Head of Communications, Customer Strategy & Tax Design

Summary
We are pleased to invite candidates to apply for this senior role in which you will have the opportunity to lead and shape the communications team supporting the HMRC Customer Strategy and Tax Design Group. You'll also play a wider role as a member of the HMRC Communications senior leadership team, with shared responsibility for leading one of the largest and most complex public sector communications teams in the UK.

You'll help us achieve the vision we have set of building a trusted, modern tax and customs department, and an equally impressive communications directorate which daily plays a key role in communicating its purpose and performance to millions of customers and stakeholders the length and breadth of the UK. You will be a confident and talented communications leader with experience in supporting operations whilst translating strategy into communications effects.

You will be comfortable sitting on senior leadership teams and regularly advising the most senior officials in HMRC and HM Treasury Ministers. You will be politically astute and have excellent judgement which will be tested daily. With a compelling blend of strategy, policy and operations, I can guarantee that no two days will be the same.**The reward is an opportunity to work in a fast–paced, exciting and complex communications environment where you will be able to test your communications and leadership skills to their limits. You will work with some incredible colleagues and take satisfaction that your team is having a real impact on the delivery of the some of the most significant and challenging tax change programmes and helping HMRC to achieve its longer–term ambitions.

HMRC Communications is committed to investing in our skills and capability. As one of the senior leaders in the directorate, and as a senior member of the Government Communications Service, you will be expected to actively support that aim.

For the right candidate, this is a broad, demanding and truly fascinating role. We look forward to considering your application and to welcoming the successful candidate to our team.

Job description
The Head of Communications for the Customer Strategy and Tax Design (CS&TD) Group supports the HMRC Permanent Secretaries and Director General CS&TD in the effective delivery of some of HMRC's most high–profile work, from communicating new tax measures in the Budget to engaging on a range of issues designed to build long–term trust between HMRC and its many stakeholder groups. The post holder leads a talented, multi–disciplinary communications team working on high–profile national priorities which are subject to considerable media and stakeholder scrutiny.

The Head of Communications is both a trusted advisor – working with senior staff and Ministers – and accomplished communications leader. Supporting a Director General in a group of some 3,000 staff, you'll be experienced working across internal and external communications, press, campaign delivery, and stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities
– Provide leadership for a multi–disciplinary communications function, ensuring the team is delivering day–to–day operational priorities whilst all the while being focused on longer–term strategy implementation.

– Be fastidious in assessing communications risk and, in cooperation with press office and officials, ensure robust communications plans are in place to respond to operational issues and mitigate reputational risk.

– Provide strategic communications counsel to HMT Ministers, the HMRC Permanent Secretaries, Director of Communications and other ExCom members and senior leaders.

– Set stretching goals and targets for the Customer Strategy and Tax Design communications function, spanning strategic communications, internal communications, media relations, stakeholder engagement and campaign delivery.

– Ensure all communications to customers and stakeholders are impactful and of the highest quality – with a particular focus on using effective insight and evaluation.

– Support the Director General for Customer Strategy and Tax Design, and their senior leadership team, in communicating effectively with staff to build and maintain engagement during a period of transformation.

Person Specification

This is a senior leadership role in one of the nation's busiest and most complex public sector communications teams.

As Head of Communications for HMRC's Customer Strategy and Tax Design Group, every day will bring fresh professional challenges and an opportunity to make a positive impact on a national stage.

The successful candidate will be an adept leader, working across a broad and intellectually stimulating portfolio.

Essential Criteria:

– Knowledge and experience of leading a high–performance communications team in a demanding setting subject to intense scrutiny.

– Demonstrable ability to deliver tangible communications outcomes in support of organisational strategy, working across multiple communications disciplines.

– Experience in devising and directing insight–driven, low–cost or no–cost behaviour change campaigns, and in delivering paid–for marketing campaigns.

– Evidence of supporting senior leadership visibility and engagement within a complex organisation.

– Track record of resilience and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances whilst remaining focused on delivery.

– Excellent leadership skills – reassuring to others and able to maintain the performance of their team.

– Experience of communications in a policy–driven environment