Strategic Communications Manager - Communities and Social Policy

We are actively seeking applicants with diverse experience and from a range of backgrounds.  

Your skills and experience are more important than qualifications. Whilst we have set out a wish list in our person specification, you do not need to tick every box or criteria to apply. 

We welcome applications from anyone with relevant experience and the passion and commitment to make a success of this role. 

Communities and Social Policy Unit 

We are a collaborative, motivated and friendly Unit of around sixty people. We have four teams within the Unit: Community Engagement, Equalities, Financial Hardship and Migration. 

Together, we are responsible for: 

• Helping increase civic participation, especially among underrepresented groups, so that Londoners have the voice, power, and influence that they need to thrive. 
• Delivering the Mayor’s statutory equalities duties and helping to address structural inequalities. 
• Tackling labour market inequalities and increasing opportunities for underrepresented groups in the labour market. 
• Helping Londoners to access the support they need to avoid or escape financial hardship. 
• Helping ensure all Londoners can thrive irrespective of their background and immigration status. 

Principal accountabilities

• Lead the effective development, delivery, and evaluation of a communications strategy for the GLA’s Communities and Social Policy Unit to ensure that the Unit is maximising its impact and achieving its goals. Liaising as necessary with communications officers across the GLA Group. 
• Lead the effective development, delivery, and evaluation of a communications strategy for the Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, working closely with the relevant Community Engagement Lead and liaising as necessary with communications officers across the GLA Group. 
• Provide advice and guidance on external communications, including announcements and set-piece moments; marketing; flagship events and initiatives; proactive and reactive communications; the GLA’s website; social media engagement; and on communications training strategy, arranging training where necessary. 
• Create, edit, or oversee externally published written materials for the Communities and Social Policy Unit, adapting them as necessary for the channel and audience. 
• Collaborating with the External Relations Unit, direct the Communities and Social Policy Unit’s input to the procurement of all necessary communications contracts, including marketing and digital services, design services, printing and public relations. Managing supplier relationships effectively in order to deliver agreed outcomes. 
• Support the development of the Communities and Social Policy pages of the GLA website, ensuring a high-quality site that contributes to communication with Londoners, and other stakeholders. 
• Participate in cross-team and external working groups, representing the Communities and Social Policy Unit as required. 
• Realise the benefits of London’s diversity by promoting and enabling equality of opportunities, and promoting the diverse needs and aspirations of London’s communities, 
• Realise the benefits of London’s diversity by ensuring targeted publicity to young people, Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, and people with disabilities; realise the benefits of co-production, multi-lingual and inclusive comms approaches including best practice in accessibility. 
• Realise the benefits of a flexible approach to work in undertaking the duties and responsibilities of this post and participate in multi-disciplinary, cross-department and cross-organisational, working groups and project teams. 
• Manage staff and resources in allocated to the job in accordance with the Authority’s policies and Code of Ethics and Standards 

PERSON SPECIFICATION 

Technical requirements/experience/qualifications

• Experience of directing the development and delivery of impactful external communications strategies. 
• Demonstrable experience of delivering impact through a range of channels, including mainstream and specialist press, and digital and Social media, and supporting events and stakeholder engagement.
• Understanding of London and the issues it faces as a major world city.
• Demonstrable evidence of the ability to write to a high standard. 
• Experience of establishing processes to measure and monitor the impact of multi-channel communications strategies. 

Behavioural competencies

Communicating and Influencing 

… is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate and engage with us. 

Level 3 indicators of effective performance 

• Encourages and supports teams in engaging in transparent and inclusive communication 
• Influences others and gains buy-in using compelling, well thought through arguments 
• Negotiates effectively to deliver GLA priorities 
• Synthesises the complex viewpoints of others, recognises where compromise is necessary and brokers agreement 
• Advocates positively for the GLA both within and outside the organisation 

Stakeholder Focus  

… is consulting with, listening to, and understanding the needs of those our work impacts and using this knowledge to shape what we do and manage others’ expectations.   

Level 3 indicators of effective performance 

• Understands diverse stakeholder needs and tailors team deliverables accordingly  
• Is a role model to others, encouraging them to think of Londoners first 
• Manages stakeholder expectations, so they are high but realistic  
• Removes barriers to understanding the needs of diverse stakeholders, including hard to reach groups 
• Focuses own and team’s efforts on delivering a quality and committed service  

Planning and Organising 

… is thinking ahead, managing time, priorities, and risk, and developing structured and efficient approaches to deliver work on time and to a high standard. 

Level 3 indicators of effective performance 

• Monitors allocation of resources, anticipating changing requirements that may impact work delivery 
• Ensures evaluation processes are in place to measure project benefits 
• Gains buy-in and commitment to project delivery from diverse stakeholders 
• Implements quality measures to ensure directorate output is of a high standard 
• Translates political vision into action plans and deliverables 

Research and Analysis 

… is gathering intelligence (information, opinion, and data) from varied sources, making sense of it, testing its validity and drawing conclusions that can lead to practical benefits. 

Level 2 indicators of effective performance 

• Proactively seeks latest information sources to progress research agendas and address gaps in knowledge 
• Grasps limitations of or assumptions behind data sources, disregarding those that lack quality 
• Analyses and integrates qualitative and quantitative data to find new insights 
• Translates research outcomes into concise, meaningful reports 
• Identifies relevant and practical research questions for the future 

Responding to Pressure And Change 

… is being flexible and adapting positively, to sustain performance when the situation changes, workload increases, tensions rise or priorities shift.  

Level 3 indicators of effective performance 

• Maintains a focus on key priorities and deliverables, staying resilient in the face of pressure 
• Anticipates and adapts flexibly to changing requirements  
• Uses challenges as an opportunity to gain experience and improve  
• Participates fully and encourages others to engage in change initiatives  
• Manages team’s well-being, supporting them to cope with pressure and change  

This role is based at the London Fire Brigade’s Head Office (Union Street SE1 0LL) 

 Application closing date: Sunday 25th February 2024 at 23:59