Chief Speechwriter and Comms Lead, Secretary of - London, United Kingdom - Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Verified Company
London, United Kingdom

2 weeks ago

Tom O´Connor

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Tom O´Connor

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Description

Details:


Reference number:


Salary:

- £59,774 - £69,676
  • London £59,774 £69,676 + benefits
    Job grade:


  • Grade 6

  • Grade A(U)
    Contract type:
  • Fixed Term
    Length of employment:
  • 2 years
    Business area:
  • DCMS
  • Private Office
    Type of role:
  • Communications / Marketing
  • Press Relations
    Working pattern:
  • Fulltime
    Number of jobs available:
  • 1Contents
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About the job


Benefits:

Things you need to know

Location

  • LondonAbout the job

Job summary:


DCMS is looking for a Chief Speechwriter and Comms Lead to join the Secretary of State's office - leading on a wide ranging and fast moving agenda at the heart of the department.


The Chief Speechwriter and Comms Lead is responsible for producing high quality written content for the Secretary of State, as well as working with the Department's communications and press team to advise on long-term comms strategy.

This individual will also help to prepare the Secretary of State for public and parliamentary appearances.


Job description:


Crucially, this role will lead the comms unit within the Secretary of State's office, managing two Band As across the breadth of public facing products that the Secretary of State requires, tailored to DCMS priorities.


We are looking for an individual who is able to build strong relationships across the department - with Ministers but also across policy and comms teams - and who has proven expertise in writing high quality public facing material for Ministers.


  • Writing and editing highquality speeches, opeds and other public facing material in the Secretary of State's name. This will involve adapting effectively to the style and intentions of the Secretary of State and the audience.
  • Providing clear advice to the Secretary of State on longterm comms strategy, including by working closely with the DCMS press office to prepare for announcements and identify media opportunities. This will include acting as the Private Secretary responsible for comms, including commissioning and relaying SoS steers.
  • Preparing the Secretary of State for public and parliamentary appearances, including by contributing to and sometimes leading both written and verbal briefings.
  • Develop and maintain strong working relationships with the Secretary of State, the Private Office, the DCMS Press Office and policy teams to ensure a streamlined speechwriting and comms advice process which is joined up with policy and wider communications objectives
  • Leading the comms unit within the Secretary of State's office, effectively managing two Band As to ensure that the Secretary of State's digital comms products, campaigns and visits are high quality and tailored to his or her, and the department's priorities.
  • Working with the rest of the senior team to manage a high performing Private Office and MPST team.

Person specification:


  • Writing and editing highquality speeches, opeds and other public facing material in the Secretary of State's name. This will involve adapting effectively to the style and intentions of the Secretary of State and the audience.
  • Providing clear advice to the Secretary of State on longterm comms strategy, including by working closely with the DCMS press office to prepare for announcements and identify media opportunities. This will include acting as the Private Secretary responsible for comms, including commissioning and relaying SoS steers.
  • Preparing the Secretary of State for public and parliamentary appearances, including by contributing to and sometimes leading both written and verbal briefings.
  • Develop and maintain strong working relationships with the Secretary of State, the Private Office, the DCMS Press Office and policy teams to ensure a streamlined speechwriting and comms advice process which is joined up with policy and wider communications objectives
.

  • Leading the comms unit within the Secretary of State's office, effectively managing two Band As to ensure that the Secretary of State's digital comms products, campaigns and visits are high quality and tailored to his or her, and the department's priorities.
  • Working with the rest of the senior team to manage a high performing Private Office and MPST team.

Essential requirements:

  • Very strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Experience of working with and briefing Ministers.
  • Experience of speechwriting for a senior individual in an organisation.
  • The ability to work at pace, driving progress in the face of a range of competing views and priorities and being calm and resilient in pressurised situations.
  • Strong political antennae to understand the political sensitivities of the brief and spot the key issues before they arise.
  • Excellent judgement to manage situations independently and understand when to escalate and how.

Desirable skills:

  • A working knowledge of, and networks across DCMS' sectors.

Behaviours:

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