Director Of Communications

Director of Communications

Department for Transport

Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 3rd March 2024

Reference number: 340477

Salary: £110,000

For existing Civil Servants, internal candidates the usual pay rules should apply, i.e. if moving on level transfer the salary will remain the same, if successful on promotion the salary will be the higher of either 10% pay increase or the pay band minimum.

A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Contract type: Permanent

Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Location

Birmingham, Leeds and London. As a member of the SCS you will be leading teams working on a hybrid basis. Currently, the expectation is that you will spend more than 60% of your time in the workplace. Some travel to other DfT workplaces may be required

About the job

The Director of Communications leads the Department’s communications team and is Head of Profession for communications staff across the group.

You will be the Secretary of State’s senior official communications adviser. You will set communications strategy, ensure high performance delivery, promote a culture of innovation and improve professional standards across the DfT Group.

You will be responsible for a wide range of Communications activity that supports the Department’s Strategic Priorities and the Government’s agenda.

You will provide support, advice and challenge to the Secretary of State and ministerial team.

You will influence and inform stakeholders inside and outside of Government. You will have experience and a proven track record in high profile areas. You will be able to lead highly effective public and media relations activity, high impact campaign delivery, targeted stakeholder engagement, using innovative means, continuing to look for ways to revolutionise the approaches being adopted.

You will report to Nick Joyce as Director General of Corporate Delivery Group and be a member of the Department’s Executive Committee, which meets weekly to steer the Department’s strategic vision, maintain oversight of key policies and delivery commitments, and manage the operations of the Department. You will play a key role in the broader leadership and development of the organisation.

The Communications Directorate will comprise around 90 communications staff and a budget of around £12.2 million per annum.

Across the Group you will be accountable for communications strategy, spend and professional standards across the Department’s network of agencies and other bodies, providing professional leadership to all communications staff across this network, and providing the transformational leadership required to take forward the development of the Communications function over the years ahead.

You will be part of the leadership of the Government Communication Service (GCS) and a senior member of the Whitehall Directors of Communication Group.

DfT is seeking innovative approaches to messaging via video and social media. We are keen to broaden our reach and would welcome applications from those with experience in television, new media and journalism.

Job description

Responsibilities of the role include:

Setting strategic direction.

You will lead the communications strategy, aligning activity to Departmental and cross-government priorities and ensure it is firmly based on audience insight. You will spot and manage reputational risks, display judgement and political acumen, articulate a clear plan of action, foster innovation and provide calm and authoritative leadership for your team.

Deploying campaign communication.

You will align communication delivery to secure departmental strategic priorities, using media and marketing strategy, internal communication and stakeholder engagement to inform the public, create understanding and change behaviour for the public good in support of policy and service goals.

Trusted advisor fostering collaboration and influence

As the most senior communications adviser at DfT you will lead your team in providing expert communications advice to Ministers, CEOs, Permanent Secretaries, officials and Special Advisers. You are expected to lead communications at a system-wide level. You will build effective relationships with senior figures across the sector, with policy and operations counterparts in the Civil Service, and with political colleagues.

Understanding context.

You will understand the political and cultural operating context inside and outside the Civil Service to help inform your advice and lead your teams. This includes understanding the environment and the sector in which the Department for Transport operates.

Building capability.

You will role model continuous professional development and make sure the Department for Transport’s communications function has the capability and skills it needs to deliver the communications strategy. As a leader within GCS you will play an active role in raising professional standards and improving efficiency more broadly, including by leading continuous improvement projects. You will need budget, planning and forecasting skills and the ability to manage complex change programmes.

Leading beyond the function.

As a senior leader within the Department you will sit on the Department’s executive committee and play your part in leading the organisation, including taking on corporate roles and projects which support the GCS and Civil Service’s corporate agenda. You will work to improve diversity and inclusion in your Department and across the profession, and create an environment where everyone can flourish.