At the FCA, we're creating a fair and more resilient financial system. We're establishing more transparent relationships between financial services and customers, building trust in financial markets and protecting vulnerable consumers. We're currently on an exciting journey as we drive forward significant organisational, people, process, and technology transformation to become a more forward-thinking, proactive regulator. We will use data more effectively to drive better regulatory decisions and build greater cohesion across our broad financial services remit. Significant improvements in digital enablement, business intelligence, market data and information management maturity are all being pursued to maintain our position as a world leader in financial services regulation. The Role The Internal Comms, External Affairs and Transparency Department plays a vital role within Communication Directorate helping to engage employees, influence external stakeholders, and provide clear and transparent information to people interested in the FCA's work. It's an exciting time as we're expanding and changing how we do things to deliver more engaging, insight-led, audience-focused communications. As part of that change, this is a new Department within Communication Directorate. Together with 2 other Departments. The Directorate's role is to change opinions and behaviors, helping to build confidence in the FCA and to support our work to enable a fair and thriving financial services market for the good of consumers and the economy. This Department covers the breadth of the FCA's work and brings together three distinct teams responsible respectively for internal comms, influencing external stakeholders and providing timely and transparent responses to FOIA requests, DSARs and public correspondence. As Head of Department leading internal comms, this role will help to set the strategic direction on the issues and ways we communicate with colleagues, helping them to understand how they contribute to the FCA and engaging them in a way which motivates them to be the best they can be. This will involve significant engagement with ExCo colleagues and ensuring the successful delivery of FCA wide events such as Townhalls. The Head of Department will also be responsible for ensuring a high quality service is provided in response to public correspondence to Executive colleagues, freedom of information and data subject access requests. Finally the Head of Department will lead the external affairs team, responsible for leading the FCA's engagement across Whitehall and Westminster as well as across the four nations of the UK and with trade associations and consumer groups. What will the candidate get from the role?
* Leading largest Department within Comms Directorate with 52 FTE and successfully bringing together 3 distinct teams behind an overarching vision for the Department.
* Management of small departmental budget. Potential need to manage investment project in systems solutions.
* Deputise for Director Communication as required, encourage close team working across the Directorate helping to break down silos and provide strategic advice to Directors and ExCo members to contribute to the successful delivery of their business objectives., Set the strategic direction of the department: promoting professional communications best practice, ensuring audience insight is at the heart of what we do, fostering an evaluation mindset, encouraging creativity and innovation; and championing inclusive teamwork.
* Ensure that the FCA meets its statutory service level agreements on FOIA and DSAR requests and its own published service level agreements on correspondence, working with the team managers to resolve any obstacles to achieving this.
* Guide and support delivery of a first-class internal communication function, including maximizing different channels, providing strategic advice to the Chief Executive and Executive Directors, and working with partners across the FCA to drive an annual improvement in employee survey scores.
* Establish and then sustain an enhanced external affairs function which builds and maintains relationships with influential individuals and organisations for the FCA's benefit; ensuring that the team delivers purposeful and impactful high-level stakeholder engagement, based on gathered intelligence and evaluation.
* Manage the Department's headcount, budget and risk in an effective and efficient way; recruiting, building capability, supporting talent and driving high performance with reference to the FCA capability framework.
* Work with the Director Comms and 2 other Heads of Department to lead a happy and productive Communication Directorate which achieves its annual communication plan.
* Contribute to the wider FCA SLT and represent the Communication Directorate on internal committees as necessary to ensure that communication considerations are factored in early to wider work, specifically considering the political landscape, the needs of firms, and FCA colleagues., Our ambition is to create a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the society we serve, helping us to be a better regulator. We serve the public and our decisions directly affect the wellbeing of people, businesses and the UK economy. So, our
values matter. They represent the culture we aspire to every day, guiding our judgements, building trust and helping us to be 'At our best'. The FCA is committed to achieving greater diversity across all levels of our organisation. Given this, we particularly welcome applications from women, disabled, and minority ethnic candidates, as under-represented groups. As an inclusive employer, we are open to considering flexible working arrangements, including job shares. Please inform your recruiter if you wish to apply for this role on a flexible basis. As part of the FCA's on-going commitment to develop our national presence, most of our vacancies are now open to working in our Edinburgh, Leeds or London offices. This means that as part of the application process you will be able to select your preference of which office location you would like to work from. Application Support We want to remove any possible barriers and are committed to providing a wide range of reasonable adjustments so that you can keep the focus on your conversations and be at your best. If you have an accessibility requirement, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the recruitment process, please contact your recruiter to discuss this further. Our aim is to make you application as easy as possible, and your recruiter will be happy to work with you to make any necessary arrangements where possible. Conflicts of interest All applicants to the FCA are required to demonstrate that they do not have other interests likely to conflict with their responsibilities as an employee of the FCA. You should declare any potential conflict of interest as early as possible in the selection process, and also disclose information or personal connections that, if appointed, might be open to misperception. Any potential conflicts of interest will not prevent candidates going forward to interview but may, if appropriate, be explored during the interview to establish how the candidate would address the issue(s) should they be successful in their application., What will the candidate get from the role?
* Leading largest Department within Comms Directorate with 52 FTE and successfully bringing together 3 distinct teams behind an overarching vision for the Department.
* Management of small departmental budget. Potential need to manage investment project in systems solutions.
* Deputise for Director Communication as required, encourage close team working across the Directorate helping to break down silos and provide strategic advice to Directors and ExCo members to contribute to the successful delivery of their business objectives, Set the strategic direction of the department: promoting professional communications best practice, ensuring audience insight is at the heart of what we do, fostering an evaluation mindset, encouraging creativity and innovation; and championing inclusive teamwork.
* Ensure that the FCA meets its statutory service level agreements on FOIA and DSAR requests and its own published service level agreements on correspondence, working with the team managers to resolve any obstacles to achieving this.
* Guide and support delivery of a first-class internal communication function, including maximizing different channels, providing strategic advice to the Chief Executive and Executive Directors, and working with partners across the FCA to drive an annual improvement in employee survey scores.
* Establish and then sustain an enhanced external affairs function which builds and maintains relationships with influential individuals and organisations for the FCA's benefit; ensuring that the team delivers purposeful and impactful high-level stakeholder engagement, based on gathered intelligence and evaluation.
* Manage the Department's headcount, budget and risk in an effective and efficient way; recruiting, building capability, supporting talent and driving high performance with reference to the FCA capability framework.
* Work with the Director Comms and 2 other Heads of Department to lead a happy and productive Communication Directorate which achieves its annual communication plan.
* Contribute to the wider FCA SLT and represent the Communication Directorate on internal committees as necessary to ensure that communication considerations are factored in early to wider work, specifically considering the political landscape, the needs of firms, and FCA colleagues
Significant experience of managing and influencing key stakeholders, including senior decision makers internally and externally
* Experienced senior communication professional with knowledge of different disciplines and techniques.
* Proven experience in delivering organisation wide internal comms
* Proven experience in leading and motivating a large team and building capability,
* Excellent written and verbal communications skills to brief senior colleagues.
* Experience of managing and influencing senior internal and external stakeholders
* Sound judgment, effective decision making and personal accountability.
Essential
* Experience of role modelling strong leadership behaviours in line with organisational values
* The ability to inclusively lead a group of talented individuals with a wide variety of professional expertise, experience, and backgrounds.
* An open and flexible management style and the ability to communicate effectively to a wide-ranging audience with different skills and perspectives
* Significant understanding of the external environment required.
* Proven ability to master complex issues quickly.
* Role will have to be comfortable with ambiguity, navigate shifting external dynamics, draw together solutions and advocate courses of action securing senior buy-in.
* Sophisticated interpersonal skills including negotiation and gravitas to represent FCA at external events, to government bodies, business and consumer groups, think tanks, and Parliamentarians.
* Evidence of successful delivery of high-quality customer service.
Desirable
* Understanding of and / or experience in financial services desirable.
* Understanding of Freedom of Information Act and data subject access requests.
Salary range for this role in London is £120k- £150k and National is £108k - £135k + benefits + up to 12% non-contributory pension
* Selection will be via a two-stage interview and psychometric assessment
* If successful, you will be required to obtain and retain SC Clearance.
* We operate a hybrid working policy with an expectation all colleagues are in the office a minimum of 40% of their time. We expect senior leaders to spend a minimum of 50% of their working time each month in the office.