Communications Manager

HM Revenue & Customs; North East; On-site; GBP 45,000; Full time

Job summary

HM Revenue & Customs is seeking experienced Communications Managers for its Compliance Communications team. This role involves coordinating communication strategies across the organization, influencing senior leaders, and engaging with both internal and external audiences to enhance HMRC's reputation while delivering operational communication effectively.

Benefits

Generous leave allowance starting at 25 days

Pension contributions of at least 28.97%

Family friendly policies

Personal support and development opportunities

Flexible and hybrid working policies

Qualifications

• Experienced professional with a strong record in journalism or communications.
• Ability to manage relationships and deliver strategic communication.
• Methodical and organized, capable of handling multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate communication plans and support Compliance Communications teams.
• Provide strategic advice to senior leaders on communication issues.
• Handle reactive news stories and manage media interactions.

Skills

Relationship Management

Planning

Writing Skills

Leadership

Education

Experience in communications, PR, or journalism

Job description

To learn more and apply, click through

to our full Job Application

Closes Wed 11:55pm 16th July 2025

About HMRC

HMRC has one of the largest and busiest communications teams in Government, and we are recognised as running one of the top communications operations in Whitehall.

Whether we’re promoting new policies, explaining our work to tackle tax avoidance and evasion, or publicising our customer-facing services, our external communications is HMRC’s reputational front-line.

About the Team

Customer Compliance Group (CCG) is larger than most government departments: it has 25,000 staff in locations across the country. It is at the heart of the transformation of HMRC and is responsible for delivering the department’s high-profile and reputation-critical compliance activities.

HMRC’s aim is for everyone to pay the right tax at the right time, no matter who they are. We support our customers to get their tax right and tackle those who set out to cheat or harm the system.

These are exciting times for the department, and we are now recruiting two roles to form a crucial part of the Compliance communications team.

About the Role

We’re looking for experienced, driven and creative communications professionals to join our friendly integrated team where you’ll get the chance to build your skills across all areas of our work. You will play a key role in the way we operate across the whole business area, coordinating communications plans and supporting HMRC Compliance Communications teams. These are hugely rewarding roles which will provide a fascinating challenge for the right candidates.

Job description

Communications Manager (2 vacancies):

• We work closely with the Minister’s office, DG and Perm Sec private offices, policy teams and special advisors to identify media risks and opportunities to promote the department’s work and manage reactive media enquiries. We also work with Industry-level stakeholders and organisations to ensure a cohesive and comprehensive approach to announcements.

• Our ideal candidates will have a strong record of achievement in a journalism adjacent role with excellent relationship management, planning and writing skills.

• They will be able to support business objectives to deliver operational communication to customers and influence the reputation of HMRC among internal and external audiences through effective communication.

• As a crucial link between compliance and external channels, they will ensure that business areas communications are properly planned, coordinated, delivered and aligned with the CCG and HMRC business plans.

• They will be delivering strategic advice and challenge to senior leaders, providing strategic overview and direction on external and internal communication issues.

• Setting high standards for all communications using creative and innovative communication techniques where appropriate.

• While they will primarily work on one subject area within CCG Comms, they may be required to work on other areas within CCG Comms.

Person specification

About You

Constantly working closely with senior leaders to influence and identify communications requirements by providing proactive strategic advice.

Provide counsel and constructively challenge directors and senior leaders on how communications can help support business objectives and protect/enhance reputation while communicating on contentious topics.

Collaborating with senior stakeholders and other business leads to develop and deliver integrated internal, external and employee engagement communications plans.

Support and deputise for Communications Business Partners, as appropriate.

They will also:

• Handle reactive news stories, respond to queries and breaking issues effectively and in a timely manner.
• Provide media advice and support to senior officials and stakeholders.
• Work with external stakeholders and arm’s length bodies to plan and maximise announcements and identify opportunities for joint working.
• Monitor and evaluate media work to ensure strategic objectives are being met and messages land in the media.

Essential Criteria:

• Recent detailed experience in communications, PR, journalism, or news.
• Been behind creative media plans, using the right channels for the target audience whilst possessing excellent written and oral communication abilities.
• Methodical and organised, with the ability to deliver at pace, under pressure whilst delivering against competing deadlines and on multiple projects.
• Demonstrate strong leadership skills with the ability to influence and advise senior colleagues.
• Experience of evaluating impact and effectiveness throughout the delivery of communication activity work.

Additional Information - Transitional Sites

For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.

If your location preference is for one of the following sites, it’s important to note that these are not long-term sites for HMRC and we will require you to move to a new building in the future, subject to our location strategy and the applicable employee policies at that time.

These sites are:

• Waterview Park, Washington - moving to Pilgrims Quarter, Newcastle
• Benton Park View, Newcastle - moving to Pilgrims Quarter, Newcastle
• Centenary Court, Bradford - moving to 7 and 8 Wellington Place, Leeds
• Lynx House, Portsmouth - moving to No.1 The Goodsyard, Portsmouth
• Telford Plaza, Telford - moving to Parkside Court, Telford
• Trinity Bridge House, Manchester - moving to an alternative office in Manchester/ Salford

You will be given more information about what this means at the job offer stage.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,110, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £12,778 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.

We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

• Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues’ Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
• Family friendly policies.
• Personal support.
• Coaching and development.

How to Apply

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:

• A name-blind CV including your job history. Please provide your most recent and relevant experience on how you meet the Job Description and Person Specification. Please keep your details anonymous where possible. Please list any relevant qualifications also.
• A 750-word personal statement. Please provide in 750 words using the STAR method an example that incorporates all the Essential Criteria, providing impacts, outcomes and results. What you learned also would be beneficial.

Sift

You will need to pass the CV Assessment at sift in order for your Personal Statement to be scored and assessed. We will only take passing scores of both to interview, those who fail the CV will have their Personal Statement not assessed.

We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.

Interview

During the panel interview, you will be asked behaviour-based questions to explore in detail what you are capable of.

Interviews will take place via video link. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.