The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.
Whether it’s helping to reduce dangerous boat crossings or making the UK’s streets safer, the Communications Directorate is at the heart of supporting the government to deliver on its priorities. Led by audience insight, we help build awareness and drive behaviour change across our internal and external communication teams, including media, digital and marketing.
Opportunities to work in the Home Office Communications Directorate include:
Internal communication (1 role)
External communications (media/campaigns) (1 role)
Strategy and planning (1 role)
Our work as Home Office communicators is never far from the front pages, making this a fast-paced and hugely exciting and creative team to join. As a member of the Communications Directorate, you’ll be supporting our mission to deliver outstanding public services that work for everyone.
As a multi-disciplinary team with colleagues based across the UK working in one of the most complex, demanding departments in government, we are also active members of the professional body for government communicators, the Government Communication Service.
As part of the Internal Communication team, you'll be supporting leaders and embedded communicators across the business to maximise our collective ability to reach 50,000 colleagues. Our goal is to communicate Home Office priorities and government missions internally across a range of digital and face-to-face channels, engaging colleagues in creative ways and building pride in the department.
Working in external communications, including our News desk and our policy-focused comms teams, you will have the opportunity to work closely with colleagues including policy officials, operational teams, external stakeholders, ministers and even 10 Downing Street, advising on the role communication can play in delivering on government priorities.
In the planning role, you will find yourself in daily contact with No.10 to ensure the Home Office’s communications output is aligning with the government’s priorities. You will additionally build close relationships with all teams within the Communications Directorate and assume responsibility for the day-to-day running of our grid, a planning tool we use to ensure all external communications are delivered effectively.
Key responsibilities
Internal communication
* Advise stakeholders on channels and content that generates measurable outcomes.
* Create engaging content using a content management system (SharePoint).
* Plan and help deliver all-colleague events, featuring both in-person and online audiences of up to 20,000 colleagues.
* Develop and implement internal campaigns on organisational change and government priorities.
External communication
* Work closely with colleagues, including policy officials and operational teams, to advise on the role communications can play.
* Devise and deliver clear integrated communication plans.
* Respond to media enquiries and ensure the Department’s position is accurately reported.
* Produce proactive communications plans to announce policies or successes by providing media advice, drafting press releases and facilitating ministerial interviews.
* Deliver impactful communications led by insight and evaluation, including direct, paid-for, low- and no-cost marketing, partnerships, media and digital communications.
Strategy and planning
* Assume responsibility for the day-to-day running of the Grid, the communications planning tool which details upcoming media stories for the Home Office.
* Build strong, collaborative relationships with teams across the Communications Directorate, and the wider Home Office, to ensure external communications activity is aligned to the government’s key priorities.
* Maintain the department's strong working relationship with No.10 by liaising and negotiating daily with their planning on communication handling plans.
* Represent the department at planning meetings with No.10 and wider government.
Training
Learning and development tailored to your role.
Working Pattern
Due to the demands of these posts, it is envisaged that full or near full-time working is preferable, although with some flexibility.
Where business needs allow, the roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all colleagues will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
As we operate a 24/7 press office, successful candidates who are placed in external communications or planning roles will be required to join the out-of-hours press office duty rota and contribute approximately one to two shifts a month. In-depth training and overtime pay is provided.
Successful candidates who are placed in an internal communication role will also be encouraged to join the rota.
Travel
Occasional national travel may be required in all the roles.
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