Communications Lead

Communications Lead – SC cleared

Whitehall Resources are currently looking for a Communications Lead – SC cleared based in Shropshire for an initial 2-month contract ***INSIDE IR35*** ***MUST HAVE ACTIVE SC CLEARANCE***

Job spec: Provide visible, expert leadership to realise the communications strategy and uplift communications capability across the organisation. You will set standards for high-quality, user-centred communications, build skills and confidence across teams, and ensure communications activity is evidence-based, integrated with programme delivery, and achieves measurable outcomes. You will partner with senior leaders, programme teams and suppliers to drive consistency, compliance with good practice, and delivery at pace.

Grade 6: Typically leads the communications function for a large programme/portfolio, sets strategic direction, owns the comms operating model, and line-manages a multi-disciplinary team (including G7 and below). Grade 7: Typically leads communications for a complex project or major workstream, shaping strategy execution, standards and capability building, and may line-manage a small team.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Translate departmental/organisational communications strategy into a deliverable roadmap with clear objectives, audiences, channels, messages and measures.
• Establish and run governance for communications (planning cycles, editorial boards, approvals, campaign assurance, brand and accessibility compliance).
• Integrate communications plans with programme delivery schedules, milestones and benefits; ensure readiness for major releases/go-lives.
• Lead a structured capability uplift programme (skills assessment, curriculum, toolkits, playbooks, coaching, communities of practice).
• Define and embed standards and templates (audience insight, message frameworks, channel selection, evaluation, plain English, accessibility).
• Provide coaching and feedback to senior leaders and SMEs on effective narrative, presentation, and stakeholder communications.
• Commission and use audience insight (quantitative/qualitative) to shape strategy and content.
• Oversee creation of high-quality content (briefings, speeches, employee updates, stakeholder packs, press lines, digital content) with strong attention to detail.
• Optimise channel mix (internal: town halls, intranet, Yammer/Teams, newsletters; external: GOV.UK, media, social, stakeholder networks), ensuring consistency and timely delivery.
• Build trusted relationships with SROs, programme leadership, policy/operations and HR, aligning comms to business outcomes.
• Challenge and influence senior leaders constructively to uphold standards and make evidence-based decisions.
• Coordinate communications with suppliers and delivery partners, ensuring message alignment and contractual deliverables on communications where relevant.
• Maintain a communications RAID approach (reputational, operational, and stakeholder risks); define mitigations and escalation routes.
• Establish KPIs and evaluation frameworks (reach, engagement, sentiment, comprehension, behaviour change), producing clear insights and recommendations.
• Prepare for and respond to internal/external reviews and audits; track actions to closure.
• Align communications to change and business readiness plans (training, adoption, stakeholder briefings, go-live comms, early life support messaging).
• Plan and deliver major events (roadshows, leadership briefings, stakeholder forums), with clear objectives, success measures, and feedback loops.
• Line-manage and mentor communications professionals; role-model inclusive leadership and civil service values.
• Own the comms operating model, including resourcing, supplier management, budget oversight, and continuous improvement.

Technical Skills & Competencies:

• Substantial UK government experience in a similar role within a complex programme/project environment of significant scale with multiple stakeholders and suppliers.
• Dynamic, visible leadership with proven ability to influence in a multi-disciplinary environment; line management experience (expected at G6).
• Proven track record of delivering at pace, meeting quality standards and deadlines across concurrent initiatives.
• Confidence to challenge and influence senior leaders, using evidence and insight to drive decisions.
• Problem ownership: identifies risks and gaps early, designs pragmatic solutions, and delivers positive outcomes.
• Role-models communications best practice and coaches others to enhance capability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with strong attention to detail and the ability to craft clear, concise, audience-appropriate content.
• Hands-on experience of communications planning, audience insight, editorial processes, measurement/evaluation, and flexing methods (e.g., Agile/hybrid environments) to delivery priorities.