Head of Communications and Lived Experience Engagement for the Domestic Abuse Commissioner
| Posting date: | 09 August 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £61,000 to £67,100 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 28 August 2024 |
| Location: | London |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 365200/1 |
Summary
An effective communications strategy is crucial to maximise the reach of the Commissioner, magnify the voices of survivors in the public discourse on domestic abuse, and fulfil her responsibilities in law. We are seeking a highly motivated individual with excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills to develop and deliver an effective communications strategy, build effective partnerships and oversee our dedicated lived experience engagement work. The role will be demanding and varied and would suit someone who has experience of working with national and local media outlets, magnifying lived experience voices, and developing effective communications strategies to raise awareness of complex issues. Sensitivity responding to emotive and nuanced issues will be critical.
The Head of Communications and Lived Experience to the Domestic Abuse Commissioner (DAC) has responsibility for delivering key elements of the DAC’s purpose, as set out in the Domestic Abuse Act. The Head of Communications works across the entire organisation, including Policy, Research and Practice functions. The Head of Communications is responsible for all aspects of the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s external affairs and lived experience engagement which requires a broad range of skills.
For the Comms elements of the role, the post holder has to anticipate and spot breaking news stories to issue swift, robust and appropriate responses, often at short notice and out of hours. They are the primary provider of media and communications advice within the Office, and a key part of the overall Office. They must oversee media handling advice on policy briefs on sensitive, complex and high profile issues.
For the Lived Experience elements, they are responsible for our Lived Experience Engagement work, which is led by a full-time Senior Executive Officer with specialist skills and knowledge. While the successful candidate does not need to bring this expertise themselves, they must be comfortable providing advice, support and direction to the Lived Experience Engagement Lead, and represent the work at the Senior Management Team.
- Raising awareness of domestic abuse
- Improving the national and local response to domestic abuse
- Holding national and local government, and statutory agencies to account for their role in responding to domestic abuse
- Publishing reports and laying them before Parliament.
In order to achieve this, the Head of Communications has responsibility for:
- Leading, developing and delivering an effective communications strategy, working across the DAC Office to identify communications opportunities that fulfil the DAC’s purpose and function. The current Communications Strategy runs to Summer 2024, and will need redevelopment.
- Raising the profile of the DAC, in order to progress policy objectives;
- Amplifying the voices of victims and survivors of domestic abuse (while taking into consideration safeguarding and potential legal issues), and with colleagues, bring in survivor voice to communications and media work, which can be difficult and requires a lot of sensitivity and professional judgement.
- Overseeing the Lived Experience Engagement work within the Office, including through:
- The ‘Voices at the DAC’ online platform;
- Responding to email correspondence from survivors;
- Survivor voice roundtables and other engagement events;
- Ensuring lived experience engagement is safe and considers safeguarding at every point;
- Ensuring survivor voice reflected in every part of the Office’s work.
- Responding to emerging issues which may require a rapid response and responding reactively to news stories as they break;
- Establishing and maintaining strong working relationships with the media;
- Maintaining and developing strong working relationships with communications professionals across the specialist domestic abuse sector and across Government;
- Effectively collaborating with Government, statutory agencies and third sector organisations while robustly maintaining the Commissioner’s independence;
- Understanding the political landscape to ensure that communications techniques achieve the best result for the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s Office
- Providing expert communications advice to the Commissioner and wider Office, including bespoke training for the Commissioner as required;
- Devising and managing media campaigns and conducting evaluation to demonstrate success;
- Creating a media monitoring to record all mention of the Commissioner inc quotes and statements/journalist database
- Preparing and writing press releases and communications materials on behalf of the Commissioner;
- Designing and updating the Commissioner’s online presence, including through the website and social media channels;
- Providing design or marketing advice to the Commissioner in the publication of her reports;
- Managing a range of communications and campaigns projects, including through management of freelancers;
- Forming a key part of the Senior Leadership Team of the DAC Office.
As a small team, the Commissioner’s Office are often expected to support wider team objectives and support other work as required. The postholder will be expected to provide support and advice as necessary.
The post holder will line manage one SEO Lived Experience Engagement Lead, and one HEO Communications and Policy Officer.
The position also requires the Head of Communications to oversee stakeholder engagement strategies, assessing the risks and benefits of different approaches, including presenting insight and advice to the Commissioner and senior colleagues.
Due to business requirements this role is only available on a full time basis.