Strategic Communications Lead

The Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) is part of the Cabinet Office, and was established in April 2021 to lead the Government Digital and Data function. 

Government Digital and Data is a community of experts leading digital transformation in government, creating more efficient services that have a meaningful impact on people’s lives.

CDDO leads the function from the centre in three main ways: 

• We set the strategic direction, standards and guidance for Government Digital and Data, and assure delivery against that
• Convene colleagues from across departments to share best practice, work together on whole of government problems, and deliver the central enablers that make that things easier for digital teams in departments
• Build digital skills at scale, within our digital community and beyond

The Communications Team is part of the Transformation and Operations directorate and is responsible for internal, external and cross-government communications for the whole of CDDO. 

This is an exciting time to join the team. Earlier this year, the government announced the creation of a new digital centre of government, with CDDO moving to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), alongside GDS and i.AI, to unite efforts in the digital transformation of public services under one department.

Job description

As a Strategic Communications Lead you’ll work closely with other teams across the organisation to support their objectives through effective strategic communications. Specifically, you will

• Lead the planning, delivery and evaluation of CDDO’s  communications priorities focusing. Produce or coordinate accessible content and narratives with impact. Ensure reporting of delivery against the strategy to senior leaders in CDDO.
• Lead a strategic approach to CDDO’s  narrative on the digital transformation of government and the unique opportunities associated with working in the government Government Digital and Data function.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams to plan and deliver campaigns that support the digital transformation agenda and raise the reputation of the Government Digital and Data  function in government, including through engagement, content, social media, events and audience analysis. 
• Lead the strategic planning, content creation and management of CDDO’s owned communications channels including blogs, newsletters and social media.
• Work with DSIT colleagues and others to create accurate, joined-up media lines  that align with CDDO’s wider external narrative.
• Manage planning and coordination with the press team through CDDO’s communication grid. Triage incoming requests for communications support for new or emerging communications priorities

Person specification

This role requires:

• An experienced strategic operator with expert knowledge and understanding of the whole communications mix. 
• Extensive and demonstrable experience in setting direction, overseeing delivery and measuring efficacy of communications activity. 
• Expert writing and editing skills with demonstrable experience of creating different types of content for different purposes
• The ability to be able to grasp a variety of fast moving, often nuanced and complex policies quickly and effectively
• Experience managing risks and issues in relation to communications, inconsistencies and assessing reputational impact of content
• You cope comfortably with ambiguity and thrive on being creative and innovative 
• Experience working with external agencies to deliver
• Involvement of managing a wide range of stakeholders and their competing priorities

Benefits

The benefits of working at CDDO

There are many benefits including:

• flexible hybrid working with flexi-time and the option to work part-time or condensed hours
• a Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• 25 days of annual leave, increasing by a day each year up to a maximum of 30 days 
• an extra day off for The King’s birthday
• an in-year bonus scheme to recognise high performance
• career progression and coaching, including a training budget for personal development
• paid volunteering leave 
• a focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
• job satisfaction from making government services easier to use and more inclusive for people across the UK
• advances on pay, including for travel season tickets
• death in service benefits
• cycle to work scheme and facilities
• access to an employee discounts scheme
• 10 learning days per year
• volunteering opportunities (5 special leave days per year)
• access to a suite of learning activities through Civil Service learning

CDDO offers hybrid working for all employees. This means that everyone does some working from home and also spends some time in their local office. You’ll agree to your hybrid working arrangement with your line manager in line with your preferences and business needs.

Any move to the Central Digital and Data Office 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. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This role is being advertised with Manchester or Bristol as a location. There is an exception to this, if a current London-based member of staff from CDDO applies, and is successful, they would retain their London base for pay and allowance purposes.

The standard selection process for roles at CDDO consists of:

• a simple application screening process - We only ask for a CV and cover letter of up to 750 words. Important tip - please ensure that your cover letter includes how you meet the skills and experience listed in the “person specification” section above
• a 45 minute video interview. Candidates invited to the interview will be asked to give a short presentation. Full details of the presentation will be made available to all shortlisted candidates at a later date.

Whilst we value the use of AI technology to enhance our daily work, we also value the personal touch and urge applicants to write responses without the use of AI to emphasise their own unique experiences.

Depending on how many applications we get, there might also be an extra stage before the video interview, for example a phone interview or a technical exercise.

In the event we receive a high volume of applications, we will conduct the initial sift against the lead criteria which is:

• An experienced strategic operator with expert knowledge and understanding of the whole communications mix

In the Civil Service, we use Success Profiles to evaluate your skills and ability. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, increases performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. We’ll be assessing your technical abilities, skills, experience and behaviours that are relevant to this role.

For this role we’ll be assessing you against the following Civil Service Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture

Recruitment Timeline

Role Closes: 10th January 2025

Sift Completion: 17th January 2025

Panel Interviews: Starting 24th January 2024

Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

The 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 and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

You may be aware that there are plans for the Government Digital Service (GDS) & the Central Digital & Data Office (CDDO) to move into the Department of Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT). This move is to bring together the digital transformation of public services into one core department. The move itself will offer huge opportunities whilst allowing DSIT to lead the way and drive forward the new Government's digital agenda.

As the announcement is relatively new, we are awaiting more detailed information. Therefore, we encourage you to apply for this role, and will keep you informed with updated information throughout the application process.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.