Judicial Appointments Commission - Strategic Communications Manager (Ref: 7321)

Ministry of Justice UK; London; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Justice UK is seeking a Strategic Communications Manager to enhance its outreach and engage diverse audiences. This role involves developing communication campaigns, managing various channels, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to support a diverse judiciary. This is an excellent opportunity for a creative communicator passionate about justice and inclusion.

Benefits

Attractive annual leave allowance

Flexible working opportunities

Choice of pension schemes

Qualifications

• Creativity in communicating with diverse audiences.
• Ability to engage with various communication platforms.
• Experience in producing content for different channels.

Responsibilities

• Manage communications advice and support for JAC colleagues.
• Deliver outreach and engagement campaigns effectively.
• Create and publish written and visual content.

Skills

Excellent written communication

Interpersonal skills

Knowledge of communications channels

Strong IT skills

Job description

This position is based at 102 Petty France 12T, SW1H 9AJ

Job Summary

Please refer to job description.

Job Description

Judicial Appointments Commission – Strategic Communications Manager (HEO)

Are you a creative communicator with a passion for communicating with diverse audiences? Are you comfortable working across a range of communication channels and platforms? Can you help our teams reach new audiences by bringing our stories to life? If the answer is yes, you could be exactly who we are looking for.

The Role

We’re looking for a Strategic Communications Manager to help us communicate our work and connect with our audiences. As an independent public body, the Judicial Appointments Commission is responsible for designing, planning, and running recruitment campaigns to select judges in the courts and tribunals, up to and including the High Court, as well as non-legal tribunal members. You can read more about our work on our website.

With a new recruitment campaign launched every couple of weeks, and statutory responsibilities to make sure we select candidates on merit and through fair and open competition, it’s essential that our processes are robust, inclusive, and attractive to candidates from the widest possible backgrounds. It’s also essential that our audiences and stakeholders understand our work and our commitment to support a diverse judiciary that represents the society it serves.

Our Strategic Communications Manager plays a vital role in helping us to achieve that ambition. The role works closely with the Stakeholder Engagement and Outreach Manager, Diversity Policy Manager and operational teams to deliver communications campaigns that explain and promote our busy programme of selection activity. From developing case studies that inspire new audiences, to demystifying our applications processes and helping candidates access the support they need to consider a judicial career, our Strategic Communications Manager is at the heart of bringing our work to life.

Working across a range of channels, the Strategic Communications Manager will deliver outreach activities, support media enquiries, monitor and analyse our media coverage and ensure our website, social media channels, newsletters and internal communications products meet the needs of our audiences.

You should relish the challenge of working in a small but dynamic team, collaborating with colleagues who are passionate about the JAC’s mission.

Main Responsibilities

Reporting to the Senior Strategic Communications Manager, your main responsibilities will be to:

• Provide communications advice and support for JAC colleagues including managing the website and intranet, collating newsletters, supporting the handling of media enquiries, and media monitoring.
• Working closely with the Stakeholder Engagement and Outreach Manager, advise on effective communication approaches and support the delivery of outreach and engagement campaigns for JAC selection exercises, using a variety of channels to suit the audience. This includes measuring and evaluating outreach campaigns, ensuring lessons learned are recorded for future campaigns.
• There may also be a requirement to support the delivery of outreach and engagement campaign for selection exercises, particularly those that have historically seen limited underrepresentation of the JAC’s target group candidates.
• Create and publish written and visual content for JAC operations and policy teams across digital (including social media), print and internal channels.
• Leading and delivering projects outlined within the Communications and Engagement Strategy.
• Contribute towards regular evaluation of communications campaigns and activity, analysing findings and making recommendations for change and improvement.
• Identify the best channels and formats for information and suggest ideas to reach relevant audiences.
  
  

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Essential Criteria

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, interpersonal skills and ability to build good working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritise a busy workload and manage multiple priorities to agreed timelines while ensuring a high-quality service.
• Knowledge of different communications channels and tools and ability to provide advice on the most appropriate channels depending on context and user needs.
• Experience of producing content for a range of channels including digital, social and/or print.
• Strong team working skills and ability to work flexibly to support a small team.
• Strong IT and digital skills, including the ability to quickly learn to use unfamiliar software to a good standard, with appropriate training.
  
  

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge of campaign planning methodology.
• Knowledge of evaluating communication campaigns, including using web analytics tools, and how to use this data to improve communications.
• Experience in project management.
  
  

What We Can Offer You

We offer a range of benefits including an attractive annual leave allowance, flexible and hybrid working opportunities, and choice of pension schemes. We actively encourage all staff to undertake learning and development as part of their personal objectives and have a range of networks to support and promote inclusivity, wellbeing, and dignity at work among other things.

Recruitment Process

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the recruitment process:

• Communicating and influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
  
  

Application Process

• Your CV
• A statement of suitability detailing the relevant experience and skills you have that would make you suitable for the post (500 words max).
• Written evidence of 2 behaviours: Communicating and influencing and Working Together (250 words per behaviour
  
  

Sift

Applications will be sifted based on the CV, Statement of Suitability and the 2 behaviours: Communicating and Influencing and Working Together.

If a large number of applications are received, we will sift on the CV, statement of suitability and lead behaviour which is Communicating and Influencing.

Interview

At interview you we will assess you against 3 behaviours: Communicating and influencing, Working Together, and Managing a Quality Service. You will also be asked about your experience.

You can find out more about the Civil Service success profiles here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles

Applicants invited for interview may be required to undertake a work exercise as part of this interview process. Candidates may be asked to complete this in the week before their scheduled interview slot or may alternatively be asked to complete a task on the day of the interview. Further information about what task will be required will be provided to candidates shortlisted for interview.

Interviews are expected to take place in mid-August 2025. Interviews may be conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams or face-to-face. More details on the arrangements will be provided to candidates invited to interview.

Reserve List

As well as appointing to the vacancy listed above, we may place other candidates on a 12-month reserve list for future vacancies.

Office Attendance

JAC staff are currently working in a hybrid way with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office. Applicants for this role should note that they may be required to attend the office more than 2 days per week in line with business need.

Further Information

If after reading this job description you require any further information, please contact Caitlin Smith-Mullally, JAC Senior Strategic Communications Manager, at [e-mail]

If You Have Any Questions About The Recruitment Campaign, Or Any Terms And Conditions Relating To The Role, Please Contact The JAC Recruitment Team:

[e-mail]

Judicial Appointments Commission – Strategic Communications Manager (HEO)

Are you a creative communicator with a passion for communicating with diverse audiences? Are you comfortable working across a range of communication channels and platforms? Can you help our teams reach new audiences by bringing our stories to life? If the answer is yes, you could be exactly who we are looking for.

The Role

We’re looking for a Strategic Communications Manager to help us communicate our work and connect with our audiences. As an independent public body, the Judicial Appointments Commission is responsible for designing, planning, and running recruitment campaigns to select judges in the courts and tribunals, up to and including the High Court, as well as non-legal tribunal members. You can read more about our work on our website.

With a new recruitment campaign launched every couple of weeks, and statutory responsibilities to make sure we select candidates on merit and through fair and open competition, it’s essential that our processes are robust, inclusive, and attractive to candidates from the widest possible backgrounds. It’s also essential that our audiences and stakeholders understand our work and our commitment to support a diverse judiciary that represents the society it serves.

Our Strategic Communications Manager plays a vital role in helping us to achieve that ambition. The role works closely with the Stakeholder Engagement and Outreach Manager, Diversity Policy Manager and operational teams to deliver communications campaigns that explain and promote our busy programme of selection activity. From developing case studies that inspire new audiences, to demystifying our applications processes and helping candidates access the support they need to consider a judicial career, our Strategic Communications Manager is at the heart of bringing our work to life.

Working across a range of channels, the Strategic Communications Manager will deliver outreach activities, support media enquiries, monitor and analyse our media coverage and ensure our website, social media channels, newsletters and internal communications products meet the needs of our audiences.

You should relish the challenge of working in a small but dynamic team, collaborating with colleagues who are passionate about the JAC’s mission.

If You Have Any Questions About The Recruitment Campaign, Or Any Terms And Conditions Relating To The Role, Please Contact The JAC Recruitment Team:

[e-mail]

Person specification

Please Refer To Job Description.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
  
  

Alongside your salary of £38,661, Ministry of Justice contributes £11,200 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance
  
  

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
  
  

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact :

• Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
• Email : [e-mail]
• Telephone : [phone]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. I you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact SSCL ([e-mail]) in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints/

https://jobs.justice.gov.uk/careers/JobDetail/7321?entityId=7321