15756 - Deputy Head of Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement - Planning and Visits

General Information

Salary The national salary range is £71,381 - £80,419, London salary range is £75,674 - £85,257. Your salary will be dependent on your base location Working Pattern Full Time Vacancy Approach External Location National Region National Closing Date 27-Mar-2026 Post Type Fixed Term Civil Service Grade Grade 6 Number of jobs available 1 Reserve List 12 Months Job ID 15756

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Deputy Head of Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement – Planning and Visits  

• Grade: G6
• Location: National
• Salary range: £71,381 - £80,419 (National) £75,674 - £85,257 (London)

Vacancy description:

The newly formed Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement team sits at the heart of the MoJ’s communications directorate tasked with ensuring the department’s communications activity advances the Government’s key priorities. Its purpose is to increase strategic direction, co-ordination and impact of communications and deliver Ministerial visits, speeches and stakeholder activity to the highest professional standards.   

You will work alongside a second Deputy Head of Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement, responsible for the MoJ communications strategy and external affairs, and Chief Speechwriter and Head of Editorial Strategy, in an overall team of about 25 people.   

As Deputy Head of Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement, you will play a key role in shaping how we communicate with our audiences, leading on communications planning and managing our Ministerial visits and events programme. 

It is a challenging and high-profile post in the communications directorate and you will be required to work collaboratively across different disciplines to co-ordinate plans and campaigns. 

You will work closely with Special Advisors, Ministers and senior civil servants in ensuring departmental communications tell a clear story about the Government’s Plan for Change and help to deliver its priorities. 

You will need to play an active role in supporting colleagues of all grades across the directorate to work more strategically as a member of the Senior Leadership Team. 

The role is suited to an established Grade 6 or 7, with excellent judgment and organisational skills. You will directly manage a G7 Head of Communications Planning and G7 Head of Visits and Events, with a wider team including 3 SIOs and 4 IOs.  

Key responsibilities:

• Maintain a strategic forward look for the department’s communications, anticipating reputational risks and opportunities.
• Support the G7 Head of Communications Planning to provide regular communications plans to Ministers and SpAds in a clear and accessible format.
• Act as a key liaison with No.10 to build confidence in MoJ’s strategic communications programme.
• Work with the other Deputy Head of Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement to ensure communications activity is strategic, insight-driven and innovative.
• Work with policy, communications and operational colleagues to align communications activity into long-term storytelling that changes public opinion and behaviour in line with the government's key priorities.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships across the department and with wider Government Communications, particularly with the Home Office on the Safer Streets mission.
• Role model collaboration and play an active role in building strategic planning capability across the wider communications function.
• Lead the strategic planning and delivery of the department’s visits and events programme.
• Support the G7 Head of Visits to develop and expand the new function, ensuring activity aligns with our communications strategy and delivers Ministerial priorities.
• Work with the wider team to streamline processes around visits, speeches and stakeholder engagement, and build links with Private Office to professional and speed-up delivery of communications plans.
• Play an active role in ensuring the new Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement team prioritises professional development, innovation and wellbeing.
• Act as a visible and inclusive senior leader within MoJ Communications, contributing to directorate-wide strategy, prioritisation and decision-making.

Essential criteria:

• Significant experience in strategic communications planning at a senior level
• Proven track record of developing and delivering successful communications strategies and campaigns
• Experience managing complex visits and events programmes, including high-profile stakeholder events
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with experience of developing and motivating teams
• Excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment and managing multiple priorities
• Experience building effective relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Understanding of the modern communications landscape including media, social media and third-party channels.
• Experience of building capability and championing learning and development within teams.

Application process:

As part of the application process you are asked to submit a CV and personal statement of suitability.   

Your personal statement should be no more than 750 words, explaining why you are interested in the role and how your experience makes you the best candidate. This should include examples of how you meet the the following Civil Service behaviours at G6-level:  

Seeing the big picture

• ensure plans and activities in your area of work reflect wider strategic priorities and communicate effectively with senior leaders to influence future strategies
• adopt a government wide perspective to ensure alignment of activity and policy
• bring together views, perspectives and diverse needs of stakeholders to gain a broader understanding of the issues surrounding policies and activities

Leadership

• promote diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity, respecting difference and external experience
• welcome and respond to views and challenges from others, despite any conflicting pressures to ignore or give in to them
• stand by, promote or defend your own and your team’s actions and decisions where needed
• seek out shared interests beyond your own area of responsibility, understanding the extent of the impact actions have on the organisation
• inspire and motivate teams to be fully engaged in their work and dedicated to their role

Changing and improving

• encourage, recognise and share innovative ideas from a diverse range of colleagues and stakeholders
• give people space to take initiative and praise them for their creativity
• create an environment where people feel safe to challenge and know their voice will be heard
• make changes which add value and clearly articulate how changes will benefit the business

Working together

• actively build and maintain a network of colleagues and contacts to achieve progress on shared objectives
• ensure consideration and support for the wellbeing of yourself and individuals throughout the team
• create an inclusive working environment where all opinions and challenges are taken into account and bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable
• remain available and approachable to all colleagues and be receptive to new ideas 

If you are invited to interview, these are the behaviours we will ask you about.  

Further information

If you have any queries about the application form, terms of employment, the recruitment process or you need any further information about the vacancy you are encouraged to contact: 

Richard Mellor, Deputy Director, Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement: richard.mellor@justice.gov.uk

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised role: all successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale.  This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity). 

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Support

• A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
• Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
• For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

• To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
• 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) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 15756

HMPPS:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 15756

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Application form stage assessments

Experience We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability Evidence of Experience CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates To be confirmed Behaviours Seeing the Big Picture Leadership Changing and Improving Working Together Strengths Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here. Level of security checks required Security Clearance (SC)

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.  Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.