Responsibilities

• Setting and leading the ICO’s communications strategy, aligned to regulatory objectives and corporate priorities.
• Positioning communications as a strategic asset, shaping behaviour, supporting compliance and reinforcing the ICO’s authority.
• Providing senior counsel on reputational, sensitive and high‑profile issues, including crisis readiness and response.
• Leading insight‑driven, measurable communications, grounded in audience understanding, data and evaluation.
• Championing digital‑first, modern communications practice, encouraging creativity, innovation and pace with appropriate governance.
• Owning and shaping the ICO’s overarching corporate narrative, building public confidence in information rights and regulation.
• Building strong internal and external relationships, including with senior leaders, partners and media.
• Leading and developing a high‑performing, inclusive communications function, building capability and confidence at every level.
• Managing resources, budgets and agencies to ensure value for money and maximum impact.

Requirements

• Significant experience leading large, multi-disciplinary communications and engagement teams in a public sector or a similarly scrutinised environment.
• Proven experience advising senior leaders on complex, sensitive and reputationally significant communications issues.
• Experience managing resources and budgets, including commissioning and working with agencies to enhance delivery.
• Insight-driven approach: strong understanding of audience insight, evaluation and performance measurement.

Preferred

• A demonstrable ability to use communications to shape outcomes – influencing understanding, behaviour, trust or organisational effectiveness.
• Experience setting and delivering communications strategy across multiple disciplines (media, digital, campaigns, stakeholder or events).
• Experience leading and developing senior managers and building high-performing, confident teams.
• Strategic judgement and influence: able to engage confidently with senior leaders, provide challenge, and secure buy-in across an organisation.
• Leadership presence: credible, calm and authoritative, particularly in high-pressure or high-profile situations.
• Digital and modern communications literacy: able to lead digital-first thinking, creativity and innovation at a senior level.
• Excellent communication skills: able to distil complex or technical issues into clear, trusted and accessible messages.
• Inclusive leadership: ability to develop talent, support diversity of thinking and create an environment where people can perform at their best.
• Experience leading communications transformation or capability uplift.