We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity
About the IMA:
The role of the IMA is to monitor the UK’s implementation and application of the agreements it has made with the EU, and the EEA/EFTA states, to guarantee the rights of their citizens living in the UK, and if legislated for in Gibraltar, at the end of the transition period. Establishing the IMA will fulfil a central and crucial commitment that the Government has made in those international agreements.
Further information can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/854222/WAB_Fact_Sheet_-_IND_MONITOR.pdf
Job Purpose:
The IMA is being set up to be operational from 31 December 2020. We’re looking for a dynamic and creative communications expert who can establish and lead a new and high-performing strategy and communications team from scratch. You'll be an independent self-starter, equally confident in setting strategic direction, and in being analytical and persuasively enthusiastic about business planning and improvement.
You’ll be at ease across a wide range of communications disciplines, including: media, campaigns, digital, external affairs, internal and corporate communications. You’ll have a strong track record of using your considerable expertise for real impact. Ideally, you will be experienced in setting up a new communications function, including establishing the presence of a new organisation.
You'll also be able to line manage the planning and performance team of the IMA, therefore you will be able to reflect on performance against strategic objectives, support the development of planning for the future, and have knowledge of project delivery models. You'll lead colleagues in developing strategic and business plans to shape and deliver the strategy for the IMA under the leadership of the Chief Executive and the Board.
This is a challenging and fast-paced role and you'll be expected to hit the ground running, quickly establishing yourself as a trusted leader and expert advisor. You will set the strategic direction and be confident advising at a senior, including ministerial, level and comfortable operating in a detailed, policy environment.
As a proactive and collaborative team player, you will forge strong relationships with colleagues across the IMA, other government departments and stakeholders to achieve your team’s goals. You’ll need to be a problem solver, with a proven experience of having a vision and then leading, influencing and managing various stakeholders and media.
Your role will be to advise and support IMA’s senior management and board in managing the reputation of the IMA. This will include developing and implementing a proactive and reactive communications strategy.
The role is focused on the communications and planning for the IMA, however the successful candidate may be required to work on different projects as requirements and workstreams evolve and mature.
Responsibilities:
- develop and deliver strategic plans that support the Chief Executive and Board’s vision and direction for the IMA
- develop and deliver an effective communications strategy, with a clear, achievable timetable
- identify the communications needs for the strategy across the full range of communications disciplines – including press, digital, campaigns, external affairs, internal and branding
- set clear objectives that strategically align with the IMA’s business plan and policy objectives
- be responsible for working closely with IMA colleagues and the IMA Board to maintain an overview of key messages and priorities that need to be communicated
- advise on approaches to stakeholder engagement, including establishing trusted relationships with key external organisations and influencers
- provide strategic oversight and management of media and press handling, including building relationships with journalists and other key influencers to inform the public of the IMA’s work and findings
- be responsible for ensuring that the communications function in IMA are on top of potential risks and issues
- Oversee the development and delivery of an effective stakeholder engagement strategy, with a clear, achievable timetable
- have oversight and responsibility for content quality for IMA’s online platforms, including website news content and social media
- work with the IMA’s Senior Leadership Team to play a full and active role in the creation of the internal culture of the IMA and how corporate messages are communicated to staff of a brand-new organisation working with complex policy issues
- ensure that all communications functions are efficient and unified to provide a seamless service, which achieves outcomes which are evaluated against strategic objectives and goals, drawing on insight and best practice from across government and public sector
- lead and manage a small team
Essential skills:
- Line management experience or proven skills in an operational background and/or dynamic and complex pressured environment
- Strong leadership skills, confident in creating and delivering complex strategies
- First-class expertise across a wide range of communications disciplines, including media, digital, stakeholder, internal and branding, with strong evidence of impact and results
- Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills, with experience of delivering multi-faceted projects within tight time frames
- Customer-oriented with a focus on delivering a high standard of professional service
- An enthusiastic team-player, with strong interpersonal skills and a proactive and collaborative attitude, able to inspire the confidence of colleagues
- Ability to understand complex and technical policy issues and translate these into a deliverable communications strategy
- Strong understanding of stakeholder engagement and confidence in working with stakeholders to achieve results
- Excellent written and oral communications skills
Behaviours:
We'll assess you against these Civil Service success profiles during the selection process:
- Making effective decisions
- Communicating and influencing
- Delivering at pace
- Seeing the bigger picture
- Leadership
Technical skills
You are also expected to be proficient in each of the Government Communication Service (GCS) competencies to Grade 6 level, particularly skills and knowledge under CORE and the ‘Campaigns’ discipline. These are found in the Government Communication Professional Competency Framework.
Benefits
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension
Security
- Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
- Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Check.
Selection process details
As part of the selection process, candidates called to interview will be asked to deliver a presentation:
The IMA is now in the process of being established and you are its new Head of Communications. It is 6 months until the organisation ‘goes live’. The IMA's Chair and non-Executive Board has just been appointed and has asked you to provide an overview of communications for the organisations, outling the main points they need to be aware of in the next 6 months of set-up and in the IMA's first year of operation. As yet, you do not have a team and are the only communications expert in the team.
In particular, the Chair and Board wants to see:
- an outline communications strategy between now and the IMA going live
- an outline proposal for communication priorities in IMA's first year of operation
Please prepare a 10 minute presentation for the Board. This will be followed up by 10 minutes of question time.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Technical and Experience.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and Statement of Suitability. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please note that your Statement of Suitability should be no more than 1000 words. It should highlight the reason you are interested in the role and how your experience makes you the best candidate. You should also make particular reference to the essential skills and technical skills set out above.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview
Please note we do not consider CV applications – you must apply for this role through Civil Service Jobs.
Interview Dates
Interviews provisionally scheduled for the week commencing 6th July 2020. Due to current situations, interviews will be conducted virtually over Skype or a similar platform.
Reserve List
In the event that we identify more appointable candidates than we currently have posts available, we will hold applicant details on a reserve list for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. This may include roles at a lower grade. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this. Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact MoJ-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com to be removed from the reserve list.
Nationality requirements
Open to UK, Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) and certain non-EEA nationals. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here.
Note to existing Civil Servants
The Independent Monitoring Authority (IMA) is offering this post on secondment terms to existing Civil Servants for a period of 12 to 24 months.
The IMA is sponsored by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), but is operationally independent of the MoJ and Government. As such, the MoJ is supporting the recruitment process for this role on behalf of the IMA during its set-up period - the secondment will be to the IMA. The IMA require the successful candidate to start in post as soon as possible and will require the minimum release period – please make your manager aware of this.
Should the secondee wish to be recruited on a permanent basis they would be required to resign from their substantive post as post holders in the IMA are public servants opposed to civil servants. This could impact upon their terms and conditions of employment.
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