72529 - Deputy Head of Strategic Communications (Insight and Evaluation, External Affairs and Digital Marketing)

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Job title:    G6s - Deputy Head of Strategic Communications (Insight and Evaluation, External Affairs and Digital Marketing)

Available on promotion:    Yes. Advertised Externally and across GCS.  

Vacancy Description:    

This is an exciting opportunity for an exceptional leader and ambitious communications expert to join the Ministry of Justice as Deputy Head of Strategic Communications with direct responsibility for strategic communications, external affairs, insight and evaluation, digital marketing and gov.uk. You will manage c.14 highly skilled and specialist communicators and report directly into the Deputy Director, Head of Strategic Communications, Campaigns and Digital.

We are looking for someone with strong strategic communications and insight and evaluation expertise who can help shape our communications priorities and approach across the MOJ Communications Directorate.

As part of our Senior Leadership Team (SLT) you will play a crucial leadership role shaping the culture and work of the whole team, which includes national and international campaigns and digital communications. The role offers a broad mix of day-to-day and strategic communications challenges and has huge opportunity for influence and innovation which can be felt across the department.

This role is also responsible for driving strategic communication across MoJ communications. This includes bringing all functions together from across the Communications Directorate to ensure a greater focus on MoJ’s core priorities, developing maximum collaboration to make the most of every opportunity through all relevant disciplines and driving consistent use of insight and evaluation against those core priorities. As part of this work, you will have responsibility for delivering the annual MoJ Communications Strategy. You will also ensure that communications plans for senior leaders in the department – including Ministers and the Permanent Secretary are strategic and pull together activity from across comms disciplines to advise in a strategic way which supports our priorities. 

You will also manage the high-performing External Affairs team. This team works right across MoJ’s portfolios (prisons, probation, sentencing, courts, victims and justice) and has a crucial role liaising with a diverse variety of key stakeholders; representing external views, ideas and challenges right through the policymaking and legislative process - working to generate accurate and informative stakeholder commentary around public announcements. 

The Digital Marketing & GOV.UK team also report into you. This team provide highly-specialist marketing expertise and strategic advice to campaign teams engaging in paid-for marketing activity and to the wider communications team on the use of digital partnerships. It also brings rigour to the MoJ’s commissioning of and work with marketing agencies and seeks to ensure consistent value for money in contracting. The GOV.UK team advise on and lead the development of MoJ content on GOV.UK including consultations, SEO, campaign pages and practical advice for our audiences.

The Insight & Evaluation Team work with research agencies to commission and analyse data which inform our award-winning campaign and marketing activity across all portfolios. They also work independently across comms disciplines to encourage the use of insight (including social listening) in all our comms activity and to ensure solid evaluation plans are in place, particularly where ROI needs to be proven. You will be responsible for working with the DD and the team to ensure insight and evaluation is embedded in all our work, and ensuring it is a foundation of our communications strategy. While you will have line management of this team, please note that the team also have a dotted line into the G6 Head of Campaigns and Marketing, who will continue to support with I&E expertise, given the cross-cutting nature of this work.

Your strategic expertise will be essential in supporting your teams, providing trusted guidance and, where needed, constructive challenge. You will be confident successfully leading large teams with diverse but complimentary communication disciplines, setting direction and ensuring high standards, with excellent line management skills. Your interpersonal skills will be first rate and you will be at ease engaging with senior internal and external stakeholders including senior leaders and Ministers. You will manage resource and capability effectively and ensure the team work strategically to achieve the highest impact. You will be expected to increase collaboration with press office, private office and policy teams; and develop strong, enterprising networks, including engaging across the Government Communications Service to ensure our activity is aligned with other departments. 

The Ministry of Justice deals with a vast range of issues that have a profound impact on people’s lives, and while we are a busy and high-performing team with ambitious goals, as a member of SLT you are responsible for ensuring a positive team culture that ensures a happy, supportive and inclusive work environment - where difference is encouraged and celebrated.

The roles have several key requirements:

•    Expertise across a range of communications disciplines - chiefly external affairs, digital marketing, strategic communications and insight and evaluation, but also a strong understanding of related disciplines including digital, campaigns and media relations. You will be expected to proactively look for opportunities to bring new approaches and uphold best practice.

•    Experience as a senior strategic advisor. As a member of the MOJ Comms SLT you will support the Deputy Director to provide expert strategic advice to Ministers, CEOs, Permanent Secretaries, officials and SpAds. You will be aware of current issues, work in support of key priorities and manage critical risks. You will understand the MoJ’s wider political and cultural context - with a deep understanding of policy, operations and the workings of government and Parliament. You should be expert at advising on how communications campaigns help achieve objectives and add value and be confident in creating and implementing communications strategies. 

•    Responding to crises & understanding context. Working closely with MoJ press office colleagues, you will spot and manage reputational risks, display judgement and political nous, and work with the Deputy Director to articulate a clear plan of action - providing calm and authoritative leadership for your team. You should influence the MoJ’s decision-making regarding its stakeholder engagement and digital communications - protecting and enhancing reputation. You will be able to build the trust and influence within your department, the GCS and No10, and have the ability to speak truth to power.

•    Setting strategic direction. You will work with SLT members to develop the MoJ annual communications strategy that aligns activity to Departmental and cross-government priorities. It should be based on audience insight, set outcomes, have an implementation plan, and include evaluation metrics. You should simplify complexity, act as a thought-leader, and be a source of expertise and innovation. You will be responsible for championing the strategy across the department and the Communications Directorate, securing buy-in and bringing different disciplines together (including those you don’t have line management for) to play their part.

•    Insight and evaluation. You will have an appreciation of the importance of insight and evaluation in delivering effective communications and a proven track record of using insight to inform decision making and to show impact. You will play an important role in championing insight and evaluation across MoJ. Experience of having worked with research agencies would be beneficial. 

•    Outstanding management and leadership skills. You will role model continuous professional development and work with the DD to make sure the team has the capability and skills needed to deliver. This involves assessing changes in the external environment and identifying current or future skills gaps. You will develop plans for addressing those gaps and building capability by investing in learning and development, improving performance management, changing the make-up of the team, or recruiting talent. You will play an active role in raising professional standards and improving efficiency more broadly, including by leading continuous improvement projects. 

•    Developing and improving our culture, behaviour, and values. You are a senior leader within the department and a guardian of our values within our functions. You will work with the communications SLT to develop overall confidence and morale in the team - including our focus on a) culture b) collaboration, c) capability - as well as MoJ’s core values. You will build on our improvements to diversity and inclusion and create an environment where everyone can flourish.

•    Fostering collaboration and influence. You are expected to represent MoJ communications across Whitehall – building effective relationships with senior figures, as well as with communications peers in OGDs. This includes the ability to work with other departments on cross-cutting issues. You will be able to use these relationships to unblock issues, manage risks, and deliver more effective communications. You will develop a network of professional expertise which you can draw on for advice and support.

Success Profiles    

1.    Applications will be assessed using the Civil Service Success Profiles Framework.
2.    This will focus on experience, assessed through your CV, Statement of Suitability and (for shortlisted candidates) in interview.
3.    Performance will also be assessed based on the following two behaviours, which will be assessed through your Statement of Suitability and (for shortlisted candidates) your interview:
i.    Communicating and influencing.
ii.    Making effective decisions.  

Application:    

1.    A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. 
2.    A Statement of Suitability (no longer than two pages) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to how you meet the behaviours stipulated above. 

Terms and Conditions 

Appointment term:    •    This role is being offered as a fixed term or loan for a 24-month period for existing civil servants.

Salary range:    •    Depending on the grade of successful candidate(s), the salary would be agreed in line with MoJ policy.

Location:    •    Regular attendance in London (102 PF) as well as WFH and/or MoJ Hubs

Working arrangements:    •    Applications are welcomed from candidates that require flexible working arrangements. 

Security Clearance:    SC

DBS required:    No

Reserved for UK Nationals:    Yes

Selection Process 

Overview of process:    This role is being advertised in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. 

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview in April (dates TBC).

How to Apply 

How to apply:    Please complete the application, submitting a CV and a short personal statement outlining your suitability for the role, focusing on the behaviours stipulated (no longer than 2 sides).

Further Information:    For further information about the role please contact Kate Horner kate.horner@justice.gov.uk