Deputy Head of External Communications

The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) is a new arm’s-length body set up, at unprecedented pace, to administer compensation to people whose lives have been impacted by the infected blood scandal.

IBCA will ensure payment is made in recognition of the wrongs experienced by those who have been infected by HIV, Hepatitis B or C, as well as those who love and care for them. They have been frustrated and distressed by the delays in achieving proper recognition, and we must help put this right.

We are committed to putting the infected and affected blood community at the centre of every decision we make and every step we take to build our organisation to deliver compensation payments.

IBCA employees will be public servants. If successful in this role you will be appointed directly into IBCA, on IBCA terms and conditions as a public servant.

Successful applicants will join the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Please note that the mission of IBCA means that it is likely to be fully operational for a period of approximately up to 5 years, after which IBCA will become a smaller residual service. When IBCA’s work begins to wind down, IBCA employees will receive support and practical guidance to find a new role, whether in the Civil Service, another Arms Length Body (ALB), or an external employer.

As Deputy Head of External Communications, you'll build trust with the infected blood community by communicating quickly, clearly and consistently. This role sits at the heart of IBCA's mission: building, restoring and maintaining that trust.

You'll lead a team responsible for driving a forward-looking media agenda and leading proactive communications activity across key milestones. You'll connect with the community through the media and social media as events unfold. You'll understand the news cycle, and horizon scan to pre-empt issues that could reduce trust in the organisation. You'll provide senior counsel during critical announcements or developments, working closely with the IBCA’s leadership team and other government officials.

You'll work closely with the Communication and Engagement leadership team to support the delivery of our strategy. What you learn from live media and community reaction will feed back into future content and campaigns. You will be able to support the wider leadership team at busy or critical moments, including providing senior cover when needed.

You'll be a senior leader in Communications and Engagement, advising and constructively challenging senior leaders on complex media landscapes, public engagements and sensitive developments.

Responsibilities

• Lead IBCA's media team, setting a proactive communications agenda, managing complex media enquiries, and ensuring clear, accurate updates to the infected blood community
• Horizon scan for legislative, policy and organisational developments, and prepare the team to respond quickly and consistently when they happen
• Lead IBCA's day-to-day digital and social media channels, including X, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube, to reach audiences
• Design and run data-led media and social activity, using the OASIS framework, that translates organisational and policy changes into clear, supportive and actionable messaging
• Work in a trauma-informed way, making sure every piece of communication is transparent and clear
• Strong editorial judgement, with experience commissioning, shaping and assuring clear and compelling content for different audiences
• Experience of developing and delivering proactive communications and content plans, translating organisational priorities and external insight into coordinated activity
• Advise and counsel senior leaders through complex media situations, public engagements and sensitive developments
• Establish evaluation metrics, track the effect of media, proactive and reactive activity, and feed insights back into the team's approach
• Experience of leading and developing communications professionals, including getting the best from people with different specialist skills
• Lead, develop and support your team, giving them clear direction and the confidence to proactively communicate as well as handle fast-moving, sensitive situations well.

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 information

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete an anonymised CV, which should include your career history, skills, experience and qualifications.

You will also be asked to complete a Personal Statement, of no more than 750 words, that demonstrates how you meet the Essential Skills for the role.

At sift, you will be assessed on your CV and Personal Statement. Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Should you be successful at sift, you will be invited to attend an interview where you will be assessed on behaviours.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – w/c 23 November 2026

Expected interview date/s – w/c 30 November 2026

Interview location - Your interview will either be by video or conducted face to face.

You will be notified of the location if you are selected for an interview.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via IBCA.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

IBCA recruitment policy limits Skilled Worker visa sponsorship solely to roles designated as business-critical (internal role not prioritised as hard to fill). Because this position does not fall into that category, we will not be offering sponsorship. Therefore, to be considered for this role, you must be able to demonstrate your right to work in the UK without requiring employer sponsorship

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to IBCA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service / Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the IBCA if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

PLEASE NOTE: IBCA employees are public servants, therefore the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNR) do not apply. Candidates who do not meet the CSNR are welcome to apply and applications will not be rejected: successful candidates however will be subject to a Right to Work check to work within the UK.

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