Legal Aid Agency - Head of Internal Communications (Ref: 14317)

Job summary

Please refer to the Job Description

Job description

LAA Head of Internal Communications

Organisation: Legal Aid Agency, Ministry of JusticeGrade: Grade 7Job title: Head of Internal CommunicationsLocation:National: Birmingham, London or Nottingham
Vacancy description
Are you a strategic communications leader with a passion for driving engagement and organisational change? We're seeking an exceptional head of internal communications to lead our established team at the Legal Aid Agency.

This role offers a unique opportunity for an experienced communications professional to shape our internal communications strategy. As part of the Ministry of Justice corporate communications unit, you'll lead a small but high-performing team, providing strategic direction and creative excellence that supports our organisational priorities.
The ideal candidate will bring proven leadership experience, exceptional stakeholder management skills at senior levels, and a track record of developing both communications strategies and team members. You'll have the confidence to operate independently, providing trusted communications counsel to our executive team while maintaining the high standards expected within the Government Communication Service.

The Ministry of Justice is a major government department, at the heart of the justice system. We work to protect and advance the principles of justice. Our vision is to deliver a world-class justice system that works for everyone in society. Within the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) our role is to provide civil and criminal legal aid and advice to help people deal with their legal problems.If you're ready to apply your expertise in a purpose-driven organisation that's at the heart of our justice system, delivering vital services to people across England and Wales, we want to hear from you.
Note the successful candidate will work from one of the following three MOJ hubs: Birmingham, London or Nottingham.
Job profile
You will be a trusted adviser to the Legal Aid Agency’s (LAA) leaders, working in partnership with them to engage staff in delivering priorities and supporting organisational and culture change.

You will lead LAA’s internal communications strategy, which has an ambitious programme of work, including leading the organisation through change, delivering creative content and behaviour change campaigns, and supporting the business embed digital and data at the heart of service delivery, improving outcomes for the public. You will continually look for new ways to improve our offer, both at a strategic and channel level, and inspire and empower a team of outstanding communications professionals. The postholder is a key member of the MoJ corporate communications senior leadership team. The team works hand in glove with policy and functional leads, senior leaders and private offices across the department to deliver an exceptional internal communication service. Responsibilities

• Trusted adviser to the CEO and LAA’s leadership team, working collaboratively to build effective relationships.• Develop and deliver LAA’s internal and change communications strategy.• Develop and deliver creative internal communications campaigns to support business outcomes and effect behaviour change on LAA priorities.• Writing exceptional copy for leaders and corporate channels• Oversee and develop all LAA internal comms content and channels • Respond to challenges with innovative communication methods, deploying them at pace to support business objectives, based on insight and informed by Government Communication Service best practice. • Evaluate the effectiveness of communications and deliver ongoing improvement.• Leadership of a team of three• Key member of the LAA corporate service SMT and MoJ corporate communications leadership teamPerson specification – essential criteria

You will be an experienced communications professional, with proven expertise in leading a high-profile communications team. You will have extensive understanding of strategic communications campaigns, including measuring effectiveness, with a track record of effective decision-making, being calm under pressure and managing crisis communications and complex high-profile issues. You do not have to have experience working in internal communications. You will deliver your work in line with the Government Communications Service Internal Communications Principles https://www.communications.gov.uk/guidance/internal•communication/In this role, it is important that you demonstrate the following three areas:

Communications judgment
You'll need excellent communications judgment, a strong news sense and proven ability in advising and influencing senior stakeholders on internal communications, making decisions and plans based on insight and evaluation You will play a role advising on protecting the organisation’s reputation, and aligned with MoJ values. This includes:

• Having a curious and adaptable mindset, with a drive to improve the service you deliver• Being comfortable operating in ambiguity in a complex operating environment• Have experience in deciding where to focus attention and finding solutions when given different opinions and priorities and multiple sources of information• Building strong relationships through excellent interpersonal skills, and demonstrate excellent written and verbal communications skills• Quality controlling the team's work to ensure consistently excellent output and providing editorial guidance and maintaining high standards across all channels, including the intranet
Managing competing demands
You'll need the capability to handle multiple priorities under pressure, multi-tasking across LAA's various internal priorities and channels, while balancing both strategic and tactical demands. This includes:• Identifying and managing competing priorities and changing deadlines• Working with ambiguity and identifying where communications can support business delivery, advising leaders accordingly• Balancing the needs of multiple high-level projects and events alongside day-to-day operationsCreativity
You'll bring strong creative capabilities, continually looking for new ideas and ways to improve our service, use communications to supporting business outcomes and to engage staff. This includes:
• Being a self-starter who thrives in a flexible environment where you'll drive campaigns, channels and ideas• Operating effectively in a complex organisation with high levels of approvals and multi-layered decision-making• Leading all stages of the team's work from creation and planning through to delivery• Ensuring all campaigns and content across owned channels is engaging, accurate, timely and informative• Providing direction and clarity to MoJ agency communication teams through collaborative working• Identifying opportunities for improvement and development• Applying good knowledge of the communications landscape and the role of digital communication in internal communicationAs a communications leader, you'll be part of the MoJ corporate communications SMT, contributing to our strong collaborative, inclusive and supportive culture. You'll focus on your leadership role with accountability for your team's work, while also contributing to the wider corporate communications team and MoJ communications function.You will be responsible for maintaining team engagement and building a culture where team members feel supported and challenged, continuing to develop themselves and the work they deliver for the MoJ.
ApplyingTo apply please submit a 750-word statement of suitability setting out how you meet the criteria in the entirety of the job and person specification; and also a CV (maximum 2-pages of A4). In the event of a high volume of applicants, we will sift on ‘communications judgement’ so please make sure you include this within your statement.If you have any questions about the role contact MOJCommsBusinessOffice@justice.gov.uk and put ‘LAA head of internal communications’ at the start of the subject header.About the interview process: Interviews will take place in person in London and include a panel interview and written task; there will also be a pre-interview task to complete in the days before the interview.

Person specification

Please refer to the Job Description

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills

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

• GCS Technical - Insight
• GCS Technical - Implementation

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,511, Ministry of Justice contributes £16,950 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

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.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

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 : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
• Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
• Telephone : 0345 241 5359

Recruitment team

• Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…

https://jobs.justice.gov.uk/careers/JobDetail/14317?entityId=14317