NCSC Strategic Communications Manager Ref.1858

Mind Achieving Impact AwardSocial Mobility Foundation AwardThe Times Top 100Disability confident leaderThe Prince's Responsible Business

Operational and Surveillance
London
£54,532

The NCSC is looking for a confident and creative communicator who can quickly get to grips with diverse and challenging topics. The successful candidate will be an experienced communications professional with a track record of advising on strategic communication at a senior level.

The NCSC is now in the third year of its journey and has made great strides in that time in building a positive public profile. NCSC is earning a reputation for excellence in public awareness and behaviour change campaigns; handling incidents; conducting high-profile media appearances; and delivering speaking engagements and events. The NCSC has cultivated a growing strong digital presence and provides bespoke technical advice and guidance through a range of channels and outreach.

As Strategic Communications Manager, your role will be to deliver a strong strategic approach to communication across the NCSC. You will lead on implementing NCSC communications strategies, oversee audience insight and horizon scanning / planning and develop a professional approach to insight and evaluation in line with GCS standards.

You will help continue the development of the NCSC communications team’s research capability to shape communications approaches – working with teams across the organisation and with partner agencies. You will also have responsibility for branding, with bold visuals and storytelling, whilst ensuring consistency across publications, products and other assets.

This Strategic Communications role will work closely with the busy events team who run our flagship CYBERUK events each year as well as a comprehensive programme of stakeholder events at our London HQ and around the UK.  You will help support our approaches to embed internal communications at the NCSC and stakeholder communications functions.

You will be working in a team who are committed, politically savvy and come from a variety of backgrounds, making the office a vibrant energising place to work where individuals’ ideas are championed.

A key part of your role will be providing strategic communications advice to senior leaders both within NCSC and across government and providing support to the Head of Strategic Communications and Director of Communications, as well as helping to nurture and develop the team by empowering staff and encouraging learning and development.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop high quality communications strategies and plans, that are based on insight and evaluated in line with GCS standards.
• Provide leadership to the wider strategic communications team which includes campaigns, strategic planning, internal communications, events and speechwriting functions.
• Work with NCSC teams to develop stakeholder communications planning for the NCSC.
• Oversight of branding and ensuring a bold and consistent corporate identity across all communications assets and materials.
• Manage NCSC major research commissions including reputation tracking, evaluation and audience segmentation for campaigns.
• Improve the NCSC’s approach to insight, evaluation and planning in line with GCS standards.
• Inspire the communication team, helping to create an environment that supports high-performance and that all team members feel supported and engaged at work.
• Develop strong working relationships with senior stakeholders across NCSC, wider government, academia, private and public sectors.
• Line Manage team members to set objectives, deliver work to high standards and prioritise continuing professional development.

The successful applicant will need to have:

• A proven track record of achievement in strategic communication, media relations, campaigns or marketing.
• Understanding and experience of delivering campaigns using a range of channels, including but not limited to digital, marketing, media, partnerships, events and branding.
• Excellent understanding of Government Communication Service standards e.g. OASIS, evaluation, insight, internal comms, and how to apply these.
• A strong commercial awareness and experience of procuring and managing external contracts, such as advertising, media buying or partnership agencies.
• Ability to turn complex insights into clear communications strategies and engaging campaigns, with a keen awareness for risks and opportunities.
• Excellent organisational skills, the ability to juggle multiple priorities and work under pressure to achieve results.
• Excellent influencing skills, able to persuade senior leaders and inspire colleagues to perform at their best.

Competencies - Levels - Desirability

Communication and Knowledge sharing - Advanced - Essential
Corporate Vision and Efficiency - Intermediate - Desirable
Change and Innovation - Higher - Essential
Analysis and Decision Making - Higher - Essential   
Contribution to Delivery - Higher - Essential   
Managing the customer relationship - Advanced - Essential   
Working with and Leading Others - Higher - Essential

Government Communication Professional Competencies at Grade 7 level on Insight, Ideas, Implementation and Impact, see full framework here.

If you’re excited about working with us and think you have some of what we’re looking for but aren’t sure if you’re 100% there yet… Back yourself and give it a go!

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

At GCHQ we’re proud of our inclusive and supportive working environment that’s designed to encourage open minds and attitudes. As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we’re committed to helping you fulfil your potential. With comprehensive training and development opportunities, tailored to your needs and the requirements of your work, we’ll enable you to flourish in your role and perform to the very best of your abilities.

Benefits we offer

• Access to learning and development tailored to your role
• Working environment that supports a range of flexible working options
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A civil service pension

SALARY

£54,532

LOCATION

London

SELECTION PROCESS

To apply for this position, you must meet our nationality, residency and security requirements. You'll find more details here: Recruitment Process.

The successful candidate will be expected to commence employment for this role on a fixed term contract basis once SC (Security Clearance) is granted.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we also guarantee to interview all disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for our roles.

Once we’ve established that you meet our eligibility criteria, the next steps of this selection process are:

- Application Form
- Business Sift
- Interview*

*Interviews will be held at NCSC (Nova South, London) on 25th or 26th September. Successful applicants will be expected to give a short presentation and undertake a competency-based interview.
    
If you successfully complete these stages, you’ll receive a job offer, conditional upon you completing our security clearance (SC) process which enables you to obtain the level of security clearance required to perform this vital role.

The closing date for applications is Monday 2nd September, however if we receive the amount of applications required we may close the vacancy early. Applicants are encouraged to apply promptly to avoid disappointment. We reserve the right to close the advert early.


This Program / Vacancy is closed to applications.