Head Of Strategic Engagement

Job summary

This is a senior Grade 6 role in DWP's Communications Directorate, leading the department's external affairs, stakeholder engagement, and ministerial visits programme. You will: act as a trusted strategic adviser to Ministers and senior officials; build and maintain high-level stakeholder relationships, and; ensure that every ministerial engagement generates maximum impact across media, digital, and policy channels. This is a high-profile, fast-paced role. You will be a trusted strategic adviser to Ministers and senior officials, providing expert counsel on stakeholder engagement strategy, policy implications, and the department's positioning with external audiences.

You will bridge the gap between high-level policy strategy and frontline delivery, ensuring that Ministers and senior officials engage with the right people, in the right places, at the right time. You will build and leverage strategic alliances with influential stakeholders to establish and strengthen DWP's position as a trusted and influential voice.

You will lead the delivery of a first-class ministerial visits programme, treating each engagement not simply as a meeting but as a multi-channel communications opportunity that generates media coverage, digital content, stakeholder endorsement, and policy validation. You will champion an "integrated campaigning" approach, working with colleagues in other teams to ensure every visit maximises impact across press, digital, and stakeholder channels.

A defining feature of this role is your ability to work in a deeply integrated way across the Communications Directorate and beyond, ensuring external affairs insight informs comms and media strategy, visits generate compelling content, and that stakeholder insights shape policy development.

This is a role for someone who thrives on complexity and ambiguity and who can operate with confidence in the policy, political, and stakeholder spheres, providing strategic counsel while ensuring excellent operational delivery.

Job description

Responsibilities will be:

Strategic Advisory and Influence:

• Act as trusted strategic adviser to Ministers and senior officials on external affairs strategy and visits programmes, providing expert counsel on complex stakeholder issues, policy implications, and reputational opportunities and risks
• Attend ministerial meetings and senior leadership forums to provide strategic external affairs perspective and challenge thinking appropriately
• Identify stakeholder information and insight to inform and support communications, policy development and internal DWP decision-making
• Provide early warning of reputational risks emerging from the stakeholder community

Strategic Relationship Building:

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key external stakeholders including think tanks, sector bodies, local authorities, and civil society organisations
• Draw on and develop your network of contacts to gather information, test policy ideas, and build support for departmental priorities

Visits as Multi-Channel Communications Opportunities:

• Lead the strategic planning and delivery of ministerial visits and events programmes, treating each visit as an integrated content-generation opportunity that creates media coverage, digital assets, stakeholder endorsement, and policy validation
• Oversee all aspects from strategic design through to live operational delivery, ensuring excellence in planning, briefing quality, logistical execution, and risk management
• Act as senior escalation point, making rapid, authoritative decisions

Team Leadership and Integration:

• Lead, inspire and develop a team of specialists, fostering a culture of integration, resilience, and professional excellence
• Ensure seamless collaboration between your team and Press Office, Digital, Private Offices and policy teams
• Create a high-performing team culture that delivers excellence under pressure while maintaining wellbeing

Cross-Government Leadership:

• Lead cross-government coordination on external affairs matters within DWP comms, participating in cross-Whitehall stakeholder forums
• Work with No10, Cabinet Office, and other government departments to ensure joined-up stakeholder engagement and consistent approaches to major stakeholder groups
• Contribute to the development of the GCS profession, share best practice, mentor junior external affairs professionals across government, and represent DWP in GCS networks

Evaluation and Continuous Improvement:

• Establish and monitor evaluation frameworks for external affairs and visits activity, tracking stakeholder sentiment, relationship quality, media impact, and contribution to DWP's licence to operate
• Use evaluation insights to demonstrate value, improve strategy, and inform future communications planning
• Ensure rigorous measurement that goes beyond vanity metrics to capture genuine shifts in stakeholder understanding and sentiment

The role is London-based and requires regular face-to-face engagement with Ministers and Private Offices, stakeholders, attendance at parliamentary events, and accompanying Ministers on visits across the UK.

This is not a standard 9-5 role. Some out-of-hours work is required for ministerial visits and stakeholder engagement, and travel may be required across the UK accompanying Ministers on visits or attending stakeholder events.

Skills needed for the role:

• Exceptional strategic thinking and judgement
• Strong people management and leadership capabilities
• Outstanding stakeholder management and influencing skills at the most senior levels
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with ability to craft compelling narratives
• Ability to operate under pressure and make sound decisions with incomplete information
• Confidence engaging with policy experts and researchers, including those from think tanks and academic institutions Project management and coordination across multiple teams and organisations
• Analytical skills to assess risks, evaluate impact, and use insight to inform strategy
• Negotiation and relationship-building skills across diverse stakeholder groups
• Ability to balance strategic vision with operational delivery and attention to detail
• Resilience and ability to work flexibly including out-of-hours and weekends
• Mature judgment about when to escalate issues versus act independently

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Significant senior level experience in communications within large complex organisations and expert understanding of external affairs strategies
• Experience leading major events and senior management visit or high-stakes engagement programmes
• Established track record of dynamic leadership, managing teams and developing people at senior levels
• Proven track record of advising on high profile engagement issues and reputationally sensitive risk to senior stakeholders such as senior executives, CEOs, government Ministers
• Demonstrable experience building and maintaining senior level stakeholder networks across organisations and/or sectors
• Knowledge of crisis and incident management in high-stakes environments
• Evidence of managing budgets and external contractors

Please note:

If there are a high number of applications received, an initial sift may be undertaken based on the first 3 essential criteria. Candidates who pass the initial sift may progress to a full sift or may go straight to interview.

Behaviours

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

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

Technical skills

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

• Impact
• Implementation
• Ideas
• Insights

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £84,566, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £24,498 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

• Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
• Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
• Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
• Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.

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, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Selection will be by a written sift, followed by an interview (face to face)

You will be assessed against experience, behaviours, strengths and Government Communications Service (GCS) technical skills.

We’ll assess both what candidates are good at, as well as what they enjoy, to help us measure candidates’ behaviours, strengths and their potential. The assessment process comprises of a written application and for shortlisted candidates, a short scenario-based exercise and interview.

Written application

You’ll need to complete a CV and Personal Statement when you apply. Your CV should set out your career history with key responsibilities and achievements. Your Personal Statement (max 1000 words) should explain how your personal skills and experience make you a suitable candidate for this role. Your CV and personal statement will both be assessed against the essential criteria set out on slide 7.

Interview

A ‘blended’ interview lasting around 45 minutes to 1 hour will test a mix of behaviours, technical skills and strengths:

It may help to use the WHO or STAR model to explain:

What the task/ work was, How you approached the task/work/situation and what the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? Or What was the Situation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take? What were the Results of your actions?

Please see next page for more details on the selection process.

Written Application

The written sift will be conducted using evidence from your CV and Personal Statement and will be assessed against the Key Criteria within the advert.

Please note – If there are a high number of applications received, an initial sift may be undertaken based on the first 3 essential criteria listed on slide 7. Candidates who pass the initial sift may progress to a full sift or may go straight to interview.

Interview

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview. This will be a face-to-face interview. The interview panel will be a minimum of two people. The interview will assess:

We’ll assess candidates against the following Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours www.gov.uk

at G6 level:

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

For this professional communications role, you’ll also be tested against the following Government Communications Service (GCS) technical skills at G6 level

• Insight
• Ideas
• Implementation
• Impact

You’ll also be assessed against two Success Profiles: Strengths - GOV.UKrelevant to the role. These aren’t defined by grade

Interview Exercise

Shortlisted candidates will be expected to carry out a short scenario-based exercise at the start of the interview. You do not need to prepare in advance for this. This exercise will be assessed against the behaviours Communicating and Influencing and Delivering at Pace.

Selection and Feedback

We will notify all candidates as soon as possible. Feedback will only be provided following an interview..

Candidates should not resign from their current job until all appropriate checks have been successfully completed.

If you’re an existing civil servant and want to know more about transferring to another department, refer to your current department’s guidance on transfers within the civil service.

If you have questions about the role, or the application process, please contact

Peter.morton1@dwp.gov.uk

Important Information:

Hybrid Working

This role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work.

If a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for the role and for you, you will normally be required to spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted working hours from your DWP office.

If you have a disability, caring responsibilities, or other circumstances that may affect your ability to meet the minimum office attendance requirement, please discuss this with us using the contact details in this advert.

Regular time in the office is essential when you work as part of the wider DWP Press Office. Being in the office is essential at times, with the need to work closely with key stakeholders that include, Ministers, No. 10, Press, colleagues, etc., often via in-person meetings. This blended working approach allows you to work collaboratively, meet stakeholders in-person, support others and promotes a healthy work life balance. As stated, If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.

Visa Information

We strongly recommend that applicants consult with an immigration specialist or qualified advisor to assess their eligibility for Visa Sponsorship before deciding to apply. Please note that while we consider sponsorship requests in accordance with current DWP guidance and Home Office policy, sponsorship cannot be guaranteed.

Due to legal considerations in this area, if you have questions about visas, please contact the VISA Sponsorship Team for assistance at visa.sponsorship@dwp.gov.uk.

Further Information​

At the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.

Find out more about working for DWP on the DWP Careers Hub.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

If you are placed on a reserve list but we cannot immediately offer you a post, please note:

• If you are later offered the role you applied for, in a location you have expressed a preference for, and you decline the offer or are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances (e.g. a contractual Part Time Working Pattern cannot be accommodated in the initial role offered or in cases of serious ill health).
• If DWP makes an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list.

Disability Confident Scheme

If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards.

Reasonable Adjustments

We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact the Government Recruitment Service via DWPRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” 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.

Integrity, plagiarism and Civil Service Principles

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles.

Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words.

Examples of plagiarism can include:

• Presenting the work, ideas and experience of others as your own
• Copying content or answers from an online or published source that is not your own

Disclosure and Barring Service and Internal Fraud Database Checks

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.

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.

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

Important

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. If you are a current employee and are successful you must be able to be released from your current post within four weeks.

Those on protected TUPE/ COSoP terms and conditions applying on promotion or voluntary permanent level move will adopt DWP’s Terms and Conditions and this may have a different impact on pay and allowances. Please review this prior to acceptance of a role.

Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing. Accepting a post will be taken to mean acceptance of revised terms & conditions.

Civil Servants applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or within 10% of existing salary.

Any move to DWP 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. Determine your eligibility at the Childcare Choices 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 : Peter Morton
• Email : Peter.morton1@dwp.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DWP by email: HR.BUSINESSASSURANCE@DWP.GOV.UK.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

DWP Terms and Conditions January 2024 (2) Opens in new window (pdf, 60kB)Government-Communications-Professional-Competency-Framework (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 5307kB)Head of Strategic Engagement CP Opens in new window (pdf, 786kB)Success-Profiles-Candidate-Overview Opens in new window (pdf, 635kB)