Deputy Director - Head of Communications

From healthcare to artificial intelligence, energy to national security, we provide legal advice to government departments on nation-changing subjects.

At Government Legal Department we have a vital, single-minded purpose: to help the Government govern well within the rule of law. This is complemented by our exciting vision to be an outstanding legal organisation, committed to the highest standards of service and professionalism and a brilliant place to work where we can all thrive and fulfil our potential.

Our work touches almost every aspect of public life. We are the largest provider of legal services across government, working on high profile matters.

Our respected professionals are involved in everything from regulation and litigation to advice on drafting legislation. They provide expertise to the full range of government departments. We are at the heart of delivering the government’s priorities and our success depends on our people.

GLD is a non-ministerial government department headed by the Treasury Solicitor, our Permanent Secretary, and employs nearly 4000 people, including nearly 3000 legal professionals. We have offices nationwide, in Bristol, Leeds, inner and outer London and Manchester. Our lawyers can also be located within other departments and overseas.

GLD also depends on a range of cross-functional professionals to provide our corporate services. There are nearly 1000 colleagues playing an essential part in helping GLD to achieve its purpose and truly deliver much more than law.

This is an exciting time to join GLD, with cutting edge legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the Modern Civil Service.

To find out more about what we do you can view our introductory film. On our website you can hear from team members, find out how to apply and learn about the benefits of working for GLD.

You can also read more about the future vision for GLD in our GLD Strategy 2024 – 2027.

This is an opportunity to lead a fundamental transformation in how the government informs and connects with citizens in an era of rapid technological change, evolving media consumption, and the critical challenge of building public trust.

As the most senior communications advisor in your department and a member of the cross-government communications leadership group, you will actively lead and embrace change and innovation and have an entrepreneurial mindset bringing the team with you and championing continuous improvement.​

This is a pivotal role. You will operate at the heart of government decision-making, shaping how policies and priorities are communicated to the public. Your work will directly influence the impact of government policy, democratic engagement and the perception of government, both domestically and internationally.​

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the design and development of a new communications team working across the AGO and GLD, whilst providing direct support to the Attorney and Solicitor General. The post holder will lead a new approach to communications, building an integrated team to support the Law Officers and implement the GCS operating model. ​

Audience-focused and insight-driven, you will bring consumer marketing and storytelling expertise to public service communication. You will boldly champion modern communications - leading the cultural shift from reactive, press-first communications to integrated always-on campaigns, embracing digital innovation, leveraging responsible AI and boldly putting citizens at the heart of our planning and delivery.​

​You will be the senior communications leader across both departments, providing direct & personal counsel on all aspects of communication to the Attorney and Solicitor General, Special Advisors, Permanent Secretary and the AGO/GLD Executive Team. You will lead the design and implementation of a communications portfolio including content creation, campaigns, press office, speechwriting, events planning and. You will also lead internal communications across both departments, reaching an internal audience of nearly 4000 working across multiple locations. ​

​You will be part of a senior peer network of Government Communications leaders, collectively responsible for a Civil Service profession of over 7,000communicators across departments, agencies and arm’s-length bodies.​

And part of your role leading and working with other communications professionals will see you work closely with the communications teams in the CPS and SFO, as well as HMCPSI each of whom is sponsored or superintended by the AGO. ​

In what is a highly visible and influential role across AGO & GLD the postholder will have the opportunity to showcase and grow their leadership skills through a broad range of corporate opportunities across the departments. These include helping to bring the AGO and GLD closer together and supporting and generating the diverse and inclusive environment, something which AGO and GLD are passionate about and which is of fundamental importance to the Department’s long-term success. ​

​Key Responsibilities

• ​Provide decisive, expert counsel to the Attorney and Solicitor General on the communication of departmental priorities and reputation management and work proactively with departmental senior leaders as their top comms advisor. ​
• Lead and develop a high performing, multi-disciplinary communications team, with accountability for ensuring your team has the highest professional standards and capabilities, delivers and gets things done, whilst championing an inclusive, future-focused culture and managing a budget of around £2m​.
• Shape the senior leadership of Government Communications across the profession - visibly co-leading the Modernising Govt Comms strategy, driving collaboration and building a truly mission-led profession​.
• Partner with policy and delivery colleagues to integrate communications thinking into the policy-making and delivery process, using insight, data, evaluation to strengthen policy outcomes and public engagement.​
• Develop compelling narratives that connect government priorities to real‑world citizen stories, building partnerships with content creators, community partners, influencers and leaders across the system.​

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Application

To apply for this post you need to complete the application on Civil Service Jobs. The deadline for this application is 30th October 2026 at 12:00 Midday. You can search for the job using the reference number below.

In your application you will be assessed on the following:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities experience and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years, as part of the online application form. The CV will be used to assess key skills and experience as set out in the Person Specification slide, as a first stage sift. ​
• A personal statement of no more than 1,250 words, providing clear and relevant examples that demonstrate how your key skills and experience align with the requirements outlined in the Person Specification.

Failure to complete all documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. Please ensure that all documents contain your full name.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application or are unable to apply online please contact SCSRecruitment@governmentlegal.gov.uk.

CV Guidance for candidates

Please note that CV forms part of the online application form.

Please find the following guidance on how to populate the two sections of the CV when completing the online application: You will be asked to provide your employment history and previous skills and experience.

For Employment History – please add your employment history, you can set out the roles you have completed in the past with start to end dates. ​

For Previous Skills and Experience - please add your experience, skills, achievements, key responsibilities, and any transferable skills you can bring to this role.​

Failure to complete all documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. Should you encounter any issues with your online application or are unable to apply online please contact SCSRecruitment@governmentlegal.gov.uk.

Application Errors

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, please contact us via: SCSRecruitment@governmentlegal.gov.uk. Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – 486235 & vacancy closing date 30th October 2026.

Selection Panels

The selection panel for this campaign will be:​

• Damian Paterson, Director, Strategy, Performance and Transformation, Government Legal Department​
• Victoria Stokes, Deputy Director, Skills and Standards, Government Communications​
• Further panel member will be confirmed to shortlisted candidates.

Shortlist

You will receive an acknowledgment of your application through Civil Service Jobs once your application has been submitted.

The panel will then assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

If there are a large number of applications the panel will conduct a staged sift. The initial sift will be on the CV alone. Candidates assessed as demonstrating the required experience in their CV will progress to the second stage of the two-stage sift where their Personal Statement will be assessed.

Candidates assessed as not demonstrating the required experience in their CV will not progress to have their Personal Statement assessed; they will be deemed as unsuccessful in the first stage of the two-stage sift.

Candidates assessed as not demonstrating the required experience in their Personal Statement will be deemed as unsuccessful in the second stage of the two-stage sift. ​

In the eventuality that there are a high number of applicants successful at sift, GLD may operate a longlist, whereby applicants who have been shortlisted and met the minimum pass mark but are not selected for interview will have their application placed on hold. After the initial interview round candidates on the longlist may be offered an interview, should there still be posts available.

Assessments

If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in a Staff Engagement Exercise.

These assessments do not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview. Full details of the assessment process will be provided to shortlisted candidates at the earliest opportunity.

Stakeholder Conversations

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a conversation with the Attorney General ahead of the formal interview. Conversations will take place in person in 102 Petty France, London. A representative of the Civil Service Commission will also be present at the conversation.​

The conversation is not a scored or assessed part of the selection process. It provides an opportunity to discuss ministerial priorities and your proposed approach to the role. Feedback from the discussion will be shared with the selection panel, including any areas the Minister considers should be explored further. The panel may discuss these areas with you during your formal interview.

Informal Conversations​

Shortlisted candidates will also have the opportunity to speak to the vacancy holder, Damian Paterson, prior to the final interview to learn more about the role and the organisation. Please note this is an optional part of the process, not part of the formal assessment process.​

Interview

You will be asked to attend a panel interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

As part of this interview candidates will be required to deliver a short 5 –minute presentation aligned to the person specification and the title of thatpresentation will be confirmed in advance. ​

Interviews will take place remotely via Microsoft Teams. Full details of theinterview format will be provided to shortlisted candidates prior to interview.

Offer, Feedback and Reserve List

The timeline in the attached candidate pack indicates the date by which decisions are expected to be made, and all candidates will be advised of selection decisions as soon as possible thereafter. All advertised dates are subject to change at short notice.

We are unable to offer feedback to candidates who have not attended an interview. Candidates who attend an interview will also be offered verbal feedback from a member of the interview panel.

We appoint in strict order of merit. If you meet the minimum criteria for this position but are not successful for a post, you will be placed on the reserve list for up to 12 months. We then may contact you to see if you are interested in a post at the same, or a lower grade, in GLD should one arise.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.