Head of Communications

Our organisation’s purpose is to find and pay compensation to everyone who is eligible, and building trust with that community is crucial. Communication and engagement plays a key part in this.

The Head of Communications shapes, leads, designs and implements the communications strategy for IBCA as part of our leadership team, while also growing and developing our team. Building trust and transparency with the infected blood community is essential, which means how we communicate is as important as what we communicate.

You will be responsible for the organisation's strategic narrative, external and internal communications and awareness campaigns, leading a team and overseeing a significant programme budget. They will sit at the heart of IBCA's leadership, supporting the Director in advising the Chief Executive and Board, working closely across the public sector and ensuring communications actively supports operational delivery.

• Leading IBCA's communications function as part of a leadership team.
• Actively maintaining trust with the infected blood community.
• Being responsible for the organisation's strategic narrative, external and internal communications, awareness campaigns and content.
• Leading a team.
• Overseeing a significant programme budget.
• Advising the Chief Executive and Board and supporting the Director.
• Ensuring communications actively supports operational delivery.

There is an expectation that the successful candidate will need to undertake some travel as part of this role.Person specificationEssential Criteria:

• Experience of leading communications in a public sector and/or regulatory environment at a senior level.
• Proven experience leading and developing a high-performing communications team, including recruitment, talent development and building capability aligned to organisational needs.
• Ability to design and deliver strategic communications in a complex, sensitive or high-scrutiny environment, with demonstrable impact on public trust and audience understanding.
• Experience developing and owning a strategic narrative across internal and external channels, including advising and briefing senior leaders.
• Strong track record of stakeholder engagement, including working across government, with arm's-length bodies, and/or with communities who may have low trust in institutions.
• Excellent judgement in balancing communications priorities with operational realities and political sensitivity**.Desired Criteria:**

• Experience managing budgets, procurement and agency relationships, including phased spend planning
• Senior qualifications in communication and/or engagement expertise
• Membership of a communications body**.Additional information**:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance**.Benefits**

Alongside your salary of £72,717, Infected Blood Compensation Authority contributes £21,066 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

• Premium allowance paid monthly after probation
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%
• 32.5 days of paid annual leave plus 8 bank holidays
• Family friendly policies to support you and your everyday responsibilities
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave, up to 12 months shared parental leave

Please apply before 11:55pm on Tuesday 26th May