The role: The successful candidate will help to communicate the work of a public inquiry into what has been referred to as the “biggest miscarriage of justice in British legal history”.
As part of a small but dynamic team you will use a range of communications channels to ensure the public, media and other stakeholders see and understand the Inquiry’s work regarding this high-profile story – one which regularly leads news bulletins and has been the subject of an ITV drama, multiple documentary episodes, front page splashes and widely listened to podcasts.
CONTEXT: In 1999, Post Office Limited introduced Horizon software and hardware into their post office branches. Over the lifecycle of Horizon, sub-postmasters and subpostmistresses experienced discrepancies and shortfalls in their branch transaction data and accounting. Disputes between Post Office Limited and postmasters have occurred over the last two decades, and the lack of satisfactory resolution of the Horizon issues, the suspension and termination of postmasters’ contracts with Post Office Limited and the prosecution and conviction of postmasters led ultimately to the launch of successful group litigation by postmasters against Post Office Limited. On 26 February 2020, the Prime Minister committed to an Independent Inquiry, and in September 2020 the Chairman, Sir Wyn Williams, was announced. It was converted to a statutory inquiry from 1 June 2021, following a request from Sir Wyn Williams.
The Inquiry is tasked with ensuring there is a public summary of the failings that occurred, as set out in its Terms of Reference.
In November 2024, the Inquiry finished hearing oral evidence and there were 2 days of Closing Statements from legal representatives in December 2024. The Communication Team’s work will now focus on preparing for the publication of Sir Wyn Williams’ final report and recommendations, support for the Inquiry’s general engagement activity and delivery of the Inquiry’s Legacy Project. More information about the Legacy Project is available here: The Inquiry will also continue its listening project, In Your Own Words, to hear from more people impacted by the Post Office Horizon scandal. This is for anyone affected (directly or indirectly) by the scandal to share their stories and how their experiences have impacted them. More information about In Your Own Words is available here:
The Sponsoring Department:
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the sponsor department for the Inquiry. However, the Inquiry operates independently from DBT.
Responsibilities:
As a senior member of the Communications Team, your responsibilities will include:
* Expertly handling day-to-day media enquiries in a small but busy press office
* Drafting and editing informative, engaging press releases, briefing materials and other communications products to tight deadlines
* Design and deliver high quality communications campaigns that reflect the Inquiry’s priorities; evaluate these to measure success
* Assisting with and managing media operations and logistics on events for a high-profile public inquiry and around key events such as the Inquiry’s final report launch. This may include anything from briefing spokespeople for interviews to liaising with technical teams and broadcasters to ensure broadcast feeds are available for news outlets.
* Develop and maintain strong working relationships with senior internal stakeholders, across the Inquiry Team, providing expert communications advice
* Develop and maintain strong working relationships with external stakeholders such as journalists, other public inquiries, the Inquiry’s website developers
* Overseeing and contributing to high quality media monitoring, capturing insight, sharing relevant information, and identifying communications opportunities.
* Overseeing management of the Inquiry’s website and social media channels, to ensure these are regularly updated with accessible, timely content.
* Deputising for the Inquiry’s Head of Communications
* Assisting other teams within the Inquiry’s secretariat as required
* The Inquiry’s activities may sometimes change at short notice in order to deal with an important issue so the ability to adapt and thrive in a changing environment is key
* Participation in an out of hours press office rota
* Manage and develop an HEO.
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