Deputy Director - Head of Communications

Job summary

From healthcare to artificial intelligence, energy to national security, we provide legal advice to government departments on nation-changing subjects.

At Government Legal Department we have a vital, single-minded purpose: to help the Government govern well within the rule of law. This is complemented by our exciting vision to be an outstanding legal organisation, committed to the highest standards of service and professionalism and a brilliant place to work where we can all thrive and fulfil our potential.

Our work touches almost every aspect of public life. We are the largest provider of legal services across government, working on high profile matters.

Our respected professionals are involved in everything from regulation and litigation to advice on drafting legislation. They provide expertise to the full range of government departments. We are at the heart of delivering the government’s priorities and our success depends on our people.

GLD is a non-ministerial government department headed by the Treasury Solicitor, our Permanent Secretary, and employs nearly 4000 people, including nearly 3000 legal professionals. We have offices nationwide, in Bristol, Leeds, inner and outer London and Manchester. Our lawyers can also be located within other departments and overseas.

GLD also depends on a range of cross-functional professionals to provide our corporate services. There are nearly 1000 colleagues playing an essential part in helping GLD to achieve its purpose and truly deliver much more than law.

This is an exciting time to join GLD, with cutting edge legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the Modern Civil Service.

To find out more about what we do you can view our introductory film. On our website you can hear from team members, find out how to apply and learn about the benefits of working for GLD.

You can also read more about the future vision for GLD in our GLD Strategy 2024 – 2027.

Job description

This is an opportunity to lead a fundamental transformation in how the government informs and connects with citizens in an era of rapid technological change, evolving media consumption, and the critical challenge of building public trust.

As the most senior communications advisor in your department and a member of the cross-government communications leadership group, you will actively lead and embrace change and innovation and have an entrepreneurial mindset bringing the team with you and championing continuous improvement.​

This is a pivotal role. You will operate at the heart of government decision-making, shaping how policies and priorities are communicated to the public. Your work will directly influence the impact of government policy, democratic engagement and the perception of government, both domestically and internationally.​

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the design and development of a new communications team working across the AGO and GLD, whilst providing direct support to the Attorney and Solicitor General. The post holder will lead a new approach to communications, building an integrated team to support the Law Officers and implement the GCS operating model. ​

Audience-focused and insight-driven, you will bring consumer marketing and storytelling expertise to public service communication. You will boldly champion modern communications - leading the cultural shift from reactive, press-first communications to integrated always-on campaigns, embracing digital innovation, leveraging responsible AI and boldly putting citizens at the heart of our planning and delivery.​

​You will be the senior communications leader across both departments, providing direct & personal counsel on all aspects of communication to the Attorney and Solicitor General, Special Advisors, Permanent Secretary and the AGO/GLD Executive Team. You will lead the design and implementation of a communications portfolio including content creation, campaigns, press office, speechwriting, events planning and. You will also lead internal communications across both departments, reaching an internal audience of nearly 4000 working across multiple locations. ​

​You will be part of a senior peer network of Government Communications leaders, collectively responsible for a Civil Service profession of over 7,000communicators across departments, agencies and arm’s-length bodies.​

And part of your role leading and working with other communications professionals will see you work closely with the communications teams in the CPS and SFO, as well as HMCPSI each of whom is sponsored or superintended by the AGO. ​

In what is a highly visible and influential role across AGO & GLD the postholder will have the opportunity to showcase and grow their leadership skills through a broad range of corporate opportunities across the departments. These include helping to bring the AGO and GLD closer together and supporting and generating the diverse and inclusive environment, something which AGO and GLD are passionate about and which is of fundamental importance to the Department’s long-term success. ​

​Key Responsibilities

• ​Provide decisive, expert counsel to the Attorney and Solicitor General on the communication of departmental priorities and reputation management and work proactively with departmental senior leaders as their top comms advisor. ​
• Lead and develop a high performing, multi-disciplinary communications team, with accountability for ensuring your team has the highest professional standards and capabilities, delivers and gets things done, whilst championing an inclusive, future-focused culture and managing a budget of around £2m​.
• Shape the senior leadership of Government Communications across the profession - visibly co-leading the Modernising Govt Comms strategy, driving collaboration and building a truly mission-led profession​.
• Partner with policy and delivery colleagues to integrate communications thinking into the policy-making and delivery process, using insight, data, evaluation to strengthen policy outcomes and public engagement.​
• Develop compelling narratives that connect government priorities to real‑world citizen stories, building partnerships with content creators, community partners, influencers and leaders across the system.​

Person specification

It is important through your CV and Personal Statement that you provide evidence and examples of proven experience of these selection criteria. Below are details of the essential criteria from the Civil Service Success Profiles that make up this role. Further guidance can be found at Success Profiles.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

Behaviours (all points assessed interview)​

• Seeing the big picture​
• Changing and improving​
• Leadership​
• Communicating and influencing​
• Delivering at pace​

Key Skills and Experience (all points assessed at application and interview)​

• Marketing and storytelling mindset with demonstrable experience of audience-led, insight-driven campaigns. You understand segmentation, targeting and positioning. You have proven success developing multi-channel campaigns and creative content strategies with clear evaluation metrics and measurable impact - including large-scale behaviour-change or trust-building campaigns. ​
• Senior advisory and influencing skills - excellent interpersonal and influencing skills as a trusted adviser with diverse stakeholders internally and externally, including at Board, C-suite and ministerial (or equivalent) level. You have experience advising and influencing at the most senior levels with political acumen and emotional intelligence.​
• Demonstrable experience leading digital transformation in communications, with deep understanding of how to harness the most effective digital platforms and traditional media.​
• Proven crisis management and transformation leadership - experience leading communications transformation with excellent judgement to manage crises, reputational risk and politically sensitive issues. An awareness of public sentiment and proven experience using this information to inform decision-making.​
• Exceptional leadership of multi-disciplinary teams - a resilient leader withexperience leading transformation, building capability and fostering a creative and impact-focused team​

Security Clearance Level

All GLD employees must successfully obtain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance before starting employment. In addition to BPSS all colleagues based in our London offices must hold Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. If London based, you can start your position pending this clearance level, however your continued appointment will be conditional upon obtaining and maintaining CTC clearance.​

This role Security Check (SC) clearance. You cannot start employment until your SC application is approved. If you are unable to obtain or maintain SC clearance, you may not be able to commence the role you have been appointed to and this may lead to the termination of your contract or offer of employment.​

Current SC clearance requirements typically include a 5-year verifiable UK residency history, with no more than 6 months spent outside the UK in the preceding 12 months. ​​

As security vetting requirements are determined by the relevant vetting authority and may change over time, applicants are encouraged to review the latest UK Security Vetting guidance before applying via United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant Guidance.​

If during pre-employment checks it is found that you are unable to gain the required level of security clearance for the role, your provisional offer of employment will be withdrawn. ​

Sponsorship and Visas

There is the possibility that GLD can provide sponsorship for skilled workers, as long as they meet the full eligibility criteria set down under current immigration legislation. GLD does not guarantee sponsorship will be provided or that an applicant will be successful in gaining a skilled worker visa. ​

Candidates with Limited Leave to Remain can apply but must have at least 12 months remaining on an existing visa which allows them to work for GLD when employment commences. Please allow three months for the onboarding process from the point of offer. ​

The expectation is that applicants have an existing visa, which at the point they start work with GLD has at least 12 months remaining on it. The share code you provide for your pre-employment checks must be linked to the visa that allows you to work for a minimum of 12 months in the role for which you have applied. This doesn’t not include having any outstanding visa applications in process during the recruitment process. ​

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that they meet the criteria for sponsorship. They also have the responsibility to notify the Resourcing Team that they require Sponsorship at the start of the onboarding process into GLD. This applies to existing civil servants as well as external candidates. ​

Candidates with unlimited leave to remain can apply.​

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £86,000, Government Legal Department contributes £24,914 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Learning and Development at GLD

GLD has a comprehensive learning and development offer for all employees.

We offer a programme of in-person/hybrid and virtual sessions providing learning on profession-specific, soft skills, technical skills, and different topics. For our SCS colleagues these include:

SCS Induction

• SCS Induction toolkit
• Quarterly SCS drop-in sessions. Focus on development and talent management signposting with Q&A

SCS Development Toolkit

• Signposts the learning and development opportunities provided by the Cabinet Office for SCS across government and within GLD.

Action Learning Sets

• SCS1 GLP action learning sets
• Departmental Leadership Group (all SCS 2 and above) are part of a bespoke high-performance leadership and development programme including Action Learning Sets

Other bespoke options available

• Psychometric testing Lumina Sparks for new SCS2, providing a personalised reading of an individual’s strengths and development areas
• Executive Coaching
• In-house shadowing and mentoring/coaching
• Networking Deputy Director Forum, established by the DDs in GLD. Its aim is to support and help each other manage the challenges of your roles and develop leaders.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Application

To apply for this post you need to complete the application on Civil Service Jobs. The deadline for this application is 30th October 2026 at 12:00 Midday. You can search for the job using the reference number below.

In your application you will be assessed on the following:

• A CVsetting out your career history, with key responsibilities experience and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years, as part of the online application form. The CV will be used to assess key skills and experienceas set out in the Person Specification slide, as a first stage sift. ​
• A personal statement of no more than1,250 words, providing clear and relevant examples that demonstrate how your key skills and experience align with the requirements outlined in the Person Specification.

Failure to complete all documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. Please ensure that all documents contain your full name.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application or are unable to apply online please contact SCSRecruitment@governmentlegal.gov.uk.

CV Guidance for candidates

Please note that CV forms part of the online application form.

Please find the following guidance on how to populate the two sections of the CV when completing the online application: You will be asked to provide your employment history and previous skills and experience.

For Employment History – please add your employment history, you can set out the roles you have completed in the past with start to end dates. ​

For Previous Skills and Experience - please add your experience, skills, achievements, key responsibilities, and any transferable skills you can bring to this role.​

Failure to complete all documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. Should you encounter any issues with your online application or are unable to apply online please contact SCSRecruitment@governmentlegal.gov.uk.

Application Errors

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, please contact us via: SCSRecruitment@governmentlegal.gov.uk. Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – 486235 & vacancy closing date 30th October 2026.

Selection Panels

The selection panel for this campaign will be:​

• Damian Paterson, Director, Strategy, Performance and Transformation, Government Legal Department​
• Victoria Stokes, Deputy Director, Skills and Standards, Government Communications​
• Further panel member will be confirmed to shortlisted candidates.

Shortlist

You will receive an acknowledgment of your application through Civil Service Jobs once your application has been submitted.

The panel will then assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

If there are a large number of applications the panel will conduct a staged sift. The initial sift will be on the CV alone. Candidates assessed as demonstrating the required experience in their CV will progress to the second stage of the two-stage sift where their Personal Statement will be assessed.

Candidates assessed as not demonstrating the required experience in their CV will not progress to have their Personal Statement assessed; they will be deemed as unsuccessful in the first stage of the two-stage sift.

Candidates assessed as not demonstrating the required experience in their Personal Statement will be deemed as unsuccessful in the second stage of the two-stage sift. ​

In the eventuality that there are a high number of applicants successful at sift, GLD may operate a longlist, whereby applicants who have been shortlisted and met the minimum pass mark but are not selected for interview will have their application placed on hold. After the initial interview round candidates on the longlist may be offered an interview, should there still be posts available.

Assessments

If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in a Staff Engagement Exercise.

These assessments do not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview. Full details of the assessment process will be provided to shortlisted candidates at the earliest opportunity.

Stakeholder Conversations

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a conversation with the Attorney General ahead of the formal interview. Conversations will take place in person in 102 Petty France, London. A representative of the Civil Service Commission will also be present at the conversation.​

The conversation is not a scored or assessed part of the selection process. It provides an opportunity to discuss ministerial priorities and your proposed approach to the role. Feedback from the discussion will be shared with the selection panel, including any areas the Minister considers should be explored further. The panel may discuss these areas with you during your formal interview.

Informal Conversations​

Shortlisted candidates will also have the opportunity to speak to the vacancy holder, Damian Paterson, prior to the final interview to learn more about the role and the organisation. Please note this is an optional part of the process, not part of the formal assessment process.​

Interview

You will be asked to attend a panel interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

As part of this interview candidates will be required to deliver a short 5 –minute presentation aligned to the person specification and the title of thatpresentation will be confirmed in advance. ​

Interviews will take place remotely via Microsoft Teams. Full details of theinterview format will be provided to shortlisted candidates prior to interview.

Offer, Feedback and Reserve List

The timeline in the attached candidate pack indicates the date by which decisions are expected to be made, and all candidates will be advised of selection decisions as soon as possible thereafter. All advertised dates are subject to change at short notice.

We are unable to offer feedback to candidates who have not attended an interview. Candidates who attend an interview will also be offered verbal feedback from a member of the interview panel.

We appoint in strict order of merit. If you meet the minimum criteria for this position but are not successful for a post, you will be placed on the reserve list for up to 12 months. We then may contact you to see if you are interested in a post at the same, or a lower grade, in GLD should one arise.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

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)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

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

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Damian Paterson
• Email : Damian.Paterson@Governmentlegal.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : SCSRecruitment@governmentlegal.gov.uk

Further information

This campaign is run in accordance with the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application hasn’t been treated in accordance with these Principles and wish to make a complaint, please contact recruitment_feedback@governmentlegal.gov.uk in the first instance. Please title your email as follows: Job Reference Number – Job Title – Recruitment Complaint. Complaints must be submitted in writing within 30 days of the incident or the decision which has caused the complaint. To fully engage with the issues raised GLD require that you submit evidence of your complaint.

Attachments

486235~1 Opens in new window (pdf, 499kB)