Head of Business Communications
Description
- Job grade: Grade 7
- Contract type: Permanent
- Business area: HMT - Ministerial and Communications
- Type of role: Communications / Marketing
- Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time
- Number of jobs available: 1
Location
About the job
Job summary
Working at HM Treasury puts you at the heart of government, making a difference to the UK economy and ultimately to people’s lives right across the UK.
Jobs at the Treasury are fast-paced, fun and can offer unparalleled perspective – not least the opportunity to advise Ministers on the decisions which directly determine the UK’s prosperity. Deep in our DNA is a commitment to empowering our people: maximising individual and collective impact, with interesting work no matter your role or seniority.
Day-to-day you could be supporting Ministers to decide the right level of a specific tax or line of government spending; helping maintain the stability of financial markets; analysing the long-term trends impacting the future of the economy; or enabling this work as part of our vital corporate functions.
We are a high-performing department and proud to have outstanding staff from a wide range of backgrounds. We are also a friendly, inclusive and sociable workplace that prides itself on fostering great team spirit. Our two largest offices are 1 Horse Guards Road in London, opposite St James’ Park, and the Darlington Economic Campus, which also contains eight other departments. We work seamlessly across all our sites, including Norwich, Birmingham and Leeds, as one Treasury.
We are both a 1,000-year-old institution and dynamic, forward-looking economics and finance ministry, with a strong direction set by our organisational strategy, the Future Treasury Vision. The 21st century offers huge opportunities and poses new challenges for the UK. Working at the Treasury is your chance to help the country chart the right course.
Job description
As Head of a Campaigns Desk in HM Treasury’s Communications Team, you will lead a team that communicates directly with one of three of the Treasury's most important audiences, across multiple channels, advising the Chancellor on how to shape and deliver our message for the most impact, based on insight and your expertise.
You will also be working at the heart of one of the most important departments in Government working on some of the most challenging and salient issues faced by Ministers.
This is a fast-paced and rewarding role at the heart of the restructured Treasury communications team, working closely with the Chancellor’s team, No. 10 and senior policy officials across government.
You will be responsible for:
- Leading all HMT’s business-facing comms, devising and delivering an audience-led communications campaign that communicates effectively to businesses ranging from small and regional firms to major UK companies and international investors. (To note, the specific audience would be subject to change depending on business need).
- Developing and delivering integrated, multi-channel campaigns by coordinating press, digital, strategic communications, events, stakeholder engagement, insight and evaluation expertise.
- Building a deep understanding of priority audiences through polling, research and evaluation, and use that insight to improve communications and inform policy development.
- Providing trusted strategic communications advice, briefing and recommendations to ministers, Special Advisers, private offices and senior officials, managing reputational risk and maximising audience impact.
- Building strong relationships with policy teams across HM Treasury and government so communications is embedded early in policy development and aligned with departmental priorities.
- Developing media, commentator and influencer relationships to shape narratives, secure impactful coverage and sustain audience engagement beyond individual announcements.
- Producing and overseeing high-quality briefings, digital content and press releases, flexing style and tone for different audiences, outlets and channels, and plan ministerial visits and media opportunities.
- Attend visits with Ministers, lead the organisation of media attending at the visit and brief ministers ahead of media interviews.
- Leading high-profile communications in a 24-hour news cycle, balancing proactive and reactive priorities, responding to emerging issues, managing the team under pressure and contributing to the out-of-hours duty press rota.
Candidate Drop-In Session
The hiring manager will be running a candidate drop-in session to give you greater insight about the role and HM Treasury, and ask any questions you might have. If you would like to join us, use the link below to join the call at the right time.
Microsoft Teams meeting – Wednesday 11th November 11:30-12:00
Join:
If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally before the closing date, please contact Matthew Cadoux-Hudson (matthew.cadouxhudson@hmtreasury.gov.uk) via the contact details provided in the advert.
Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
Person specification
Application Form
Applications should consist of a CV including your employment history, and a 250-word statement demonstrating evidence of each shortlisting criterion below. Your CV and employment history will not be scored; they will provide context for your application and support discussions at interview.
The panel will invite to interview those applicants who best demonstrate evidence against the criteria. Only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.
Candidates will be assessed against the following:
- Experience: Significant experience of leading and delivering high-profile, integrated communications under pressure, including communicating complex policy ideas clearly, exercising excellent news judgement and producing high-quality content across media and digital channels.
- Seeing the Big Picture: Ability to consider the wider political, economic and organisational context, identify potential opportunities and risks, and ensure communications activity supports departmental objectives and wider strategic priorities.
- Working Together: Ability to build effective and trusted relationships with a diverse range of colleagues and stakeholders, collaborating effectively to achieve shared objectives.
- Communicating and Influencing: Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively, provide confident strategic advice, tailor messages for different audiences and channels, and influence senior stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.
The lead criterion is: Experience.
If we receive a high volume of applications, we will first sift using the lead criterion only. Applicants meeting the minimum score will then be assessed against all remaining criteria.
Interview Stage
If you are successful at the application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Strengths
- Experience
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together and
- Communicating and Influencing
Interview Task / Presentation
Before interview, candidates will be contacted about a task or presentation to deliver as part of the assessment. Further details will be provided nearer the time.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
- Generous Annual Leave - 25 days (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus public holidays and the King’s birthday.
- Outstanding Pension Scheme - Defined Benefit pension with employer contributions of 28.97%
- Parental Leave Packages - Including 6 months’ occupational pay for maternity/adoption, shared parental leave options.
- Advance Schemes & Discounts - Rental deposit, cycle-to-work, SmartTech, season ticket loans, and access to HM Treasury’s benefits portal for a wide range of discounts.
- Flexible & Hybrid Working - Options include part-time, job-share, compressed hours, flexitime, and hybrid working.
Hybrid working: HM Treasury operates an office based working approach across all Treasury sites. There is an expectation of a minimum of 60% attendance in the office. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.
The office working expectation is linked to the location of the role. If you apply to a post in a single location, then you will not be able to meet this expectation at any of our other sites or move your role to another location. Some roles may not be suitable for hybrid working, it will be stated in the role profile if the role cannot accommodate this.
You can review HM Treasury’s full offer here.
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Selection process details
Candidate Guidance
Please review the candidate guidance for an overview of the Success Profiles and STAR approach, along with top tips for applications and interviews.
Recruitment Timeline
- Closing date: Sunday 22nd November 2026 at 23:55
- Shortlisting: w/c 23rd November 2026
- Interviews: w/c 30th November 2026
This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline.
If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile.
Reserve Lists
You will be placed on a reserve list if your application is successful, but we cannot offer you a role immediately. Where more than one location has been advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to provide your location preference on your application form. Please note that a place on the reserve list does not guarantee an offer.
If you are offered a role in your first preferred location and you decline the offer or are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe, you will be removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances.
Those on the reserve list may also be approached for similar roles at a lower grade. If you are offered a role at a lower grade and choose to decline, you can remain on the reserve list.
Internal Fraud Database Check
Candidates cannot apply to roles in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Successful candidates will be subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database. This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This also applies to those who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the database will be refused employment.
National Security Vetting
Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks. Additionally, successful candidates will be subject to National Security Vetting. The level of security vetting required for this role is Counter-Terrorist Check.
To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, applicants will need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. You will be asked to provide residency information within your application form, and eligibility for national security vetting will be checked once the advert closing date has passed. In certain circumstances, for example if you have been working abroad on a government posting, a lack of residency would not be a bar to security clearance however the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case-by-case basis once the advert closing date has passed.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Nationality requirements
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)
- 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
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Matthew Cadoux-Hudson
- Email : matthew.cadouxhudson@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Further information
Attachments
| Role Profile - 488089 Opens in new window (pdf, 169kB) |
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