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Job Description: Prison Resourcing Internal Communications Lead
Grade: 7
Post type: 2 years
Location: National
No of vacancies: 1
Who is the vacancy open to: External
Security Clearance required on appointment: SC
Job description:
We are looking for an experienced, committed, and proactive communications professional to join the award-winning HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) communications team within the Ministry of Justice. The successful candidate will join us at an exciting time within our team and help revolutionise the way we communicate to the prison community.
Joining the award winning MOJ Communications Team within the newly formed Communications Resourcing Team, you will develop and deliver an impactful, local communications strategy to help us achieve our ambition of improving our local prison communications channels, drive up staff engagement and strengthen the links between people working across HMPPS.
We are looking for a strong leader with demonstrable experience of leading communications for large organisations or on complex projects. The role has a strong focus on internal communications and staff engagement but also encompasses campaigns, digital and operational communications. The successful applicant will be a natural relationship builder and will be able to work collaboratively and with impact across a range of teams including those inside prisons, senior leaders in HMPPS and other communication functions. In addition, you will be a creative thinker, able to come up with new innovative solutions to old problems and remain positive in the face of adversity.
You must be comfortable managing a new regional team set up to help improve the way we communicate locally in 117 prisons in England and Wales. This team will be based throughout England and Wales. The postholder must be comfortable and able to travel and work inside local prisons across the breadth of England and Wales on a regular basis. Some driving may be required where public transport is not available. All expenses will be reimbursed.
As a senior member of the MOJ communications team you will also be expected to play a key role in shaping the direction of the wider team and be required to take on additional responsibilities outside of your portfolio of work to help build on our positive inclusive culture and improve what we do.
Key responsibilities:
- Lead on developing and delivering an impactful insight based local prisons communications strategy that will improve our local channels, drive up staff engagement and strengthen the link between HMPPS, senior leaders and our frontline teams.
- Build and nurture a new local prisons internal communications team based throughout England and Wales, leading on recruitment, objective setting and performance management.
- Oversee the new local internal communications team to improve local channels and ensure our communications are effective, timely and relevant to both staff and prisoners.
- Be solution focussed and come up with new innovative and creative ideas to extend the reach of our corporate communications and improve communications locally.
- Build strong, constructive relationships with senior leaders across HMPPS, MOJ and inside the prison community.
- Become a trusted senior advisor on local communications within HMPPS and develop an in-depth knowledge of the challenges we face when communicating locally.
- Build and manage excellent relationships with other teams within MoJ Comms – you will need to work collaboratively as one team across media, PR, digital, internal and corporate comms to make the project a success.
- Establish a new engagement tracker to measure the success of our communications locally and use this insight to strengthen and improve our approach.
- Lead your team to deliver an ambitious programme of local support to frontline teams to build communications capability, strengthen local channels and raise engagement with staff.
- Train up local champions to strengthen link between HQ and local prisons and ensure consistent two-way flow of information and insight and help manage and maintain local channels. Offer ongoing 1-1 senior communications support for priority Prison Governors and senior teams including monthly local visits.
Application:
As part of the application process, you will be asked to upload your CV and provide, a maximum of 500-word Statement of Suitability demonstrating how you meet the criteria set out and competencies set out in the job description.
Please note your Statement of Suitability should concisely explain your motivation for applying for this role, evidencing how you meet the experience necessary to perform the role set out in the job description.
Applications will be sifted on the 500-word Statement of Suitability CV's will not be marked but will support your application.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview.
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
Flexible working hours
The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices.
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