Key responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for a new ‘Corporate Affairs Unit’ in the communications directorate. The team will be responsible for three core areas.

Internal communications

• Provide a strategic framework and implementation support for senior leadership engagement;
• Support Ministers, the Permanent Secretary and ExCo to lead innovation and delivery in the department as part of the Productive and Agile State agenda;
• Take responsibility as the professional lead for locally relevant communications and effective listening; and
• Oversee effective internal communications for Home Office colleagues as part of wider Mission delivery.

Corporate affairs – narrative development and stakeholder engagement

• Develop and maintain the department’s core narrative and record of achievements, working closely with Ministers, spads and the strategy directorate;
• Oversee a coherent, simple and cost-effective approach to Home Office visual identity, across all main internal and external touch points with colleagues, partners and the public;
• Lead media and stakeholder monitoring and engagement related to the corporate aspects of departmental delivery, such as structure, performance, people and technology; and
• Ensure clarity, consistency and high standards in departmental correspondence, web publishing, transparency returns and FOI disclosures.

Directorate strategy and governance – planning, insight, compliance and resource management

• Lead a strategy and planning team responsible for the annual communications strategy and oversight of week-to-week planning and implementation;
• Track progress, risks and cross cutting issues, working across the directorate to ensure timely advice and a unified picture of performance and delivery;
• Lead an audience research and insight function to underpin communications campaigns and measure communications outcomes; and
• Set budgets, resource plans and ensure wider compliance with our corporate responsibilities, including running the directors' office and coordinating business case production for staff or campaign resources, accurate forecasting and in-year spend and headcount tracking.

As a member of the senior leadership team, the post holder will also be expected to be part of the out of hours senior management backup rota to support reactive media handling across the whole portfolio of Home Office business – and be integral to the communications contribution to handling unexpected events and crisis. They will also be required to deputise for the director from time to time at Programme Board level and at the Directors of Communications leadership group.