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- Tasks: Lead external affairs and corporate communications to unite communities and enhance public safety.
- Company: Join Essex Police, one of the UK's largest police forces, committed to innovation and public service.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, permanent contract, and the chance to make a real impact in your community.
- Why this job: Shape strategies that build trust and confidence while making Greater Essex safer for everyone.
- Qualifications: Extensive executive-level experience in communications and stakeholder engagement required.
- Other info: Collaborative executive team with autonomy to influence and drive change.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 90000 £ per year.
Location - Essex Police HQ, or other locations in Essex as required. This position necessitates office based attendance, with local and national travel, to perform the duties as required.
Starting Salary - Competitive salary based on Assistant Chief Officer (ACO) banding.
Contract Type - Police Staff – Permanent
Closing Date - 5pm Thursday 30th April 2026
Essex Police is seeking an exceptional communications leader to join our Chief Officer Group as Director of External Affairs and Corporate Communications. This is a rare opportunity within one of the UK’s largest police forces to bring communities and businesses together to help prevent and detect crime, build trust and confidence and make Greater Essex an even safer place to live and work.
We are looking for a visionary professional, someone who can bring fresh perspective, strategic direction, and executive-level leadership to a complex and high-profile environment. Whether you come from the private, public or third sector, if you have the credibility, agility, and ambition to lead external affairs and corporate communications at scale, we want to hear from you.
About the Role
As a member of the Chief Officer Group (Executive Board), you will lead the development and delivery of Essex Police’s external affairs, corporate communications, and marketing strategies. You will be responsible for shaping how we engage with the public, partners, and stakeholders locally, regionally, and nationally.
This role is about more than just leading a high performing public affairs and corporate communications function. The role will help unite people and organisations to reduce crime, respond effectively to critical incidents and emergencies, keep the public informed and safe, and build a strong workforce and volunteer network of over 6,000 individuals dedicated to protecting and serving the entire county.
You will provide strategic advice at the highest level, lead through critical incidents and represent the Force across multi-agency partnerships and national forums, so that emergency services, local government and private businesses work together to make everyone safer.
As Head of Profession for external affairs and communications you will set standards, drive innovation, and inspire our teams to deliver excellence across all communications and public affairs activity.
You will ensure that people and businesses across Greater Essex know how to avoid becoming a victim of crime, how to contact or to work with police officers and staff to get help or advice and – most importantly – you will help make the county a great place to live and a bad place to try to commit crime.
What We Are Looking For
- Extensive executive-level experience in external affairs, communications, media relations, marketing, employee engagement, and stakeholder engagement.
- A proven track record of operating at board level in large, complex organisations in the private, public or third sector.
- Strategic expertise in managing reputational risk, building trust and long-term brand development to support recruitment of the very best people and the creation of effective crime prevention campaigns.
- Political acumen and the ability to build effective relationships across agencies and sectors.
- Experience of leading high-performing teams and embedding long-term planning into a large-scale communications function.
- Exceptional communication and negotiation skills, with a personal ethos of transparency, integrity, and professionalism.
Prior experience in policing is not essential, but the ability to understand and navigate the public sector and landscape is.
Why Essex Police?
Essex Police is a values-led organisation committed to innovation, inclusion, and public service. We offer a unique opportunity to lead at the highest level, influence public trust and confidence, and make a tangible difference to the communities we serve.
You will be joining a collaborative and forward-thinking executive team, with the autonomy to shape strategy and the support to deliver it. Crime is falling in Greater Essex; this is your chance to join our officers, police staff and volunteers to make a fast-growing region an even safer place to work, to study, to travel through or to live in.
To discover more about this opportunity, request an application pack, role profile and information on how to apply for this vacancy, or to arrange an informal discussion please click the 'Apply Now' button.
Locations
Director of External Affairs and Corporate Communications in Essex, Springfield employer: Essex Police
Contact Detail:
Essex Police Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of External Affairs and Corporate Communications in Essex, Springfield
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Essex Police and understanding their values and mission. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their goals. Remember, it’s all about demonstrating your fit for the role!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers and boost your confidence. The more comfortable you are speaking about your skills and experiences, the more likely you are to impress.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A simple thank-you email can go a long way in leaving a positive impression. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you on their radar.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of External Affairs and Corporate Communications in Essex, Springfield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in external affairs and corporate communications. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your strategic expertise!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As a potential Director, it’s crucial to demonstrate your executive-level experience. Share specific examples of how you've led teams or projects, especially in complex environments. We love seeing how you’ve made an impact!
Be Authentic: We value transparency and integrity, so let your personality shine through in your application. Share your vision for the role and how you plan to engage with communities and stakeholders. We’re looking for someone who can inspire trust!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application via our website! It’s the best way to ensure we receive all your details correctly. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role and the application process there.
How to prepare for a job interview at Essex Police
✨Know Your Audience
Before the interview, research Essex Police and its current initiatives. Understand their values and how they engage with the community. This will help you tailor your responses to show how your vision aligns with their mission.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare specific examples of how you've led teams in high-pressure situations. Highlight your experience in managing reputational risk and building trust, as these are crucial for the role. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
Be ready to discuss your approach to developing and delivering communication strategies. Think about how you would unite various stakeholders to achieve common goals, especially in crime prevention and community engagement.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions that reflect your understanding of the role and the challenges Essex Police faces. Inquire about their current communication strategies or how they measure success in community engagement. This shows your genuine interest and strategic mindset.