Senior Communications Manager

Job summary

We are MHCLG

This is a delivery-focused strategic communications role, responsible for helping MHCLG engage audiences directly through digital and owned channels. The postholder will develop, coordinate and deliver audience-focused communication plans and content that support departmental priorities, campaigns, announcements and corporate storytelling.

You will use audience insight, digital engagement and content production to ensure government messages reach people in ways that are relevant, accessible and effective. You will play a key role in helping the department communicate directly with the public through digital channels, reflecting the changing media landscape and audience behaviour.

You will work within MHCLG’s Strategic Communications and Insight team, which sits

within the Communications Directorate. You will report to a G7 Head of Strategic

Communications who will support you to achieve your full potential and grow your

portfolio successfully. You will work with colleagues to deliver clear, accessible and audience-focused content across a range of channels and formats.

Job description

• Work on the development and delivery of audience-centred communications strategies and content plans, using insight and evidence to reach audiences primarily through digital channels.

• Plan, research and coordinate content capture for priority campaigns, announcements and departmental objectives.

• Source partners, case studies, creators and contributors with help from Partnerships, Digital and Policy teams.

• Use audience insight and performance data to identify the most effective channels, formats and messages to reach target audiences and drive engagement.

• Plan and deliver filming/photo/other content opportunities and maximise each opportunity through targeted and researched content plans. Work with policy and communications colleagues to develop a forward look of content that brings government policies to life, primarily focussed on digital channels.

• Build strong and trusted relationships with colleagues across the communications team and beyond – acting as a trusted advisor, giving high quality and tailored communications advice across your portfolio .

• Manage risks and issues proactively, ensuring rapid response to emerging challenges.

Person specification

• Experience of developing and delivering communications or content plans that engage audiences directly through digital channels.

• A problem solver who takes the initiative, with the ability to project manage content production schedules and prioritise your workload, adapting both quickly to changing circumstances.

• Experience in planning and helping to deliver communications plans based on insight.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, engaging and accessible content tailored to different audiences, platforms and channels.

• An ability to communicate confidently with people at all levels, build rapport and influence key stakeholders.

• A good understanding of audience behaviours, digital platforms, content creators and the wider communications landscape, with the ability to advise senior leaders on effective audience engagement approaches.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £45,773, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £13,260 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).At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Staff Benefits Scheme, Childcare Vouchers, and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.

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

Application and Selection
The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:

Behaviours

Stage 1: Sift

• Behaviour: Communicating and influencing (Lead Behaviour)

• Behaviour: Working Together

• Behaviour: Managing a quality service

• Behaviour: Making Effective decisions

There is a 250-word limit per question.

When writing your application, remember:

• the assessor won’t be reading your answers sequentially

• do not assume that the same assessors will have read all of your answers

• if talking about something in your first answer, make sure that you write the second answer as if you had not written the first (and so on!)

Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors.

In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead behaviour listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

If you run into any technical problems when applying through Be Applied (for example, trouble logging in or submitting your application), their support team can help. Please contact them at hello@beapplied.com.

Stage 2: Interview

• Behaviours: Communicating and influencing, Working Together, Managing a quality service, Making Effective decisions

Sift and Interview Dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place starting 17/09/2026.

Interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.

Disability Confident Scheme (DCS)

We are a Disability Confident employer.

We apply a fair and proportionate interview process for all candidates. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to progress candidates who apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and meet the required minimum selection criteria.

However, where high application volumes are received, progression to interview may be limited to those who best meet the role criteria. In these circumstances, the benchmark required to proceed to interview may be raised for all candidates.

How We Recruit

Find out more about our recruitment processes here.

• Applying

• Sifting

• Interview

• Interview Results & Feedback

• Reserve List

• Near Miss

• Civil Service Grades

• We are a Disability Confident Scheme, Redeployment Interview scheme & Great Place to Work for Veterans employer

• Reasonable Adjustments

How to Apply

Find out everything you need to know before applying here.

You must review the following information from the MHCLG Career's Site before submitting your application. This step is essential to ensure your eligibility for the role and that your application is completed correctly.

• Security Clearance Requirements

• Civil Service Nationality Requirements

• Right to Work

• Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles

• CV Declaration

• Sponsorships

• Salary and Grade

• Existing Civil Servants

• Conflict of Interest

• Location and Flexible Working

• Internal Fraud Database

• Appeals and Complaints

• Fixed Term Appointments for:

• External Candidates

• Existing Civil Servants (Including Loans)

• Secondments

• MHCLG employees

Security Clearance Requirements

National Office: + SC

London Office: + SC

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

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

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 : Bree Sims
• Email : Bree.Sims@communities.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@communities.gov.uk

Further information

If you are unsure about any part of the process or require additional information about the post to enable you to progress your application, you should speak to the Resourcing team - recruitment@communities.gov.uk. Candidates can appeal at any stage of the recruitment process if they believe there has been:

a procedural irregularity

an infringement of the Civil Service equal opportunities policy

exceptional circumstances which were not notified to the interview panel which might have affected performance on the day.

It is important to note that these are appeals about the process not the decision. In the first instance, an appeal should be directed to the MHCLG Resourcing Hub at recruitment@communities.gov.uk.

If the MHCLG Resourcing Hub is unable to satisfactorily resolve your complaint, you may contact put your complaint in writing to the Civil Service Commission, Room G8,1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ or by email to: info@csc.gov.uk