Senior Internal Communications Manager

Job summary

This role provides an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic, outcome focused and innovative team of internal communications professionals. Our internal communications team is recognised across government as setting the standard for best practice and supporting our Permanent Secretary and senior team to engage leaders and colleagues in the department’s vision, priorities and values as it delivers massive reform and a huge transformation agenda.

Working in the Department for Work and Pensions internal communications team is an exciting, inspiring opportunity that will challenge and develop you as a communications leader. You will be working on high profile initiatives, helping to shape communications on issues that directly influence tens of thousands of colleagues, communities and everyday lives across the country.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work in a department that touches the lives of citizens the length and breadth of the UK and is at the forefront of government policy reform and delivery. The Department for Work and Pensions is at the heart of the Government’s growth and opportunity agenda and employees over 85,000 colleagues. The department’s Strategic Communications Directorate plays a critical role in managing the reputation of this department that serves over 22 million customers every year.

We welcome applications from outstanding candidates across government, the private sector and the third sector who want to apply their expertise in delivering impactful internal communications at scale to support understanding, drive engagement and deliver quality business outcomes. This role offers the opportunity to shape thinking that affects tens of thousands of colleagues up and down the country, with direct access to the most senior leaders in the UK’s biggest government department.

We’re looking for a dynamic and creative internal communications leader to join us and support our mission to deliver outstanding internal communications and have the confidence to innovate and adapt in a fast-changing environment.

If this sounds like the right fit for you, we would love to hear from you!

Location: Leeds or Sheffield with regular travel to London and other DWP offices across the country

Regular time in the office is essential with the Senior Internal Communications role because of business need, with the need to work closely with key stakeholders that include the Permanent Secretary and other senior leaders; colleagues and internal stakeholders as well as other Communications colleagues to drive collaborative communication outcomes.

Job description

As Senior Internal Communications Manager, you’ll head up one of our pivotal internal communications teams, promoting and enabling effective two-way communications and leadership and colleague engagement across the department and into the Civil Service.

You’ll lead the development of strategies, tools, channels and messaging. As well has having a strategic mindset and political awareness, you will also need to deliver against tight deadlines and with competing priorities.

You’ll act a trusted adviser to the most senior leaders in the organisation, using insight and your professional credibility to influence and engage. You will see the bigger picture and help your stakeholders join the dots on the most important communications and engagement challenges.

You’ll be responsible for leading the strategic planning for a variety of internal audiences, ensuring effective fit with DWP’s external communications, the Executive Team’s vision and being mindful of broader government priorities and the external climate.

You’ll be a strong internal communications business partner for DWP Groups and represent internal communications on departmental change programmes.

You’ll:

• Act as a trusted advisor, providing strategic advice, constructive challenge and coaching to the Permanent Secretary and Executive Team and other key senior decision makers to make sure our communications resonate with colleagues, using creative approaches to drive engagement.
• Provide exceptional leadership and line management to your team and lead collaboratively across the wider internal communications function and communications directorate.
• Lead your team to gather intelligence and insight and analyse the effectiveness of internal engagement to help inform current and future engagement strategies.
• Lead your team to develop strategic, planned and focused internal communications which are fully aligned with DWP’s wider communications strategy.
• Be the creative driving force behind design, delivery and measurement of effective two-way campaigns that engage our people.
• Be flexible and have an innovation-orientated outlook.
• Develop internal communications talent and build robust succession plans across the department and in the wider cross-Civil Service communications community.

Person specification

Experience Criteria for the Role

Candidates for this role must be able to demonstrate that they can meet the following experience criteria:

Strategic stakeholder influence and advice: you have proven experience of confidently building trusted relationships with the most senior stakeholders across complex organisations to deliver positive communications and engagement outcomes.

People leadership and building capability: you can demonstrate experience of leading, developing and line managing internal communications teams across different locations and specialisms.

Complex internal communication and engagement campaign delivery: you can demonstrate how you bring together the right people and manage competing demands to design and deliver internal communications campaigns that tackle complex engagement challenges effectively.

Reputational awareness: you understand the political and organisational context internal communications in government operates in and can confidently demonstrate how you use good judgement to handle sensitive issues.

Personal communications skills: you have exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with proven ability to craft clear, compelling messages from complex or ambiguous information to tailor content to diverse audiences, and to engage with colleagues and stakeholders with clarity and impact.

Evaluation, insight and continuous improvement leadership: you can confidently demonstrate times when you have driven an insight-led culture in a team that has resulted in the translation of research, data and measurement into clear recommendations for senior leaders.

Sift and Interview Dates:

Our anticipated timetable - which may be subject to change - is as follows:

• Shortlisting will take place commencing 08th June 2026
• Interviews will commence W/C 22nd June 2026
• Interviews will be held in person. Further details will be provided if you are successful and shortlisted.
• To apply for this post please follow the instructions in this candidate pack or the job advert on Civil Service Jobs.
• Please submit your application no later than 23:55 08th June 2026

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.

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

If you have questions about the role, DWP or the application process, please contact carolone.baillie@dwp.gov.uk

Technical skills

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

• Strategic stakeholder influence and advice - describe your strategy when influencing a senior stakeholder to change their approach when they are resistant (lead question)
• People leadership and building capability – explain the critical steps you have taken to lead an internal communications team through a period of significant organisational change
• Complex internal communication and engagement campaign delivery – what are your key considerations when designing and delivering an internal communications campaign to address a complex engagement challenge?
• Reputational awareness – describe how you have applied your skills and experience to handle a sensitive internal communications issue that carried significant reputational risk for your organisation.
• Insight
• Ideas
• Implementation
• Impact

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

• Strategic stakeholder influence and advice - describe your strategy when influencing a senior stakeholder to change their approach when they are resistant (lead question)
• People leadership and building capability – explain the critical steps you have taken to lead an internal communications team through a period of significant organisational change
• Complex internal communication and engagement campaign delivery – what are your key considerations when designing and delivering an internal communications campaign to address a complex engagement challenge?
• Reputational awareness – describe how you have applied your skills and experience to handle a sensitive internal communications issue that carried significant reputational risk for your organisation.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £60,272, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £17,460 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 Experience and Technical skills.

Selection will be by a written sift, followed by a face-to-face interview.

The Civil Service uses a Success Profiles to assess candidates’, knowledge and skills. You will be assessed against your experience and Government Communications Service (GCS) technical skills.

We’ll assess both what candidates are good at, as well as previous achievements to help us measure candidates’ experience and their potential. The assessment process comprises of a written application and for shortlisted candidates, a scenario-based exercise and presentation and n interview.

Written application

You’ll need to complete a CV and answer four questions when you apply. Your CV should set out your career history with key responsibilities and achievements. Your CV will not be scored.

The four questions (250 words per question) will be assessed against the experience criteria set out on slide 6. The questions are set out on slide 8.

Interview

A ‘blended’ interview lasting around 45 minutes to 1 hour will test a mix of experience and GCS technical skills as detailed below The interview will be a mix of questions and a scenario-based exercise and presentation. The experience questions will be based on the experience criteria listed on slide 6. You will also be tested against the following Government Communications Service (GCS) technical skills at (G7) grade.

• Insight
• Ideas
• Implementation
• Impact

The interviews will be held in person in Sheffield.

Written Application

The written sift will be conducted using evidence from your answers to the following questions (250 words per question):

1.Strategic stakeholder influence and advice - describe your strategy when influencing a senior stakeholder to change their approach when they are resistant (lead question)

2.People leadership and building capability – explain the critical steps you have taken to lead an internal communications team through a period of significant organisational change

3.Complex internal communication and engagement campaign delivery – what are your key considerations when designing and delivering an internal communications campaign to address a complex engagement challenge?

4.Reputational awareness – describe how you have applied your skills and experience to handle a sensitive internal communications issue that carried significant reputational risk for your organisation.

Please note – If there are a high number of applications received, an initial sift may be undertaken based on the lead question. 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 including a scenario-based exercise and presentation. The interview panel will be a minimum of two people.

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 Caroline.baillie@dwp.gov.uk

Important information

Please note

If there are a high number of applications received, an initial sift may be undertaken based on your answer to the lead question. Candidates who pass the initial sift may progress to a full sift or may go straight to interview.

DCS Criteria additional information

The benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may also 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.

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.

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 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 : Caroline Baillie
• Email : Caroline.baillie@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)Vac460298 Senior Internal Communications Manager CP Opens in new window (pdf, 1025kB)Success-Profiles-Candidate-Overview Opens in new window (pdf, 635kB)