access to justice
- working with government departments and agencies to improve the quality and timeliness of their decision-making, which will reduce the number of cases coming before courts and tribunals

The Communications Team:

We have structured the HM Courts & Tribunals Service Communications Team to ensure it has the capability to support the demands of a large and complex organisation that is undergoing major change.

We are professional communications leaders: defining the organisation's communications strategy; working with communications partners in the MoJ and Judicial Office; delivering operational communications activities; and enabling others to deliver and improve their own communications.

The team is designed around five core functions:

1. Internal communications

2. External communications

3. Strategic communications planning, insight and evaluation

4. Content and campaigns

5. Communications channels

We provide an integrated communications service - recognising internal and external communications requirements - that supports and enables the organisation's objectives. We listen to the wants and needs of the organisation, our internal clients, as well as those of our stakeholders to ensure that we are effective in communicating.

Underpinning this, we ensure that our systems and processes are fit for purpose, meaning that we can be efficient, consistent and responsive in all that we do. We increasingly use digital communications channels, using audience insight and evaluation to ensure that we have the right channels in place to reach our key stakeholders.

Working with others, the team owns the HMCTS corporate narrative. These are the key messages that we use to tell our story, to establish and promote our identity and vision, and to demonstrate what HMCTS does and seeks to do.

The Communications Officer (Stakeholder) will:

Support the work of the External Stakeholder Communications function, including: Maintaining the stakeholder database, drafting content, preparing e-newsletter, supporting events, organise meetings, take minutes, keeping records, finance admin.

You will work closely with:

• Change directorate and reform project teams
• Stakeholder Engagement Team
• External suppliers/event organisers
• Directorate business managers
• Chief Executive's Office and Senior Management Team
• Policy and operational colleagues
• Communications director
• Judicial Office communications team
• Government Communications Service

Essential Criteria:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to adapt style to audience;
• Ability to build and maintain constructive relationships with internal and external stakeholders;
• Ability to work independently and drive forward projects and campaigns using own initiative
• Filming, video and editing skills desirable, but not essential
• Draft content and prepare e-newsletters
• Film and livestream events/briefings, organise webchats and webinars
• Support stakeholder events
• Collaborate with HMCTS and MoJ Stakeholder Engagement Teams
• Record and track stakeholder communications
• Maintain the stakeholder map and database

Other duties:

The post holder is required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post.

Location of Post:

Please see recruitment details. Frequent travel to other HMCTS sites (at least 4-6 days per month) may be required as part of these working arrangements.

Application Process:

We will assess you against the following behaviours at Level 2 during the selection process:

Seeing the Big Picture:

Use insight to identify target audiences and partners, support decision making and help inform the overall communication approach. Interpret quantitative and qualitative data to identify stakeholder and audience insights. Provide advice on appropriate digital channels to reach target audiences.

Changing and Improving:

Express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing, and with sensitivity and respect for others. Design and develop engaging, targeted content and messages suitable for use across a range of channels. Demonstrate an awareness of how channels work together and complement each other.

Delivering at Pace:

Write clearly in plain, simple language and check work for spelling and grammar, learning from previous inaccuracies. Select appropriate visuals to improve the impact of communication (for example, photography and infographics). Support the delivery of online events including podcasts, live chats, broadcasts, blogs and Tweets.

Making Effective Decisions:

Support the design and delivery of techniques to assess the effectiveness and impact of communication. Advise on, monitor, summarise and provide analysis of campaign effectiveness indicators digital communication.

Fixed Term Appointment:

This appointment will be made on a fixed term appointment, due to the time limited nature of the Reform Programme. For existing civil servants, whilst the role itself is time limited, at the end of the fixed term period, you will retain your permanent status but will be placed on the re-deployment register. Successful appointment on promotion will secure this grade on a permanent substantive basis.

Secondments and loans will be considered on an individual basis.

Flexible working options:

HMCTS offers a flexible working system in many of its offices.

Job Sharing and Reduced Hours:

All applications for job sharing or reduced hours will be treated fairly and on a case by case basis in accordance with the MoJ’s flexible working policy and equality policy.

Excess Fares and Relocation Allowances:

This job is not eligible for relocation allowances but excess fares may be considered in accordance with MoJ’s excess fares allowance policy.