Senior communication officer

Ministry of Justice; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A government body in England seeks a communication specialist to develop public engagement strategies, manage stakeholder communication, and enhance public understanding of sentencing. Candidates should possess excellent written skills, experience in public relations, and stakeholder engagement. The role supports hybrid working, blending office and home environments, along with benefits like annual leave and training opportunities.

Benefits

Annual Leave up to 30 days

Flexible pension schemes

Extensive training opportunities

Employee support networks

Family-friendly policies

Paid maternity and paternity leave

Free annual sight tests

Qualifications

• Proven ability to draft clear, concise content for diverse audiences.
• Experience managing press inquiries and public-facing campaigns.
• Proficient in developing and implementing communication strategies.

Responsibilities

• Convey the Council's guidelines and messages accurately to diverse audiences.
• Develop strategies to increase public confidence in sentencing.
• Manage the Council's social media presence and engagement.

Skills

Excellent written and verbal skills

Public-facing communication

Stakeholder engagement

Ability to work autonomously

Understanding of political context

Education

Membership in Government Communication Service or related body

Job description

The Sentencing Council for England and Wales is an independent non‑departmental public body and part of the Ministry of Justice family of arm's‑length bodies. The Council produces guidelines that provide a sentencing framework for the judiciary throughout the courts in England and Wales. The Council also has a statutory remit to improve public confidence in the criminal justice system and sentencing in particular. The sentencing of offenders is an issue of great public interest, with high‑profile cases frequently attracting the attention of the media and Parliament, and the context is changing. The government is implementing reforms recommended by the Independent Sentencing Review and the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts that will make fundamental changes to the structure of sentencing and how the courts work.

Responsibilities

• Develop a thorough understanding of the Council's guidelines, consultations, research, analysis and other work, and the context within which the Council functions, in order to communicate the Council's work and key messages to non‑experts accurately and completely.
• Develop and deliver public confidence communication strategies and activities to improve knowledge and understanding of sentencing among criminal justice focused stakeholders and public audiences, including victims of crime, witnesses and offenders.
• Contribute to the Council's strategic engagement work, identifying engagement opportunities, developing briefs for stakeholder meetings, compiling content for presentations and speeches and working with stakeholders and partners.
• Develop and maintain an appropriate social media profile for the Council, planning and developing content and monitoring performance.
• Support the Council's press office when required, handling media enquiries and drafting news releases, articles, bulletins, briefings and lines for external media and internal, criminal justice channels. Occasionally provide an out‑of‑hours press contact.
• Write content for the Council's website, blog and social media accounts.
• Represent the Communication team at meetings and public engagements, as required, and contribute to the effective running of the office.

Qualifications

• Excellent written, verbal and presentational skills, including the ability to assimilate complex issues quickly and draft clear, concise, engaging copy for a range of audiences and channels.
• Experience of working on public‑facing communication activities or campaigns, or experience of stakeholder engagement.
• Sound news sense and an awareness of political context.
• Ability to work autonomously and proactively to tight deadlines.
• Experience of building credibility at a senior level, for example with senior judiciary, Ministers or senior officials.
• Experience of working in a press office and handling enquiries from journalists.
• Membership of the Government Communication Service and/or the Chartered Institute of PR, Public Relations and Communications Association, Chartered Institute of Marketing or other professional body.

Hybrid Working arrangements

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non‑contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Benefits

• Annual Leave: 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years' service. A scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part‑time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro‑rata basis.
• Pension: The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
• Training: The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
• Networks: The opportunity to join employee‑run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed directly to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
• Family Friendly policies: opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
• Flexible benefits: voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
• Paid maternity, paternity, adoption and adoption leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans.