Strategic Communications Manager

Job SummaryGreat British Energy will be a publicly owned, operationally independent energy company, designed to drive clean energy deployment, boost energy independence, create jobs and ensure UK taxpayers, billpayers and communities reap the benefits of clean, secure, homegrown energy. Setting up Great British Energy is one of government’s first steps for change and we will do this in a way that means it will have both an early impact and long-term success.Through its five functions (Project development, Project investment, Local Power Plan, Supply chains and Great British Nuclear), Great British Energy will speed up the deployment of mature and new technologies, as well as local energy projects, to support the government’s aim of decarbonising our electricity system by 2030 whilst also ensuring we can meet future demand as we further decarbonise the economy.To this end and as an example of what it can achieve, we have already agreed a major partnership between Great British Energy and The Crown Estate to accelerate deployment and support UK supply chains.Great British Energy will work collaboratively with industry, local authorities and communities, and other public sector organisations such as the National Wealth Fund, to spread skilled jobs and investment across the country. Great British Energy will be backed by a capitalisation of £8.3 billion of new money over this Parliament.In recognition of Scotland’s leading role in the UK’s clean energy revolution, Great British Energy will be headquartered and run from Scotland.More details can be found in the Great British Energy founding statement.Roles in what will become Great British Energy will initially be undertaken in shadow form within the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. They will then be transferred to Great British Energy when the Great British Energy Bill becomes law and the company has the necessary procedures and systems in place to employ people directly.Job DescriptionWe are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Strategic Communications Manager to lead the coordination and planning of complex communications and external affairs activity, ensuring GBE delivers integrated campaigns that are impactful and advances our mission.This role is pivotal in enhancing GBE’s brand reputation, fostering trust and building advocacy among key audiences through a well-coordinated and thoughtful approach.Reporting to the Head of External Affairs and working closely with the Head of Communications, the postholder will align communications, policy, and external affairs to ensure campaigns are attuned, insight-driven, timely, and progressing organisational priorities.Person specificationManage the long-term communications and external affairs grid and campaign plans, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.Collaborate with policy and communications teams to identify reputational priorities, risks, and opportunities.Working with colleagues to develop and maintain key messages for key audiences and monitor external, legislative and policy developments to proactively inform communications strategies.Use data and audience insight to shape timely, impactful campaigns.Work closely with colleagues and influence teams to deliver high-quality, integrated communications.Evaluate campaign effectiveness and embed a continuous improvement approach.As a line manager, you will be responsible for working with your members of staff to define their objectives, as well as managing their development and performance.Essential CriteriaExperience in communications, external affairs, government relations and/or stakeholder engagement focused role in a complex organisation.Proven ability to lead integrated communications and external affairs campaigns and collaborate with teams across the business.Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to simplify complex topics.Strategic thinker with the ability to prioritise, horizon scan, and identify risks.Strong interpersonal skills, including experience working with senior leaders.Confident in using data and audience insight to inform and influence communications planning.Desirable CriteriaComfortable working in a fast-paced public organisation under high levels of scrutiny, with multiple priorities and evolving requirements.BehavioursWe'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:LeadershipSeeing the Big PictureWorking TogetherCommunicating and InfluencingMaking Effective DecisionsWe only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:LeadershipSeeing the Big PictureWorking TogetherBenefitsAlongside your salary of £55,105, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £15,963 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero offers a competitive mix of benefits including:A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an employer contribution of 28.97%.A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.Office attendanceThe Department operates a discretionary hybrid working policy, which provides for a combination of working hours from your place of work and from your home in the UK. The current expectation for staff is to attend the office or non-home based location for 40-60% of the time over the accounting period.Things you need to knowSelection process detailsThis vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and behavioural statements. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to outline the relevant skills and experience you have that meet the essential criteria for this role.In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the CV.Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.The interview will consist of behaviour questions.Interviewees will be asked to deliver a presentation; further details will be provided nearer the time.Sift and interview datesSift and interview dates to be confirmed.Artificial Intelligence Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.Further InformationReasonable AdjustmentWe are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.Information about the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) and some examples of adjustments that we offer to disabled candidates and candidates with long-term health conditions during our recruitment process can be found in our DESNZ Candidate Guidance. A DESNZ Plain Text Version of the guidance is also available.We encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.Any move to the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.DESNZ does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home).DESNZ cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DESNZ holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.ukApplicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.FeedbackFeedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.SecuritySuccessful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.Nationality requirementsThis job is broadly open to the following groups:UK nationalsnationals of the Republic of Irelandnationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UKnationals 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 2020Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil ServiceFurther information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)Working for the Civil ServiceThe 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 also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.Diversity and InclusionThe 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).Apply and further informationThis 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 applicantsJob contact :Name : Georgina GarlandEmail : georgina.garland@gbe.gov.ukRecruitment teamEmail : desnzresourcing.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.ukFurther informationAppointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance DESNZrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints