Job summary
The Deputy Director for External Engagement will oversee and guide the implementation of effective visits, events and external engagement as part of an effective communication strategy. You will have a significant leadership role facilitating ways to inspire and engage colleagues building a brilliant, high-performing organisation. You will be part of a senior team ensuring high performance, delivery and innovation.
You will be responsible for teams developing and delivering effective audience focused communications which support Government and departmental priorities.
As Deputy Director for External Engagement, yours will be a key role in telling the transport story effectively through partners.
You will be able to see the bigger picture and understand political, economic, social, environmental and technological impacts of communication approaches.
You will provide support, advice and challenge to senior leaders and you will influence and inform stakeholders inside and outside of Government.
You will have a track record in delivering high profile communications strategies, be able to identify risks and opportunities and be comfortable operating in a fast-paced news environment.
You will be able to develop highly effective teams, leading with energy and enthusiasm, creating a culture of innovation, flexibility and responsiveness enabling a swift response to changing circumstances.
You will provide support, direction and development to your team and champion innovation and creativity.
The Communications Directorate comprises around 80 staff. You will report to Wendy Fielder as Director of Communications and be part of the directorate�s senior team.
You will also play a key role in the broader leadership and development of the organisation. You will be a senior leader and work with the Department�s network of agencies and other bodies to help coordinate communications opportunities.�
You will also be part of the leadership of the Government Communication Service (GCS).
Job description
Responsibilities of the role
You will have responsibility for leading the external affairs and visits and events teams, overseeing the development and implementation of plans and proposals and ensuring alignment with departmental goals and objectives. External engagement is crucial to building and maintaining relationships with influential individuals and organisations for the public benefit. You will also have responsibility for the Directorate�s business support function.
Setting strategic direction
As part of leading your function you will consider the bigger picture, including the social and political context, being flexible and responsive to a rapidly changing world and understanding the changing needs of public audiences. You will spot and manage reputational risks, display judgement and political acumen, articulate a clear plan of action, foster innovation and provide calm and authoritative leadership for your team.
Deploying campaign communication
You will be responsible for overseeing advice on external engagement with individuals and organisation to support� understanding and behaviour change for the public good in support of policy goals.
Trusted advisor fostering collaboration and influence
As a senior communications adviser at DfT you will lead your team in providing expert communications advice to senior leaders.
You will be expected to build effective relationships in and outside the departmentwith policy and operations counterparts in the Civil Service, and with political colleagues as well as external organisations.
Understanding context
You will be able to understand and interpret the political and cultural operating context inside and outside the Civil Service to help inform your advice and lead your teams. This includes the environment and the sector in which the Department for Transport operates. �
Building capability
You will role model continuous professional development and ensure your teams have the capability and skills they need to deliver. As a leader within the Government Communication Service, you will play an active role in raising professional standards and improving efficiency more broadly. You will work alongside senior leaders in the directorate to foster best practice.
Leading beyond the function
As a senior leader within the Department, you will play your part in leading the organisation, including taking on corporate roles and projects which support the GCS and Civil Service�s corporate agenda. You will work to improve diversity and inclusion in your Department and across the professionand create an environment where everyone can flourish.
Person specification
You will need to be able to show, through your application, that you have the professional skills, breadth of experience and personal qualities for this post, as well as the leadership skills to succeed at Deputy Director level in the Senior Civil Service.
The Government Communication Service is determined to ensure that the profession is representative of modern Britain and welcomes applications from the widest range of people of different backgrounds, cultures and experiences. You can find out more by visiting �
The successful candidate must therefore be able to demonstrate their capabilities and experience in the following areas:
1. You should have a range of experience which makes you suitable for this role. This could include overseeing events and visits delivery, or working at a senior level in an external/public affairs brief, but this shouldn�t be your only experience. We are looking for a candidate who understands the changing media landscape. Ideally you will have had some experience of working in, or closely with, media/press teams and can therefore demonstrate awareness of how to spot risks and opportunities.
2. You will have a track record in delivering high profile communications strategies, be able to identify risks and opportunities and be comfortable delivering at pace.
3. You will be able to see the bigger picture. You will be able to demonstrate an insight into the dynamics and issues surrounding the Department and the Government and bring this into the effective delivery of strategic communications delivery for the public.
4. You will be able to confidently lead change and improve your team and ways of doing things. You will be able to develop highly effective teams, leading with energy and enthusiasm, creating a culture of innovation, flexibility and responsiveness. You will be able to proactively champion and lead change, seeking innovative new approaches that create a culture of innovation, flexibility and responsiveness.
5. You are a leader who hashighly developed interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to establish credibility quickly with a diverse network of senior stakeholders and to present issues simply and effectively, both orally and in writing.
6. You will use your influence to make a positive difference across the Civil Service and externally. You will be able to demonstrate experienceof acting as a source of expertise and innovation to set professional standards, creativity and driving continuous improvement in communication delivery.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of �76,000, Department for Transport contributes �22,017 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Whatever your role, we take your career and development seriously, and want to enable you to build a really successful career with the Department and wider Civil Service.
It is crucial that our employees have the right skills to develop their careers and meet the challenges ahead, and you�ll benefit from regular performance and development reviews to ensure this development is ongoing. As a Civil Service employee, you�ll be entitled to a large range of benefits.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
The Civil Service values and supports all its employees.
We have strong and pro-active staff networks, special leave policies for hospital appointments, reasonable adjustments put in place for those who need them, and diversity talent programmes to help everyone irrespective of background, to achieve their potential.
Pension
Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package.
A competitive contributory pension scheme that you can enter as soon as you join where we will make a significant contribution to the cost of your pension; where your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken; and where your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire. Visit Civil Service Pension Scheme for more details.
Generous Annual Leave and Bank Holiday Allowance
25 days annual leave on entry, increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years� service (allowance is pro rata for part-time employees). This is in addition to 8 public holidays.
This will be complimented by one further day paid privilege entitlement to mark the King�s Birthday.
Staff Wellbeing
Flexible working including part-time or time-term working and access to Flexible Working Schemes allowing you to vary your working day as long as you work your total hours.
Generous paid maternity and paternity leave which is notably more than the statutory minimum offered by many other employers.
Childcare benefits (policy for new employees as of 5 April 2018): The government has introduced the Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) scheme. Working parents can open an online childcare account and for every �8 they pay in, the government adds �2, up to a maximum of �2000 a year for each child or �4000 for a disabled child. Parents then use the funds to pay for registered childcare. Existing employees may be able to continue to claim childcare vouchers, so please check how the policy would work for you here. Any move to the DfT from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.�
Onsite facilities Opportunity to use onsite facilities including fitness centres and staff canteens (where applicable).