23529 - Senior Digital Communications Manager

Job Title: Senior Digital Communications Manager

Grade: SEO

Directorate: Communications

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales. Our roles support our service users and colleagues, where people and businesses access potentially life-changing justice.We’re looking for individuals who are committed to public service and want to make a difference in people’s lives in delivering justice. If you’re interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply.

The role of the Communications and Engagement Directorate is to:

Enhance and protect our reputation

Facilitate corporate communication and engagement with internal and external stakeholders and users

Advise, challenge and support the organisation to communicate and engage effectively.

As a senior manager in the team, reporting directly to the Head of Communications Channels, you will lead the team to fulfil its purpose, with specific oversight (strategically and operationally) of our digital and corporate communications channels.

Ensuring we use the right channels, to reach the right audiences with the right message. You will oversee the communications team’s strategic development and use of digital and corporate channels, including GOV.UK, social media, campaigns, events, intranet, blogs, podcasts and email marketing. You will embed best practice and lead a process of continuous improvement to reach our channels strategy goals across the team and wider organisation.

You will be a trusted advisor to senior leaders and support them to be visible and engaged with our people.

You will:

Lead, develop and deliver digital communication strategies for our corporate communication channels, ensuring they are secure, accessible and compliant

Maintain editorial and quality control over all content published on corporate channels

Lead on ensuring all digital content complies with guidance on style and brand, as well as accessibility legislation and best practice

Act as a GOV.UK subject matter expert and single point of contact for all GOV.UK changes and enquiries related to corporate content (homepage, news pages, reports, statistics etc.)

Oversee development and day to day management of our corporate social media accounts, including acting as a senior leader to Service Centre colleagues managing social media enquiries

Provide leadership and management to the channels team (2 x HEO, 1 x EO)

Advise communications, leadership and operational colleagues on delivering appropriate communication solutions to meet user requirements (e.g. news items, blog posts or podcasts)

Analyse the effectiveness of digital communication channels (GOV.UK, social media, blogs, podcasts, intranet, e-newsletters etc.) through ongoing evaluation and insight gathering and make recommendations for improvements

Work closely with the internal communications function, providing technical support to the digital channels within their remit

Upskill others in team, directorate and department in effective use of digital communications channels and tools

Manage competing priorities on a regular basis, and support team to prioritise and organise a demanding workload

Lead and deliver effective digital channel and content solutions for communications campaigns and activities, sometimes with limited technical support, equipment and software

Exercise sound judgment, including on sensitive and complex topics and to tight deadlines, always aware of the reputational impact of your decisions

Give difficult messages to senior colleagues in a clear, concise way – influencing our strategic approach to channel management to reach the right audience with the right message at the right time.

Negotiate a way forward when people don't always agree with you or what you are recommending

Analyse data and various sources of information to make recommendations about effective use of channels

Encourage positive change and be capable of challenging established practices and processes.

As a digital comms specialist and expert, you will:

You will manage a team to support this area of work which will include:

Performance managing team members, including setting objectives, reviewing progress and supporting personal development goals.

Lead and manage the allocation of work within the team.

Complying with HR processes and conducting associated administration for direct reports.

Act as a point of escalation for Service Centre colleagues managing social media enquiries, establishing effective roles and processes with their management team.

Coach and mentor other members of the communications team, to support wider development of individuals and the service.

Provide technical knowledge, advice and expertise about digital communications to senior colleagues within communications and the wider organisation.

Work independently to deliver content and campaigns across our communications channels, including approving the work of others.

Work directly to our Head of Communications Channels, who has ‘light touch’ oversight of day-to-day activities.

Lead on implementation and innovation of complex digital campaigns based on insight, data and sound judgement, with consideration of the impact of risks.

Follow best practice and guidance, such as brand and style guidelines; ensure the team and wider organisation comply with relevant legislation and work in line with industry best practice.

Have significant freedom to set and agree standards, review current processes and come up with innovative and creative solutions to challenges.

Work towards delivering our strategic priorities.

Be responsible for their own personal development plan and that of their team and have the freedom to seek out opportunities to expand their own and their team’s knowledge.

You, and the team you manage, will:

Be part of a wider network of communications and digital professionals across government, connected through the Government Communications Service and Government Digital Service

Play an active part in internal and external networks, contributing to and learning from its expertise for your team and wider organisation.

Be the single point of contact between the communications team and the HMCTS content design team, sharing responsibility for managing the relationship with Government Digital Service for all our corporate GOV.UK content

Develop constructive and productive working relationships with the wider MOJ and cross-government counterparts in digital services, digital communications, media offices, campaigns and internal communications

Lead on our relationship with Service Centre colleagues who support the team in managing social media enquiries

Have regular content with colleagues leading reform projects, Jurisdictional and Operational Support Teams, Policy and Legal teams and operational teams.

To apply for this position, you must submit the following as part of your application:

An anonymised CV , setting out your career history, key responsibilities and achievements. Your CV will be assessed against the essential criteria outlined within the Essential Skills section of this advert.

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Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply - Application Guidance

Successful candidates who passed the sift will be invited to an in-person interview which will likely be w/c 7th December 2026 (Subject to Change) and usually these take place at our office in 102 Petty France, London. However, following sift and invitation to successful candidates, if there is a different location which would be more convenient, we are open to changing this. Also, at the discretion of the hiring manager, we may be able to accommodate virtual interviews.

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Behaviours:

Leadership

Changing and Improving

Details can be found under the interview stage assessment section on the advert.

For further guidance on the interview process please click here

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles: All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map . All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Eligibility

Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.

Vacancies advertised “cross-government” are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.

Support

A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.

Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.

For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www. www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices . You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ .

Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.

Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles . Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected] );

To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ( [email protected] );

To the Civil Service Commission (details available here )

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos .

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

UK nationals

nationals of the Republic of Ireland

nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK

nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020

Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]

Please quote the job reference 23529

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]

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