Deputy Director, Local Government Engagement and Delivery

This role needs an individual experienced in outreach and stakeholder management, communications and emergency response management with a detailed understanding of local government.They will be responsible for two teams within the Local Government Engagement division a communications and products focussed team and a team of relationship managers spread across the country, comprising of around 25 people.Key AccountabilitiesOwnership of strategic engagement with council Chief Executives, including DG chaired discussion with regional lead chiefs Advising and managing the delivery of ministerial and senior official engagement plans with local government, including establishing and running a new leaders council, and oversight of briefing, speeches and webinar activity·Influencing policy teams across government to ensure better join up on policies impacting local government and local delivery is factored into mission delivery and wider policy making at an earlier stage.Senior Responsible Officer for departmental plans to support councils targeted by cyber-attacks, and ownership of departmental playbook into responding to a Covid 19 variants of concern.Working with departmental and Whitehall contacts to ensure councils are able to respond to major incidents including public health emergencies, humanitarian crises, the death of a monarch and other emergencies such as the recent violent disorder.Overseeing engagement plans with local government for the delivery of significant national events (for example the Coronation of King Charles III).Managing and overseeing relationships with senior officials in local government sector body organisations.Overseeing key communication channels for the department, including quality controlling a sector wide bulletin delivered daily to 8k subscribers, advising on official correspondence and supporting other departments to communicate effectively with the sector.