Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location Birmingham (B5 4UA) or London (E14 4HD) based with hybrid working About the job Job summary We have a great opportunity for a Head of Media Relations to join our communications team. We are Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, a non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the water sector in England and Wales. We are at the source of everyday life. We are at the source of everyday life. We help the sector build trust and confidence with customers, the environment and wider society: keeping water flowing, ensuring water bills dont cost a penny more than needed, holding water companies to account. We push hard to improve day-to-day water company performance for customers, including on leakage, sewer flooding and customer service. We drive the sector to take a longer-term view and to take steps now to protect and enhance the environment, using digital and data innovations and making sure our water supplies are secure for future generations. Through our five-yearly price reviews, we oversee billions of pounds of investment into the water sector across England and Wales. Our work is high-profile and fast-moving, within a dynamic and agile environment. The work that youll be involved in every day will help us to deliver our strategy, to make us the regulator we want to be and help the sector to deliver for customers and society. You can find out more about why you should join Ofwat, our strategy, values and our framework for success in the attached Information for Candidates Pack. Job description The Role You will oversee and drive Ofwats media relations, leading a small team of corporate communications professionals. You will have the opportunity to develop and execute brilliant campaigns and programmes of work. With your expert knowledge, you will provide considered, sound advice on media handling to protect and strengthen Ofwats reputation. You will work within a dynamic communications environment where stories move at rapid pace, and you will play a key part of Ofwats crisis communications response. Key Deliverables In this role you will be expected to: With the Director of Media, oversee and lead Ofwats media relations, identifying and delivering impactful media engagement and building relationships with key journalists and outlets. Provide advice and support to Ofwats senior leaders. Support Ofwat's senior leaders with positioning advice and preparation for speeches. Build constructive, collaborative relationships with colleagues across Ofwat. Use varied approaches to work in partnership with others, respecting different priorities. Bring a creative, innovative approach; with fresh thinking and ideas to help address new and existing challenges. Design and implement media and engagement plans that maximise our impact and influence. Lead a small team and maintain a culture of equality, diversity, and inclusion, underpinned by our SAILOR values Person specification To be successful in this role you will need the below essential experience, skills, knowledge and attributes: Experience, skills and knowledge Extensive experience managing media relations for high profile organisations within a dynamic environment. Experience of building effective relationships with external contacts and confidently briefing media at all levels to ensure accurate and informed reporting. Previous experience working with senior leaders and the ability to create clarity and influence stakeholders. Experience of developing and delivering proactive communications strategies that enhance the reputation of an organisation, as part of an integrated communications function. Knowledge and sound understanding of digital, broadcast and print media, and an ability to quickly spot issues that will be of media interest. Ability to rapidly brief on complex issues, presenting in a clear and concise manner and identifying key messages, using recognised insight and evaluation techniques to shape communications and provide measurable results. The ability to confidently build, lead, inspire and empower teams. Highly developed written and oral communications skills, with the ability to use different communication styles depending on the audience. Attributes 9. You deliver outcomes 10. You build trust 11. You promote collaboration 12. You are a champion and a leader of change Attributes as per Ofwat's Framework for Success for Band 4. You can read more about Attributes here. Benefits Why You Should Join Us: Were forward-thinking, creative, innovative, and ambitious. We constantly push the boundaries and embrace new ways of working. With us, your work matters, your voice is heard, and your impact is felt. Ours is a culture of trust, flexibility, autonomy, collaboration, and innovation. We all want positive change for water customers, the environment, and the future of water. But for us, change is more than what happens on the outside weve always pushed boundaries internally, too. From becoming the first Civil Service organisation to achieve Smarter Working status, to gaining our prestigious Smarter Working Maturity award, weve consistently demonstrated our commitment to embracing innovative ways of working. Our people do their best work when given freedom over where, when, and how they work. Which is why we trust our teams to balance meaningful collaboration in the office with the flexibility of working from home. You will also benefit from: Excellent employer pension contributions of 28.97% 25 days annual leave (increasing to 30 with each year of service) plus bank holidays and an extra 2.5 days of privilege leave Access to exclusive discounts on a variety of goods and services, including retail outlets, theatre tickets, holidays, insurance, and a gym membership Flexible working arrangements that suit your lifestyle Fees paid for membership of relevant professional bodies Up to 3 volunteering days per year Generous shared parental leave and pay Enhanced sick pay Free eye tests and contribution to lenses/spectacles for VDU users Regular development opportunities Health and wellbeing initiatives Season ticket loan for home-to-office travel Cycle-to-work scheme Things you need to know Selection process details How to apply Ellwood Atfield (EA) is acting as an employment agency advisor to Ofwat on this appointment. You should apply for this role via Ellwood Atfield's website - here and you will be contacted by one of their consultants. If you would like to have an initial discussion about the opportunity, please contact Olivia Grant -olivia.gellwoodatfield.com. Your application needs to include a CV and a personal statement. Personal statements should be no longer than 3 pages and should clearly outline how you meet the essential experience, skills, knowledge required for the role. Please ensure you have submitted your application in full ahead of the deadline listed below. Unfortunately, we won't be able to consider late applications. Ensure that anything submitted as part of your application is factually accurate, and you are not presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by AI, as your own. Ofwat is committed to being a truly diverse and inclusive employer and encourages applications from candidates of all walks of life Selection timetable Closing date: 12.00 noon on Thursday 7th November 2024 Longlisting Meeting : W/c 11th November 2024 Interviews with Ellwood Atfield : W/c 11th November and w/c 18th November 2024 Shortlisting Meeting : W/c 25th November 2024 Informal chat with Ofwat (via MS Teams) - W/c 2nd December 2024 Ofwat in person Interview : Friday 6th December 2024 Assessment process Sift Stage Longlisting Stage At longlisting stage, your application will be assessed against essential criteria 1 to 5, listed under the skills, experience, and knowledge section in the professional requirements section above. Please use your personal statement to showcase clearly how your skills, experience, and knowledge meet essential criteria 1 to 5. Please ensure that anything submitted as part of your application is factually accurate, and you are not presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by AI, as your own. Interviews with Ellwood Atfield and Shortlisting Stage Candidates that pass longlisting stage will be invited to interview with Ellwood Atfield to explore their skills, experience, and knowledge (criteria 1 to 8 in the professional requirements section. Following the interviews, shortlisted candidates will be invited to formal face-to-face interviews with Ofwat panel. Informal chat with Ofwat As part of the process, we will offer shortlisted candidates the opportunity to meet our Panel for an informal chat, where they can find out more about Ofwat and the role. The chats will be held via Microsoft Teams. This step of the process will not be assessed. Interview Stage Transparent Interviews and Presentation At interview stage we will test against some of the skills, experience, and knowledge, as well as the attributes set out in the professional requirements section. Our transparent interview process involves candidates receiving a list of attribute-based questions in advance. This has been proven to help neurodiverse candidates and others to perform better at interview and is part of our inclusive culture. As part of the interview process, we will require a short presentation. Further details will be provided to candidates upon invitation to interview. Please note that the interviews will be conducted in person in our London Office (5th Floor, Westferry House, 11 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London E14 4HD). It may be necessary for a second stage interview, which will be communicated to the successful candidates, if required. If you have any queries about any aspect of this role, selection process, or you require any reasonable adjustments please email Olivia Grant at olivia.gellwoodatfield.com Please read the attached "Candidate Information Pack" for details on terms and conditions. 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 the Civil 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 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 : olivia.gellwoodatfield.com Email : olivia.gellwoodatfield.com Recruitment team Email : recruitmentofwat.gov.uk Attachments Candidate Pack Head of Media 2024 Opens in new window (pdf, 873kB) Apply at advertiser's site Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail