Head of Marketing, Communications and Engagement

Posting date:	27 August 2025
Salary:	£58,423 to £64,316 per year
Additional salary information:	Normal pay on transfer rules apply for existing civil servants.
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	01 September 2025
Location:	BS16 1EJ
Company:	Government Recruitment Service
Job type:	Temporary
Job reference:	423840/1

Summary

At the Forestry Commission, we are united by a shared vision - to help tackle some of society’s biggest challenges through thriving forests, woods and trees. Forest Services, as part of the Forestry Commission, is the Government’s expert body for woodland regulation, incentives and advice in England. We support the forestry sector and landowners to protect, improve and expand the country’s valuable woodland assets - delivering benefits for biodiversity, climate, people and the rural economy.

We are now seeking an outstanding individual to join our team as Head of Marketing, Communications and Engagement. If you are passionate about the role of trees, woods and forestry in creating a better future for England and want to play a key part in realising that we want to hear from you.

To lead the strategic development and delivery of marketing, communications and engagement (MC&E) activity required to: (a) drive woodland creation and woodland management amongst existing and new customers in the land management sector; (b) strategically boost our internal engagement; and (c) raise awareness of our work across all key audiences.

You will:

• Oversee the development and delivery of marketing, communications and engagement strategies and implementation plans, both nationally and regionally, internally and externally, in line with agreed timelines and outcomes.
• Take strategic ownership of, and provide direction for, three core sub-teams within MC&E: (1) marketing, communications and stakeholders; (2) internal engagement; and (3) content and digital. Activity includes email marketing; content creation; social media; web management; promotional campaigns; system development; stakeholder engagement; internal communications; guidance development; regional promotional activity; operational communications and announcements.
• Oversee activity across all channels, ensuring consistent, on-brand and impactful messaging that aligns with organisational objectives, and minimising reputational risk
• Lead the Promotion & Engagement project under the Nature for Climate Fund (NCF) programme, overseeing landowner engagement activity across Forest Services and leading on all programme management tasks required under NCF, including risk management and securing funding. Engagement activity includes provision of technical site-specific advice; lead generation and conversion activity; programme of wide range of events, webinars and workshops; key account management; stakeholder collaboration.
• Lead and motivate a core team of 13 staff in national team, and provide direction as ‘head of profession’ for 18 staff embedded in regional teams. Line manage 3 direct reports, and matrix manage 4 reports within regional teams.
• Ensure the continued alignment of the team’s work within the wider organisation and core Defra, to achieve efficient team processes and ways of working, and coherent communication to customers and staff. Also ensure communications alignment within the broader Defra Group.
• Champion MC&E within Forest Services, ensuring the function provides a professional service to the business and delivers against organisational objectives.
• Establish and maintain constructive working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Direct efforts to develop and enhance performance monitoring and audience insight to enhance evidence-based continual improvement.
• Act as MC&E head of profession for Forest Services, steering overall direction of the function and directing activity of all members of the team.
• Manage the team budget to ensure effective resource allocation.
• Provide trusted advice to the executive team on strategic or sensitive communications matters.
• Lead crisis communication efforts as part of the incident management team.
• Play an active role as a senior leader within the wider Strategy and Transformation team and across the organisation, undertaking broader activities and corporate responsibilities as required.

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