Senior Communications Manager (Ref: 16946)

Job summary

Please refer to Job Description

Job description

The Judicial Communications team for judges and magistrates is looking for an experienced communications professional to add to a reliable and innovative communications team based at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Judicial Office

The Judicial Office (JO) reports to, and is accountable, to the Lady Chief Justice (LCJ). It was established in 2006 to provide support to the LCJ and to the wider judiciary in upholding the rule of law and in delivering justice impartially, speedily and efficiently, following the Constitutional Reform Act 2005.

In addition, we support, and are accountable to, the Senior President of Tribunals, whose responsibilities extend to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The JO is an interesting and unique place to work. Everything we do is in support of upholding the independence and impartiality of the judiciary. We work closely with HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and others across Government as well as with the legal professions.

We are an Arm’s Length Body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice. This creates an interesting and complex environment in which to work where we agree our priorities with the senior judiciary and receive our funding to deliver them from the Ministry of Justice. The Judicial Office has been through a period of significant growth resulting from an expansion of our remit and responsibilities.

See JO staff talk about working here: https://design102.wistia.com/medias/uhgtmbtnlv

Background

Magistrates are a vital part of the justice system and central to reducing the criminal court backlog. Following the Independent Review of Criminal Courts, strengthening the resilience and capacity of magistrates’ courts is a critical priority for the Judiciary, Ministers, and the MoJ Board.

Most criminal cases start—and around 95% conclude—in magistrates’ courts, making a sufficient, skilled and diverse magistracy essential. The Magistrates Uplift programme will ensure we have the magistrates we need and brings together the Judiciary, the Ministry of Justice, HMCTS, magistrates themselves and key partners such as the Magistrates Association.

This high‑profile programme aims to increase magistrate numbers by 50% to reach 21,000 by 2028/29. It is closely overseen by Ministers and the judiciary.

The Job

Reporting directly to the Head of Judicial Communications and supported by a Communications Officer, you will work across the communications team to lead on high-profile internal and external communications focused on the recruitment and retention of magistrates and the implementation of other changes predominantly arising from Sir Brian Leveson’s review of criminal courts.

The Judicial Communications team are responsible for providing information via a range of communication channels to all judges and magistrates. They are also responsible for managing judiciary.uk and contributing to a dedicated magistrates recruitment website and associated content aimed at the public.

You will be expected to work closely with the judicial press office and ministry of justice. You will also be expected to suggest innovative new campaign and content ideas and lead on their implementation, while ensuring the co-ordination of communications relating to changes happening across all jurisdictions.

The successful candidate will:

• Provide expert strategic communications advice and support to senior leaders and judges
• Plan, deliver and evaluate communications strategies and campaigns for the areas in their portfolio, using the full range of internal and external communication channels to build awareness and influence behaviours.
• Manage and provide direction to one Communications Officer (HIO/HEO)
• Identify opportunities for delivering magistrates recruitment and retention communications activity using a range of internal and external channels in a strategic manner
• Lead on the production and coordination of communications regarding changes to the judiciary arising from the Courts and Tribunals Bill and any subsequent legislation
• Produce and edit engaging written and filmed content
• Ensure content on the judicial intranet and website is up to date and tailored to different audiences
• Work closely with the press team, the wider JO, HMCTS and MoJ staff to deliver messages across channels and extend our reach to target audiences
• Evaluate and report on communications activity and outcomes, using insights to enhance how we engage with our targeted audience and apply any findings to shape future strategies
• Work with external suppliers and design agencies to design and deliver content where appropriate
• There may also be potential to participate in the social media out of hours rota, for which an additional allowance is paid.

Skills & Qualifications

Essential

The successful candidate must:

• Have experience in designing and delivering effective communications campaigns to build awareness and influence behaviours, from start to finish
• Possess creativity and keenness to develop and deliver innovative communications, using digital and offline channels
• Have experience of creating and delivering engaging content for digital platforms
• Have strong oral and written communication skills
• Be confident in using audience insight and evaluation to inform communication strategies
• Have strong videography/filming and editing experience
• Have excellent organisational and communications planning skills and a strong attention to detail
• Contribute, as required, to the preparation and delivery of the projects of all other team members.

Desirable

• Experience of working in the field of justice
• Experience of delivering communications to support change, including behaviour change.
• Line management experience

Behaviours

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions

You are encouraged to become familiar with the Government Communications Framework (Government Communication Service (GCS) competencies), as you may be assessed against any of the technical criteria recorded within at SEO level, particularly under the ‘Campaigns/Marketing and Internal Communications’ disciplines.

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application form no later than 30 April. The application will include:

1.A CV setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant to the person specification for this role, including details where applicable of numbers of people managed, relevant achievements in recent posts, together with reasons for any gaps within the last two years

1. 
   A statement of suitability (max 1,000 words) explaining why you are interested in this role and provide further evidence of how you meet at least each of the ‘Essential’ criteria of the person specification and any other relevant points.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held week commencing 18 May.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include an interview based on the behaviours and communications competencies set out above. Candidates invited to interview will be asked to deliver a 5-minute presentation outlining the approach they would take to a low-cost campaign promoting “the value of volunteering as a magistrate”.

Hybrid Working Requirement

This position is eligible for hybrid working (current minimum requirement for time spent at base location is 60%, which is subject to business requirements).

This Role is linked to the Magistrates Uplift programme. It is funded for 3 years. Existing Civil Servants may apply for it either as a Loan or for a Fixed Term.

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £49,325, Ministry of Justice contributes £14,289 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 and Experience.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 counter-terrorist 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/16946?entityId=16946