Head of Communications and Engagement

Head of Communications and Engagement

W ANTED: A storyteller, with a calm head, an open heart, at ease with complexity, excited by strategy and willing to listen and learn from lived experience. Our world’s changing, our city’s evolving. Are you ready for the best communications role you’ll ever have?

If you are a Communications and Engagement leader who wants to get under the skin of what it means to live in York, who is keen to understand the issues that matter to the whole community and who has the empathy and humility to listen and learn from all our residents, businesses, and partners, we want to hear from you.

No two days are the same working for the most desirable city in the UK, and the least affordable outside of London. You will speak up for those who can’t always speak for themselves, reduce complex information into relatable content, share successes, prepare residents for the changes ahead and find better ways to have meaningful conversations with residents, businesses, and partners, whilst balancing immediate communications priorities with longer term strategies to improve the lives of the communities we serve.

This role will appeal to an ambitious, strategic, and forward-thinking Communications leader who is familiar with forming collaborative partnerships with many different stakeholders and who understands how to navigate within a political landscape that invites scrutiny.

As Head of Communications and Engagement you will be outward facing, have a real grasp on the issues we face locally, regionally, and nationally, and who also appreciates the importance of internal relationships and is able to deftly and persuasively negotiate and encourage others to think differently. You will be resilient, hardworking, and able to juggle and prioritise on a daily basis.

York has a very ambitious agenda, operating locally, contributing to the regional economic growth, and building a national reputation. This means the role is extremely varied and fast paced, so it is vital to be able to act decisively and pivot quickly when required. The issues facing York are wide ranging and they all have equal importance to its’ residents, whether it be local flooding, the importance of Pride, or the need to build more sustainable affordable housing.

York also has a huge regeneration programme which will bring about significant transformation and structural change.

By truly understanding these issues, and by tapping into what really matters to our residents, this role will enable you to act as our conscience and to help bring about change with credibility and authority. At the same time, while the agenda may be large the team is relatively compact, you will get involved in technical delivery and work alongside others, leading the team by example and inspiring them to flourish. Technically sound, you will embrace ever-changing modern marketing and communication, enhancing the reputation of York, the place, and the council on a regional, national and international stage.

In short, you will find this role will provide you with the kind of professional challenge and complexity you will naturally aspire to as an ambitious leader – our size means that we are large enough to provide the rich mix of complexities facing local government, but at the same time we are small enough to get things done. This role will provide you with the opportunity to make a significant difference as well as a platform to enhance your career. Finally, we are a stable authority, our resources and finances are well managed, and you will be welcomed by an experienced and hardworking team.

For further information or an informal discussion please contact Claire Foale, Interim Director of City Development at or on 01904 552057

Closing date for applications: Sunday 5 January 2025

1st stage technical assessment day: 22 January 2025

2nd stage interviews: 31 January 2025