Head of Communication and Engagement

Job summary

The Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) is driven by its unparalleled access across government to build ‘better insights, better outcomes’ for our clients.

This role offers a strong platform for career progression within the Agency and the wider civil service, providing opportunities to develop leadership, stakeholder engagement and strategic relationship management skills across government.

The Agency’s unique access across the public sector exposes you to different risk and control environments, allowing you to gain insights, apply experience, contribute meaningfully, and continue developing professionally.

Job description

The Communication and Engagement team manages and provides professional, authentic, trusted communication and engagement services and advice for both external and internal audiences.

The Head of Communication and Engagement will lead the Agency’s communication function, developing and delivering an integrated internal and external communications strategy aligned with the Agency’s strategic objectives. You will use best-practice communication approaches, digital channels, and emerging media to deliver high-quality messaging.

Working closely with senior leaders, you will translate organisational priorities into compelling communications, provide expert media advice in line with government standards, and serve as the principal communications adviser to the Executive Committee and Senior Leadership Team. You will also lead a small, geographically dispersed team, reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, while building strong relationships with key stakeholders across the Agency and the wider Internal Audit Function.

This role ensures consistent, accurate communication and the appropriate handling of sensitive information, reinforcing the Agency’s reputation, independence, and purpose.

The purpose of this role is to lead the delivery of high quality, internal and external communication and engagement activity, projects and campaigns for GIAA, including but not limited to the following areas of strategic activity:

• the overarching GIAA communication and engagement strategy
• the GIAA brand, brand strategy and house style
• leading the communication and engagement team
• proactive and reactive media engagement
• advising and recommending visual solutions and creative campaigns to support, enhance and raise awareness of business activity
• managing the resourcing of multiple competing demands to meet GIAA priorities
• delivering complex change communication programmes
• crisis communication
• acting as ‘trusted advisor’ for senior leaders
• the GIAA social media strategy and activity
• maintaining excellent and accurate writing standards, adhering to house style and guidelines
• the design and production of corporate/flagship documents
• adhering to data protection and GDPR guidelines including copyright and licenses
• effective financial and commercial management of resources
• liaison with the Government Communication Service (GCS) profession and function
• adherence to GCS accessibility and best practice guidelines
• the Agency SharePoint intranet site
• identifying potential risks to Agency reputation, proactively intervening and/or mitigating as required
• leading the delivery of the GIAA conference and other events
• providing communication and engagement support to the Head of Internal Audit Function and Profession
• specialist communication guidance for internal audits as requested

Person specification

• extensive senior communications leadership experience with a proven track record of delivering successful communications strategies in complex public or private sector organisations across multiple communication disciplines
• strong strategic planning and delivery skills, using insight, data and evaluation to develop effective communications, manage reputational risk, and measure impact

• proven leadership and people management experience, building, developing and leading high-performing communications teams, managing performance, workloads and fostering a culture of continuous improvement

• excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills across government, with the ability to build trusted relationships at senior levels, provide strategic advice, navigate complex governance structures and handle sensitive issues with discretion

• demonstrable expertise in crisis communications

• demonstrable experience in media and channel management, including the effective use of digital and low-cost communications to achieve organisational objectives

• strong commercial and operational management skills, including experience managing communications budgets, contracts and external suppliers to deliver value for money and business outcomes

• exceptional analytical, written, verbal and presentation skills, with the ability to interpret complex information, produce clear and compelling communications, confidently brief senior leaders

• demonstrable understanding and application of Data Protection and GDPR guidance, adhering to accessibility guidelines and maintaining the correct licenses, copyrights and permissions.

To apply for this role, you will need to submit your employment history, personal details and provide a statement of suitability of no more than 1,000 words, referring to the person specification.

Please note only your statement of suitability will be assessed at the sift stage.

Interviews will be held on Teams.

Candidates invited to interview will be required to undertake a technical assessment followed by questions and additionally assessed on experience and strengths.

Technical skills

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

• Technical Assessment

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £73,142, Government Internal Audit Agency contributes £21,189 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).

Benefits

• Competitive salaries and in-year rewards
• Flexible working
• A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Discount on big brands
• Volunteering days
• Season Ticket Loan and Cycle to Work Schemes
• Free eyesight tests
• Family-friendly HR policies
• 25 days’ annual leave increasing by one day per year of service to 30 days after 5 years’ service
• Geographically based Agency

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

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