Head of Internal Communications & Engagement

Job summary

Are you a communications leader who thrives on building relationships, driving collaboration, and making a real difference to how people connect with their organisation's purpose?

Defra group has one of the most diverse and far-reaching portfolios in government, spanning environment, flooding, food, animal welfare and biosecurity. Our family of organisations includes some of government's most high-profile Arm's Length Bodies (ALBs) — from the Environment Agency to the Animal and Plant Health Agency and beyond — each with their own identity and culture, yet united by a shared mission to restore nature, support economic growth and enhance security.

We're recruiting a G6 Head of Internal Communications and Engagement to lead our strategic relationship with ALB internal communications teams across the Defra group. This is a senior leadership role at the heart of a high-performing, ambitious communications function, and an opportunity to shape how tens of thousands of colleagues across our ALBs are informed, engaged and connected to the priorities that matter.

Working as one of a complementary pair of G6 Heads alongside your counterpart who leads internal communications for the core department, you will report to the Deputy Director, Group Head of Internal Communications. Together, you will ensure a joined-up, coherent approach to internal engagement across the whole of Defra group.

In this role, you will provide professional oversight, quality assurance and strategic direction to embedded communications teams across our ALBs — building capability, fostering a collaborative network, and ensuring communications activity aligns with Government Communication Service (GCS) and Group Corporate Services priorities, while always respecting each organisation's operational independence.

This is a role for a confident, credible professional who can operate at pace, build trusted relationships with senior leaders including Executive Committee members, Chief Operating Officers and Chief People Officers, and champion a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. You will uphold GCS professional standards and have a specific responsibility for driving professional development across the whole function.

If you're ready to lead at scale, connect a community of communicators, and help shape the culture of some of government's most important organisations, we'd love to hear from you.

Job description

As G6 Head of Internal Communication and Engagement (ALBs), you will:

• Lead the strategic relationship with Defra group ALBs on internal communications and engagement, providing professional oversight, quality assurance and strategic direction to embedded IC teams as part of the group communications operating model.
• Ensure ALB communications activity aligns with Government Communication Service and Group Corporate Services priorities whilst respecting operational independence, and foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the ALB network and the wider Government Communications community.
• Drive professional development and capability building across all internal communications teams, support consistent standards and approaches whilst tailoring support to the diverse needs of different ALBs.
• Provide active and visible leadership to motivate, engage and develop your team members.
• Act as an effective deputy to the Group Head of Internal Communications and work in close partnership with the other G6 Head of Internal Communications & Engagement to ensure a joined-up, coherent approach to internal engagement and team management.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with senior leaders across relevant organisations, providing trusted strategic communications advice to support business and operational delivery.
• Oversee the creation and maintenance of high-quality channels, events and engagement activity to support organisational and internal communications objectives.
• Champion a culture of innovation, proactivity, flexibility and collaboration, with the ability to work well under pressure, manage multiple priorities and tight deadlines, and balance reactive demands against strategic organisational goals.
• Uphold and embed GCS professional standards, propriety guidance, and accessibility requirements across all communications activity.
• Provide functional leadership for your team, including line management, performance oversight, quality assurance of outputs, and building capability through skills development and best practice.
• Work collaboratively across all senior managers in communications to deploy functional expertise across priorities.
• Provide leadership on incident response communications as required, including out-of-hours working where necessary to ensure timely and coordinated communications during critical situations.

Person specification

To be successful in this role, you will be able to demonstrate the following essential criteria:

Leadership and team development — Proven experience of leading and developing high-performing communications teams, with the ability to motivate, manage performance, and build capability in others.

Strategic internal communications — Significant experience of developing and delivering insight-informed internal communications and engagement strategies in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment. Able totranslate organisational priorities into compelling narratives and engagement approaches that land effectively with diverse audiences.

Senior stakeholder engagement — Proven ability to build trusted relationships with and provide credible strategic advice to senior leaders, including at Executive Committee or equivalent level. Confident in navigating complex organisational dynamics and influencing without direct authority.

Collaboration and cross-functional working — Experience of working effectively across a group or system of organisations to drive joined-up approaches, share best practice, and build communities of practice or professional networks.

Communication and judgement — Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with sound judgement in ambiguous or fast-moving situations. Ability to manage competing priorities, work at pace, and lead confidently through periods of change or uncertainty.

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Developing Self and Others

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

• Changing and Improving
• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Developing Self and Others

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £67,730, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £19,621 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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 Process

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

• a CV
• Statements (no more than 250 words per statement) for the following Civil Service Behaviours: Changing and Improving, Developing Self and Others, Leadership, and Making Effective Decisions.

Sift

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the following Behaviour statement: Leadership. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Sift and interview dates, as well as the interview location, to be confirmed.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on the following Civil Service Behaviours: Changing and Improving, Developing Self and Others, Leadership, Making Effective Decisions and Managing a Quality Service.

A presentation/additional exercise may also be assessed.

Further Information

Location

As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s).

Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.

Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.

The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to DEFRA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put 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 defrarecruitment.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.

Accessibility

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

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Merit Lists

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be appointed in merit order for each location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

Criminal Record Check

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on 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.

Internal Fraud Database Check

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to London may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Feedback

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Hannah Lane
• Email : hannah.lane@defra.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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