Head of Communications OPG (Ref: 21184)

Please refer to Job Description

Head of Communications

Office of the Public Guardian , Grade 6

Location: Birmingham or Nottingham, with some travel to London; or London, with some travel to Birmingham/Nottingham

Grade: Grade 6

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £71,381-£80,419 (national) and £75,674-£85,257 (London)

Role overview

This is a high-profile leadership role for a strategic, creative and audience-focused communications professional. You will lead OPG's multidisciplinary communications team and ensure its internal and external communications work as one coherent, insight-led offer.

Working at the heart of OPG, you will be a trusted adviser to the Chief Executive, senior leaders and non-executive directors. You will set the strategic direction for communications, translate organisational priorities into clear plans and make the day-to-day judgements needed to deliver the greatest impact.

You will lead through others, creating the conditions for a talented team to perform at its best. The remit spans internal and change communications, campaigns, digital content and customer communications.

The role has oversight of OPG's internal and external communications teams, leading 14 individuals across a range of communications specialisms. The role will be embedded in OPG governance, working closely to deliver the priorities of the OPG Executive Team.

The role reports to the Deputy Director, Corporate Communications in MOJ, and you will also work closely with colleagues across the Ministry of Justice and the wider Government Communication Service.

Responsibilities

• Set the strategic direction for OPG communications, developing and delivering a joined-up internal and external communications approach aligned to OPG's purpose, priorities and the wider MoJ narrative.
• Act as the principal communications adviser to the Chief Executive and senior leadership team, providing clear, evidence-based advice on opportunities, reputation, risk and organisational issues.
• Own prioritisation, sequencing and resource allocation across the communications portfolio, making transparent trade-offs and flexing the team towards the areas of greatest organisational need and impact.
• Lead and develop the multidisciplinary communications team through its senior leads, setting clear expectations, building capability and fostering an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Ensure OPG communicates with one coherent voice across audiences and channels, overseeing high-quality content.
• Lead internal and change communications that help colleagues understand OPG's direction, make sense of change and connect their work to organisational outcomes, using staff insight to shape the approach.
• Responsible for leading and delivering effective communications to support staff through transformation and change.
• Oversee creative, accessible and audience-led campaigns that build understanding, reach underserved audiences and support behaviour change, using the right mix of channels and partnerships.
• Embed insight, planning and evaluation throughout the team's work, to set measurable objectives, learn and improve, and demonstrate impact.
• Build strong relationships across OPG, MoJ, GCS and relevant external networks; uphold professional standards and contribute as an influential senior leader across the wider Communications Directorate.
• You will become a member of the MOJ Corporate Communications SMT, and MOJ Communications Senior Leadership Team.

Person specification

We are looking for an experienced senior communications leader who combines excellent strategic judgment, with creativity and practical delivery. You will be comfortable operating with autonomy in a complex organisation, advising at the most senior levels and leading through others. You will be collaborative, inclusive and committed to continuous improvement, with the confidence to challenge constructively and make clear decisions at pace.

Communications judgement

• A strong track record of providing trusted strategic communications advice to senior leaders and boards, using sound judgement on sensitive, complex or high-risk issues.
• Broad communications expertise and the ability to integrate internal and external disciplines into a coherent strategy, narrative and delivery plan.
• A strong understanding of audience insight, planning and evaluation, with evidence of using data and learning to improve communications outcomes.

Managing competing demands

• Proven ability to lead a substantial portfolio in a fast-paced environment, prioritising competing demands and making effective decisions about sequencing, resources and trade-offs.
• Experience of leading through senior team members, setting direction and standards while enabling others to take ownership and deliver.
• Excellent relationship management and influencing skills, with evidence of building productive partnerships across organisational and professional boundaries.

Creativity and integrated communications

• A strong record of developing audience-focused communications and campaigns that make complex issues clear and influence understanding, confidence or behaviour.
• The ability to spot opportunities, test new approaches and use digital channels and content creatively while maintaining accessibility and professional standards.
• Evidence of creating the conditions for creative excellence across a multidisciplinary team, from ideas and commissioning through to delivery and evaluation.

About the Office of the Public Guardian

The Office of the Public Guardian is an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice. OPG helps people in England and Wales stay in control of decisions about their health and finance, and supports people to make important decisions for others who cannot decide for themselves.

OPG helps people plan for someone to make decisions for them if they lose mental capacity. It registers lasting and enduring powers of attorney, maintains registers of attorneys, deputies and guardians, supervises deputies and guardians appointed by the courts, and investigates concerns about how attorneys, deputies or guardians are carrying out their duties. OPG carries out legal functions under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act 2017.

This role leads communications for OPG, helping colleagues, partners and the public understand its work and supporting the organisation to protect people's best interests now and in the future.

Working in MoJ Communications

You will be part of the Ministry of Justice Communications Directorate and the Government Communication Service. You will work across organisational boundaries, contribute to the leadership and development of the communications profession, and help build a modern, flexible and effective communications function.

Optional briefing

We will be holding an optional briefing for prospective candidates where we will provide an overview of the role and give you an opportunity to ask questions. The optional briefing: this will take place on Monday 24th August, 2.00-2.30pm. If you would be interested in joining this, or receiving the recording, please email CPPLRecruitment@justice.gov.uk.

How to apply

To apply, you will be asked to provide a CV and a statement of suitability of no more than 750 words, setting out why you are the right fit for the role and paying particular attention to the responsibilities and person specification.

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, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

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