Deputy Head of Digital Communications in London

Deputy Head of Digital Communications in London

London Full-Time 60670 - 67500 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
HM TREASURY-1

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a dynamic digital communications team and manage exciting projects.
  • Company: Join HM Treasury, a key player in government communications.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and a strong pension scheme.
  • Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for career growth and innovation.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by translating complex policies into engaging content.
  • Qualifications: Experience in digital communications and team leadership is essential.

The predicted salary is between 60670 - 67500 £ per year.

Salary: London: £60,670 - £67,500 / National: £57,670 - £64,500. If the successful candidate is a current Civil Servant joining on level transfer, HM Treasury will honour their current substantive salary if higher.

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: This post is available on a full time, part time or job share basis, and flexible working hours can be accommodated.

Location: London (1 Horse Guards Road) or Darlington (Feethams House)

Are you passionate about digital communications? This is a pivotal leadership role within one of government's highest-profile digital teams. Working closely with senior Cabinet Ministers, you will bring major announcements to life for the public - translating complex policy into clear, accurate and engaging content.

About the Team

The Ministerial and Communications Group sits at the heart of the Treasury. If you are interested in the inner workings of the Government, meeting Ministers, Senior Officials and liaising with the Press then this could be the place for you! We are a friendly and inclusive Group working on some of the most exciting issues of the day, bringing together work from across the rest of the department and engaging closely with partners across Whitehall and beyond. We provide support to Ministers, through Ministerial offices. We act as Treasury's external face, through the Press Office and Communications team. We are responsible for managing the department, through our support for the Permanent Secretary, the Second Permanent Secretaries, the Treasury Board, and the Executive Management Board (EMB), and our ownership of Treasury governance structures. The Group is led by the Permanent Secretary.

About the Job

The Deputy Head of Digital Communications will provide operational leadership for HM Treasury's multi-disciplinary digital team, managing five Senior Executive Officers and their teams. This is a pivotal leadership role in one of government's highest-profile digital teams. You will oversee day-to-day operations, providing first-line quality control with excellent attention to detail and political instincts. You will be a natural collaborator, working closely with colleagues across media, strategy, events and policy teams. You will foster a collaborative culture within the team and beyond, building bridges and breaking down silos. You will deputise for the Head of Digital Communications when required and lead performance management and talent development. With broad expertise across digital disciplines - not just one specialism - you will be passionate about digital communications and ideally have practical content creation skills to support the team hands-on when needed.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and develop five Senior Executive Officers and their teams across digital partnerships, content production, social media and GOV.UK publishing.
  • Manage resource allocation, workflow coordination and capacity planning across competing priorities.
  • Work collaboratively with media, strategy, events and policy teams to integrate digital into wider communications planning.
  • Provide first-line quality control and clearance, ensuring high standards and compliance with Civil Service Code.
  • Apply political instincts and attention to detail to spot risks and opportunities in content before publication.
  • Lead performance management, setting objectives and providing regular feedback.
  • Create a culture of excellence, innovation and collaboration, identifying development opportunities and supporting career progression.
  • Build strong relationships with Private Offices, special advisers, policy officials and press teams.
  • Deputise for the Head of Digital Communications with senior stakeholders when required.
  • Manage relationships with external suppliers, agencies and partners.
  • Support delivery of major campaigns and fiscal events, taking operational ownership of planning and coordination.
  • Stay ahead of digital trends and bring fresh ideas to the team.

Person specification and essential criteria

  • Significant experience leading digital communications in a high-profile, fast-moving environment, with responsibility for coordinating delivery across multiple channels and priorities.
  • You are confident leading and developing teams through others, setting clear expectations, managing performance and building capability across a range of digital disciplines.
  • Strong judgement and attention to detail and can provide effective quality control and clearance in politically sensitive or reputationally important situations.
  • Build strong, collaborative relationships with senior stakeholders and partner teams, and can influence decisions while balancing strategic goals, delivery pressures and governance requirements.
  • Bring broad digital communications expertise and are comfortable being hands-on when needed, ideally with practical content creation skills as well as the ability to spot opportunities for innovation and improvement.

Desirable criteria

  • Practical content creation skills, for example drafting or editing copy, overseeing asset production, or shaping content directly when needed.
  • Experience managing high-profile or sensitive communications where accuracy, judgment and reputational risk are critical.

About You

We are looking for your experience in leading the operational delivery of a high-profile comms package across digital channels, including coordination, governance/clearance, and measurable impact. We want you to demonstrate how you have led a team or function through others and how you have influenced senior stakeholders to agree an approach in a sensitive or contested situation, using evidence and clear trade-offs. We would also be looking for you to show time-critical decisions you have made under uncertainty and risk (accuracy, propriety, reputational impact), the options you weighed, and the outcome.

Some of the Benefits our people love!

  • 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King's birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant). Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees to take up to an additional 2 days off each month.
  • Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)
  • Generous parental and adoption leave packages.
  • Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions of 28%
  • Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme and season ticket advances.
  • A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity.

For more information about the role and how to apply, please follow the apply link.

Deputy Head of Digital Communications in London employer: HM TREASURY-1

HM Treasury is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and inclusive work environment in the heart of London or Darlington. With flexible working patterns, generous leave entitlements, and a strong commitment to employee development, we empower our staff to thrive while engaging with high-profile government communications. Join us to make a meaningful impact and grow your career in a supportive team that values collaboration and innovation.

HM TREASURY-1

Contact Details:

HM TREASURY-1 Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Deputy Head of Digital Communications in London

Get Involved in PR Events

Dive into local PR meetups and workshops. Events like these are perfect for getting your face out there, chatting with industry pros, and spotting potential job openings at companies like HM TREASURY-1. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to learn about trends and make lasting connections.

Showcase Your PR Skills

Start building your personal brand as a PR ace. Use platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn to share your thoughts on current events or PR campaigns you admire. Tagging companies you want to work for, like HM TREASURY-1, can catch their eye—especially if your insights resonate!

Leverage Your Network

Reach out to friends, family, or connections in the PR field. Even a casual chat can lead to opportunities. If you've got mutual contacts, ask for introductions when applying. Personal recommendations can give your application a nice little boost!

Tailor Your Approach

When applying for a full-time PR role, make sure to research HM TREASURY-1 inside and out. Understanding their campaigns, values, and style allows us to directly align our application and impress during interviews. Don't hesitate to apply through our website—going direct can make a real difference!

We think you need these skills to ace Deputy Head of Digital Communications in London

Digital Communications Leadership
Content Creation Skills
Team Management
Quality Control
Political Instincts
Collaboration
Resource Allocation

Some tips for your application 🫡

Get Your Story Straight:In public relations, storytelling is everything! Make sure your CV highlights your experience in crafting compelling narratives and managing media relations. Share specific examples of campaigns you've worked on, and don’t forget to include any press coverage you've generated—it's impressive proof of your skills!

Show Off Your Communication Skills:Since PR is all about communication, we want to see your best writing samples. Include pieces like press releases, blog posts, or social media content that you've created. This gives us a taste of your voice and your ability to convey messages clearly and effectively, which is crucial for a role in this field.

Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter should be more than just a recap of your CV; it’s your chance to shine! Emphasise why PR excites you and how your background fits with the mission of HM TREASURY-1. Show us that you’ve done your homework and speak to why you’re passionate about the work we do.

Connect the Dots:When you’re writing your application, think about how your past experiences link to the responsibilities of the role. Mention any internships, volunteer work, or projects that involved public speaking, event planning, or strategic communication. This will help us see how you can seamlessly bring your skills into a full-time position at HM TREASURY-1.

How to prepare for a job interview at HM TREASURY-1

Master the Art of Storytelling

In public relations, storytelling is key. We should prepare compelling narratives about past campaigns or projects we’ve worked on. Think about how we can illustrate our impact and creativity in those stories—be ready to discuss specific examples that showcase our skills in managing media relationships and crafting messages.

Know Your PR Tools Inside Out

Familiarity with PR tools like Cision or Meltwater is crucial. We need to be able to discuss how we’ve used these tools in past roles or projects. If we've worked on media lists, press releases, or analytics reports, let’s have those experiences ready to share along with metrics we’ve achieved to back up our claims.

Stay Current with Industry Trends

We’ve got to stay sharp on the latest trends and events impacting the public relations field. Having a few insights ready about recent campaigns or shifts in media landscapes can show that we’re engaged and knowledgeable. This will also help us make connections between our experiences and the current state of the industry.

Showcase Our Versatility

As full-time PR professionals, we need to demonstrate our adaptability. Be ready to talk about how we've handled challenging situations, managed crises, or adapted strategies on the fly. Employers will appreciate our ability to pivot and find solutions under pressure, so let’s have those scenarios at our fingertips to discuss.