Job Description

Head of External Communications& Engagement Inside IR35
Contract Term: 6 months Contracting Authority: GDS (Government Digital Service / Cabinet Office) Location: Hybrid (2-3 days from London, Manchester or Bristol)
The Cabinet Office supports the Prime Minister and ensures the effective running of government. The Cabinet Office is also the corporate headquarters for the government, in partnership with HM Treasury, and takes the lead in certain critical policy areas. More information about the Cabinet Office can be found on its website at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/cabinet-office GDS exists to help the government make brilliant public services that empower people in the UK. We work at the very centre of government to drive digital transformation, focused on users. We build and maintain common platforms, products and tools for others to use and create great public services that are accessible, inclusive and easy to use. We also work with departments to identify patterns, share learning and create change to make government more efficient. Find out more about our work on our GDS Blog. The role: We are seeking to appoint an experienced communications professional to enhance our communication team and form part of the wider leadership group. Working alongside the Head of International and Head of Internal Communications you will have responsibility for initiating, developing and delivering an external communication, marketing and stakeholder engagement strategy. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this diverse and newly-created role will deliver on the communication and engagement goals of the Government Digital Service. The successful applicant will also facilitate a coordinated communication approach across all of GDS\xe2\x80\x99s products and services, bringing together an overarching communication plan and liaising with communication expertise embedded in the organisation. This will involve establishing clear, measurable and outcome-focused approaches across owned, earned and paid-for channels, designed to support key GDS priorities.
As a Head of External Communications & Engagement your main responsibilities will be:

• Help shape the future of GDS and wider digital government through creating and implementing a strategic and measurable communications, marketing and engagement strategy for all external stakeholders
• Ensure the benefits to both users and government resulting from GDS\xe2\x80\x99 plans are widely communicated and well understood, in order to protect our reputation, build trust and enable delivery
• Define a clear co-ordinated channel strategy to communicate GDS\xe2\x80\x99s message across social media and digital channels
• Manage our positioning among government, tech sector and international audiences by developing and enhancing the GDS brand
• Ensure paid and non-paid campaigns are delivered on time and on budget and achieve engagement or recruitment targets, with high levels of buy-in and advocacy from internal and external stakeholders
• Ensure the Department\xe2\x80\x99s communications risks are managed and mitigated. Overall responsibility for communications resilience and crisis communications response, including through the council communications network
• Utilise the content marketing team and communication resources across GDS to deliver clear, consistent, compelling communications and ensure a joined up approach and forward look content calendar
• Establish clear benchmarks and KPI\xe2\x80\x99s to track and measure brand perception, engagement and performance
• Establish a clear understanding of the brand hierarchy, audience and brand voice for GDS and how this works in conjunction with its product and services
• Manage a marketing budget and external resources to optimise performance and deliver on objectives

Essential:

• Proven experience of working at a senior level in a large organisation with various departments, having devised and implemented highly effective communications, marketing and engagement strategies for a range of internal and external stakeholders
• Extensive experience as a communication and stakeholder engagement leader across a range of disciplines (e.g digital, press, senior stakeholder engagement and marketing)
• Is collaborative with a proven ability to build strong relationships with colleagues across a range of disciplines and levels of seniority and has an ability to lead through your influence, fostering a cooperative and productive environment
• Are curious with a natural inclination towards learning and understanding new threats, technologies, strategies, and approaches; you will have a track record of innovative thinking and the ability to see opportunities where others see challenges
• Is kind, demonstrates empathy, respect, and fairness towards team members, and promotes a culture of inclusivity and supports colleagues in achieving their potential

Desirable:

• Have worked in digital and government related sectors
• Experience of navigated the media and political stakeholders

Disability confident As a member of the disability confident scheme, The Cabinet Office guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.
If you qualify for the above, please notify us on PSRapplications@publicsectorresourcing.co.uk. We will be in touch to discuss your suitability and arrange your Guaranteed Interview.
Should you require reasonable adjustments at any point during the recruitment process or if there is a more accessible way for us to communicate, please do let me know.
In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following, this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.