Head of Campaigns

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

The Communications Directorate is a multi-disciplinary team delivering the Home Office’s communications strategy. We are insight-led and results-driven, and our marketing campaigns support strategic objectives using a wide range of channels. We seek to provide high quality media, rebuttal and social media services. Our Internal Communications team supports employee engagement and business transformation.

As a member of the Communications Directorate, you will be supporting our mission to deliver outstanding public services that work for everyone.

You will join a multi-disciplinary team with colleagues based across the UK, working together to deliver the Home Office’s communications strategy.

We believe a positive, open and supportive culture is essential to help everyone deliver their best work. We value diversity and provide an inclusive and encouraging environment for our team members. We nurture our talent and offer a broad range of learning and development opportunities to help you fulfil your potential.

Job description

The successful candidate will be responsible for the strategy, development, delivery and evaluation of low-cost and paid campaigns, in line with the Home Office’s communications strategy and aligned to the Home Secretary’s priority areas. The available role is within the Secure Borders team, working to deliver international and domestic campaigns to support the government’s immigration policy.

They will work with colleagues in their immediate policy-focused team, as well as across the Communications Directorate. This includes insight and evaluation specialists, digital and marketing specialists and our stakeholder engagement team. They will build relationships across the wider department to develop a deep understanding of policy issues and business needs,improving existing relationships and ensuring the highest possible communications delivery.

They will be responsible for the development of strategic communications plans and campaigns, aligned to their policy area, as well as the content and production of materials to support campaign delivery.

They will work with external agencies as necessary (in collaboration with marketing colleagues) including briefing and holding them to account for timely, value for money outputs.

They will work closely with insight and evaluation colleagues to ensure strategies are rooted in audience insight, and deliver measurable impact; and will identify the clear demonstrable financial or societal impacts of each plan, reporting updates to internal Boards and Ministers, as appropriate.

The successful candidate will have direct line management responsibility. They will be a motivational leader who will support and raise the capability of the team and the wider directorate, by ensuring that all parts function efficiently and to a high standard. They will support their team to ensure the smooth delivery and evaluation of campaigns, identify and find solutions to day-to-day risks when possible, escalating where necessary.

Although this role is largely non-media comms, the role-holder will be expected to cover media-related work as and when necessary to support colleagues. This includes driving broadcast, print and online coverage, as well as social media, to support the relevant objectives set out in the Home Office communication strategy; ensuring basic media handling arrangements are in place for announcements in their area; signing off all media and social media plans and materials and media handling in submissions and reports, and briefing journalists on high-profile or complex issues.

The successful applicant will be a highly motivated, adaptable, innovative, dependable and collaborative communications professional, prepared to work on some of the most challenging, high profile and interesting issues in government.

Working pattern

Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis.

Travel

There will be optional travel for internal and external meetings.

Person specification

Essential criteria

We are looking for a motivated individual who can demonstrate:

• Strong experience in a communications management role, including planning and delivering communications from strategic development through to execution across multiple channels.
• Proven success in leading strategic, insight‑led campaigns, applying behavioural insights to communications and measuring impact, including evidence of behaviour change.
• A strong understanding of the organisation and a sound awareness of the external political environment, with the ability to mitigate reputational risk.
• The ability to plan ahead and think strategically, prioritising effectively in fast paced environments.
• High levels of written and verbal communication skills, including negotiating, consulting and briefing, with confidence in engaging senior officials and key stakeholders.
• A proactive approach, anticipating issues, understanding underlying causes and identifying solutions.
• Leadership qualities, with an ability to make sound decisions in constantly evolving contexts with ambiguous information and deliver against challenging deadlines.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills to build key internal and external relationships and improve the organisation’s reputation with stakeholders and other government departments.

Desirable criteria

• Public sector experience, either in local or central government, with an interest in the immigration policy landscape.
• Experience of running a communications team including training and development of that team.
• Good digital literacy.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills

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

• Impact
• Implementation
• Insight

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
• See more of our benefits on our careers website.

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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, Experience and Technical skills.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

1. Application – by 4th May 2026.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• CV
• Personal Statement (maximum 750 words).
• Evidence of the Behaviour - Seeing the big picture (maximum of 250 words per Behaviour).

Your CV should consist of your career history, skills and experience, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within the essential criteria.

The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.

For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

2. Sift – commencing 6th May 2026.

The sift will be held on the Lead behaviour, Personal Statement, CV as listed in the advert.

Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the lead behaviour Seeing the Big Picture. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of all the remaining elements submitted (personal statement and CV) will be scored. These candidates will therefore receive a sift score for both elements. Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the initial sift will not have their remaining submitted elements scored and will only receive a sift score for that assessed at the initial sift.

3. Interview – commencing 28th May 2026.

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Behaviours (as listed in the job advert) and Experience based questions, Technical Skills based questions. All Behaviours listed in the selection process will be scored at the interview.

The interview will take place in person, at 2MS London.

Travel expenses will not be reimbursed.

Evidence of the Technical Skills - Impact, Implementation, Insight. For guidance on the Technical skills, please refer to the https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Government-Communications-Professional-Competency-Framework.pdf.

In addition, candidates will be asked to prepare a short presentation that will be delivered at interview. The presentation question/scenario will be disclosed closer to the interviews.

For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.

Problems during the application process

If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.

Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.

Location preferences

You can select up to threelocations in order of preference. Please ensure that these are locations you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at one of your preferred location(s) and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.

Reserve lists will be held for each location. Candidates will be appointed in merit order by location.

Standards

All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

Additional Security Checks

As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, candidates will be subject to a range of additional checks. The range of checks carried out will depend on whether you are a current Home Office employee, existing civil servant or an external new entrant as well as the role requirements. The level of Criminal Record Check required for this role is [BASIC]. Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates.

Further Information

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check toDisclosure and Barring Serviceon your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct.

If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs

• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a 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 : Home Office resourcing centre
• Email : HORCCampaignTeamCorporateEnablers@homeoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. and you wish to make a complaint, then contact the Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Candidate_Information_v17_April_2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 207kB)2025-11-17 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)