15756 - Deputy Head of Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement - Planning and Visits
| Posting date: | 13 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £71,381 to £85,257 per year |
| Additional salary information: | The national salary range is £71,381 - £80,419, London salary range is £75,674 - £85,257. Your salary will be dependent on your base location. Fixed Term for a period of up to 12 months |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 27 March 2026 |
| Location: | UK |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | Ministry of Justice |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 15756 |
Summary
Deputy Head of Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement – Planning and Visits
• Grade: G6
• Location: National
• Salary range: £71,381 - £80,419 (National) £75,674 - £85,257 (London)
Vacancy description:
The newly formed Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement team sits at the heart of the MoJ’s communications directorate tasked with ensuring the department’s communications activity advances the Government’s key priorities. Its purpose is to increase strategic direction, co-ordination and impact of communications and deliver Ministerial visits, speeches and stakeholder activity to the highest professional standards.
You will work alongside a second Deputy Head of Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement, responsible for the MoJ communications strategy and external affairs, and Chief Speechwriter and Head of Editorial Strategy, in an overall team of about 25 people.
As Deputy Head of Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement, you will play a key role in shaping how we communicate with our audiences, leading on communications planning and managing our Ministerial visits and events programme.
It is a challenging and high-profile post in the communications directorate and you will be required to work collaboratively across different disciplines to co-ordinate plans and campaigns.
You will work closely with Special Advisors, Ministers and senior civil servants in ensuring departmental communications tell a clear story about the Government’s Plan for Change and help to deliver its priorities.
You will need to play an active role in supporting colleagues of all grades across the directorate to work more strategically as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
The role is suited to an established Grade 6 or 7, with excellent judgment and organisational skills. You will directly manage a G7 Head of Communications Planning and G7 Head of Visits and Events, with a wider team including 3 SIOs and 4 IOs.
Key responsibilities:
• Maintain a strategic forward look for the department’s communications, anticipating reputational risks and opportunities.
• Support the G7 Head of Communications Planning to provide regular communications plans to Ministers and SpAds in a clear and accessible format.
• Act as a key liaison with No.10 to build confidence in MoJ’s strategic communications programme.
• Work with the other Deputy Head of Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement to ensure communications activity is strategic, insight-driven and innovative.
• Work with policy, communications and operational colleagues to align communications activity into long-term storytelling that changes public opinion and behaviour in line with the government's key priorities.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships across the department and with wider Government Communications, particularly with the Home Office on the Safer Streets mission.
• Role model collaboration and play an active role in building strategic planning capability across the wider communications function.
• Lead the strategic planning and delivery of the department’s visits and events programme.
• Support the G7 Head of Visits to develop and expand the new function, ensuring activity aligns with our communications strategy and delivers Ministerial priorities.
• Work with the wider team to streamline processes around visits, speeches and stakeholder engagement, and build links with Private Office to professional and speed-up delivery of communications plans.
• Play an active role in ensuring the new Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement team prioritises professional development, innovation and wellbeing.
• Act as a visible and inclusive senior leader within MoJ Communications, contributing to directorate-wide strategy, prioritisation and decision-making.
Essential criteria:
• Significant experience in strategic communications planning at a senior level
• Proven track record of developing and delivering successful communications strategies and campaigns
• Experience managing complex visits and events programmes, including high-profile stakeholder events
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with experience of developing and motivating teams
• Excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment and managing multiple priorities
• Experience building effective relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Understanding of the modern communications landscape including media, social media and third-party channels.
• Experience of building capability and championing learning and development within teams.
• Grade: G6
• Location: National
• Salary range: £71,381 - £80,419 (National) £75,674 - £85,257 (London)
Vacancy description:
The newly formed Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement team sits at the heart of the MoJ’s communications directorate tasked with ensuring the department’s communications activity advances the Government’s key priorities. Its purpose is to increase strategic direction, co-ordination and impact of communications and deliver Ministerial visits, speeches and stakeholder activity to the highest professional standards.
You will work alongside a second Deputy Head of Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement, responsible for the MoJ communications strategy and external affairs, and Chief Speechwriter and Head of Editorial Strategy, in an overall team of about 25 people.
As Deputy Head of Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement, you will play a key role in shaping how we communicate with our audiences, leading on communications planning and managing our Ministerial visits and events programme.
It is a challenging and high-profile post in the communications directorate and you will be required to work collaboratively across different disciplines to co-ordinate plans and campaigns.
You will work closely with Special Advisors, Ministers and senior civil servants in ensuring departmental communications tell a clear story about the Government’s Plan for Change and help to deliver its priorities.
You will need to play an active role in supporting colleagues of all grades across the directorate to work more strategically as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
The role is suited to an established Grade 6 or 7, with excellent judgment and organisational skills. You will directly manage a G7 Head of Communications Planning and G7 Head of Visits and Events, with a wider team including 3 SIOs and 4 IOs.
Key responsibilities:
• Maintain a strategic forward look for the department’s communications, anticipating reputational risks and opportunities.
• Support the G7 Head of Communications Planning to provide regular communications plans to Ministers and SpAds in a clear and accessible format.
• Act as a key liaison with No.10 to build confidence in MoJ’s strategic communications programme.
• Work with the other Deputy Head of Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement to ensure communications activity is strategic, insight-driven and innovative.
• Work with policy, communications and operational colleagues to align communications activity into long-term storytelling that changes public opinion and behaviour in line with the government's key priorities.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships across the department and with wider Government Communications, particularly with the Home Office on the Safer Streets mission.
• Role model collaboration and play an active role in building strategic planning capability across the wider communications function.
• Lead the strategic planning and delivery of the department’s visits and events programme.
• Support the G7 Head of Visits to develop and expand the new function, ensuring activity aligns with our communications strategy and delivers Ministerial priorities.
• Work with the wider team to streamline processes around visits, speeches and stakeholder engagement, and build links with Private Office to professional and speed-up delivery of communications plans.
• Play an active role in ensuring the new Communications Strategy and Ministerial Engagement team prioritises professional development, innovation and wellbeing.
• Act as a visible and inclusive senior leader within MoJ Communications, contributing to directorate-wide strategy, prioritisation and decision-making.
Essential criteria:
• Significant experience in strategic communications planning at a senior level
• Proven track record of developing and delivering successful communications strategies and campaigns
• Experience managing complex visits and events programmes, including high-profile stakeholder events
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with experience of developing and motivating teams
• Excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment and managing multiple priorities
• Experience building effective relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Understanding of the modern communications landscape including media, social media and third-party channels.
• Experience of building capability and championing learning and development within teams.