Responsibilities

• This role will lead and manage the strategic planning and delivery of housing and regeneration communication activities and campaigns within the communications team. In doing this the postholder will lead on the delivery of a number of our annual ministerial communications priorities. You will work closely alongside teams in the Housing & Regeneration directorate to develop the department’s strategic narrative, ensuring this is coherently and cohesively promoted including through key note speeches.
• Working in a fast paced and challenging government communications environment, the postholder will be responsible for the day to day line management of one Senior Information Officer, play a leading role in supporting the Head of Communications and work alongside the Chief Press Officer to plan day to day communications activity. They will also help to respond to critical communications needs in the housing and regeneration portfolio.
• The postholder will work closely with senior housing and regeneration officials to plan communications activity, including announcements and reactive issues. They will work with other communications teams across the Welsh Government to ensure a joined up, cross-government approach.
• The postholder will also be expected to manage relationships with stakeholders to ensure a pipeline of positive stories for media and social channels, linked to the roll-out of key Government priorities and policies such as the delivery of 20,000 social homes.
• Deputise for the Head of Communications at high level ministerial and senior leadership meetings as required, including within the Communications profession.
• Line management of one Senior Information Officer for Housing and Regeneration.

Requirements

• Lead and manage a strategic planning function, working alongside senior policy officials to plan and coordinate communication activities throughout the year and track progress against Programme for Government commitments.
• Work alongside the Chief Press Officer to develop narratives and key messages on major Government priorities to help ensure consistent and clear messaging.
• Work alongside Housing and Regeneration teams to support development of cohesive departmental narrative ensuring this is consistently and positively promoted
• Provide strategic communications advice to senior officials and Ministers, using policy and insight to determine how comms can contribute to delivery.
• Provide overarching speech writing advice and guidance to support delivery of key note speeches that positively promote key departmental messages.
• Develop effective evaluation strategies and frameworks with clear metrics that are driven by audience insight and relate to measurable communications and policy outcomes.
• Identify resources and budget to ensure delivery of strategies supporting Ministerial communications priorities.
• Develop and deliver integrated communication campaigns, driven by behavioural insight, aligned to core business objectives, and briefing Ministers and senior officials on campaign proposals, progress and evaluation.
• Manage and oversee the work of external communication agencies and research companies producing insight and evaluation material, ensuring that campaigns deliver on time and to budget
• Build ongoing relationships with key external stakeholders within the housing sector (such as Community Housing Cymru, Cymorth Cymru, Shelter Cymru, TPAS Cymru, WLGA, UK Finance) to gather intelligence and build insight and awareness of the overall context for communications.

Benefits

• Alongside your salary of £61,098, Welsh Government contributes £17,700 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides .
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%