Deputy Director for Media and Content

The Department for Education is at the centre of the government's aim to improve life chances for children and young people in England. We want everyone to have a clear pathway to success, regardless of their background.

We not only have one of the best stories to tell, we are also transforming the way we communicate. Audiences no longer consume information the way they have before, so were working as part of the wider Government Communications profession towards a model built on compelling content, digital-first storytelling and evidence of real-world delivery.

We are looking for an exceptional communications leader to become our Deputy Director for Media and Content to lead this work. This is an important and truly high-profile role, reflecting our shift towards audience-led, content-driven storytelling at scale.

This is one of the most influential communications roles in government. Working as a trusted professional briefing and presenting to ministers, special advisers and the department's senior leadership team, you will shape the way parents, children, teachers and our valued partners as well as the public hear about and act upon the governments vision for education

As Deputy Director, you will be directly accountable for:

• Press Office and Media Relations, leading the department's 24/7 media operation, overseeing strategic media engagement, proactive communications and issues management. You will maintain strong relationships with journalists and broadcasters nationally and regionally and on occasions internationally.
• You will lead the department's content and channel strategy, ensuring our work is based on evidence and puts our audiences first. This includes making the most of every opportunity to develop our own channels, to work with partners to use their channels and to make sure our stories are seen and shared because they're relevant and compelling.
• You will also lead creative content production across video, photography, graphic design and emerging formats, ensuring our content is suitable for partner and targeted public audiences and channels.
• You will work with our strategic and marketing leads to develop integrated communications campaigns that combine all appropriate channels to demonstrate the impact of our ongoing education reforms through authentic stories, trusted voices and real-life experience.
• Youll provide advice and delivery plans to ministers, colleagues and advisers which demonstrate exceptional grip, understanding and navigation of complex issues, sustaining trust in the work of the department and mobilising our partners and audiences to improve future prospects of children and young people.
• You will also transform and innovate the way the communications profession works, contributing as a senior leader to the work of Government Communications and the Future Civil Service programme and to the work of the Department for Education.

The outcomes you will deliver:

• High levels of confidence in all our audiences in the work of the department.
• A movement for change driven by your communication abilities that brings pupils, students, parents, teachers, lecturers and everyone involved in education together to deliver the brightest future prospects for our communities and our country

Essential Criteria

In your application you should demonstrate the following:

1. Excellent leadership, with a proven track record transforming multidisciplinary communications functions in a complex and high-profile environment.
2. Media expertise, with significant experience leading media engagement and managing high-profile and challenging issues as well as communications risks.
3. A deep understanding of digital and content-driven storytelling, which not only reaches and engages target audiences, but also helps to deliver organisational objectives.
4. The ability to convene and influence senior leaders and partners, demonstrating outstanding judgement and the ability to provide effective advice and constructive challenge to those in positions of authority.
5. Sound leadership and people management skills, with a strong track record of building high-performing and inclusive teams in which communications professionals can broaden their skills across many disciplines.
6. The ability to identify narrative trends and to think ahead, giving our teams the best chance to create joined-up communications at precisely the right moment.