Deputy Head of Communications

**Deputy Head of Communications**

**Contract Term: 6 Months**

**Contracting Authority: Crown Commercial Services**

**Location: Hybrid - **Liverpool, Norwich, Newport or Birmingham offices**

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The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Head of Communications is a full-time position. The post holder is responsible for leading the development and delivery of all communications activities in support of the CCS strategy and the achievement of organisational business objectives. The post holder leads a team of 6, with 2 direct reports. The role focuses on the full range of communications activities, including internal communications and external communications/media relations.

This is a challenging position suited to a communications professional with demonstrable management and leadership credentials and hands-on experience of delivering successful communications activities in a complex and dynamic environment at the heart of government. The role calls for a sharp commercial focus in order to ensure that CCS communications activities complement and amplify our marketing activities.

This role is within CCS reporting to the Head of Communication and works closely with the Director of Marketing and Communications, the Chief Executive Officer and other members of the Senior Leadership Team. Key relationships include the Deputy Director of Business Improvement, the Director of HR and the CEO’s private office

**As a Deputy Head of Communications your main responsibilities will be**:
**Strategy**
- Lead on the development and implementation of the communications aspects of the CCS Marketing and Communications Strategy, ensuring alignment with the CCS strategy and annual business objectives, including pursuing growth within the wider public sector, and in support of CCS strategic programmes.
- Lead on the establishment and development of processes to ensure that we make optimal use of commercial insight and data, to ensure CCS marketing and communications activities are properly targeted, evaluated accurately, and effective.
- Working with Director of HR and Deputy Director Business Improvement, lead on the development and execution of successful internal communications campaigns to drive better employee engagement across all areas of CCS - a key focus of the Senior Leadership Team.
- Lead and develop the Communications team, nurturing them to high performance and excellence which is recognised and admired across central government, drawing on best practice from the Government Communications Service.
- Provide strategic communications counsel to senior colleagues across the organisation in order to protect and enhance the CCS brand and reputation.
- Build communities and special interest groups to support effective stakeholder engagement, developing CCS brand ambassadors as appropriate.

**Operations**
- Ensure all communications outputs are of high quality, are written in plain English and reflect the CCS brand.
- Develop the CCS digital and social media presence and maximise use of all channels to expand audience reach, both internally and externally.
- Manage, develop and nurture appropriate media networks and relationships, and maintain strong working relationships with the Cabinet Office, especially the Head of Communications and team, providing timely and value-adding input to proactive and reactive media relations planning.
- Work collaboratively with a network of colleagues in customer-facing teams across CCS to develop and implement an enhanced approach to customer and supplier communications, making CCS services simpler to understand and easier to access.

**Professional Standards**
- Establish appropriate and auditable evaluation and reporting metrics for the team’s work and communicate the outcomes to key stakeholders, drawing on the Government Communications Service evaluation framework as appropriate.
- Champion internal change through effective engagement and communications, promoting a customer-first culture at the heart of everything we do.
- Identify changing market / political conditions, evolving plans accordingly.
- Manage the communications elements of the Marketing and Communications budget, monitoring spend and reporting progress on key performance measures.

**You’ll have the following relevant skills and experiences**
- Demonstrable experience in leading and developing communications teams
- Demonstrable experience of leading an in-house media relations function.
- A proven track record of executing high-impact communications campaigns, working at pace across several priorities simultaneously.
- Demonstrable experience in a challenging leadership role, well-versed in mentoring teams and individuals and supporting their growth and continuing professional development.
- PRCA or CIPR qualified, with evidence of ongoing CPD. Skills
- Strong strategic thinking and planning skills, with the ability to translate marketing and communications strategy into deliv