Head of External Communications

Responsibilities

• Developing and delivering the Commission's external communications strategy.
• Leading media relations activity and overseeing a responsive, high-performing press office.
• Directing the Commission's public affairs strategy and parliamentary engagement.
• Managing reputational risks and providing strategic communications counsel to senior leaders.
• Leading external engagement programmes that build confidence in the UK's electoral system.
• Overseeing customer services, public information and complaints handling functions.
• Managing budgets, resources and external supplier relationships where required.
• Acting as a spokesperson for the Commission when appropriate.

Requirements

• Significant experience leading external communications, media relations or public affairs functions.
• Experience operating in regulatory, politically sensitive, or highly scrutinised environments.
• Strong media handling and reputation management expertise.
• Experience advising senior executives and boards on strategic communications issues.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, including experience engaging with parliamentarians, government officials and journalists.
• Strong leadership and people management capabilities.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to remain calm, resilient and effective under pressure.
• This role requires exceptional political judgement and a strong commitment to impartiality.
• Candidates must be able to demonstrate the independence and objectivity required to work within the Electoral Commission's unique constitutional environment.

Benefits

• Flexible working and hybrid model for office-based staff, with a minimum of 40% of working time spent in the office
• Flexi-time scheme, allowing flexible hours with the option to accrue and take flexi leave
• 28 rising to 30 days annual leave + bank holidays
• Civil Service Alpha Pension Scheme - a valuable defined benefit pension providing a guaranteed, inflation-adjusted income in retirement, based on your pensionable earnings and years of membership
• Performance-related pay