Department for Work and Pensions

Deputy Director, Head of Media

Salary: Up to £85,000 with great Civil Service benefits

Location: Caxton House, London

Are you an experienced, politically savvy media relations professional, keen to be at the heart of a large organisation that improves the lives of millions of people?

Do you understand how the media works, and have an eye for the wider news agenda?

Do you have a knack for powerful and persuasive messaging and delivering bold and innovative media plans?

If so, you could be just the person we need to lead our busy News, Digital and External Affairs teams.

DWP offers uniquely challenging and fulfilling career opportunities for people passionate about making a real impact  in society. We are the UK’s biggest government department: few other organisations globally provide the same opportunity to set a news agenda that affects so many people at so many critical points in their lives.

The complexity and scale in which we work is unprecedented. As Deputy Director, Head of Media, you will lead on managing the reputation of the DWP in the news and on social media channels. You will be a senior leader in our vibrant Communications Directorate, and will work closely with Ministers, our Permanent Secretary and senior leaders across the Department and Whitehall,  to set and respond to some of the most critical news agendas in society. You will lead accomplished News, Digital Communications and External Affairs teams, working closely and collaboratively with the rest of the Communications Directorate to find the best ways to inform the public about the work of the Department and the support and services we provide.

To succeed you will need to be an inspirational and successful senior communications professional, with the professional ambition and personal motivation to help us deliver outstanding services to our customers and service users. You will bring a strong track record of using a full range of media channels to devise impactful stories and narratives in a fast-paced environment, and an ability to respond quickly, flexibly, and imaginatively to events and work calmly under pressure. Strong political understanding and news judgement are essential.

It is a role that calls for a confident, motivated leader, with excellent high-level influencing skills and with the resilience needed to work under pressure and scrutiny, remaining always alert to the bigger picture. Ultimately, you need to care about what we do as our work has never been so important.

It is a role like no other.

Please contact our recruitment partners GatenbySanderson for an informal discussion:

• Jacob Simmons, Researcher,  [email protected]
• Darra Power-Mooney, Senior Consultant, [email protected]
• Julie Myers, Principal Consultant, [email protected]

For further information and to apply please visit click Apply.

Closing date for applications: 23:55hrs on Monday 31 October 2022.

The Department for Work and Pensions’ recruitment processes are underpinned by the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles, which outlines that selection for appointment is made on merit based on fair and open competition. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly with the department concerned. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-complaints