Communications Manager - Belfast Regional Centre - Erskine House

Communications Manager – Belfast Regional Centre – Erskine House

About the job
Job summary
Discover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you\’re seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it\’s really like to work at HMRC.
Visit our YouTube channel to watch the full series and come and discover your potential.
About HMRC
HMRC has one of the largest and busiest communications teams in Government, and we are recognised as running one of the top communications operations in Whitehall.
Whether we\’re promoting new policies, explaining our work to tackle tax avoidance and evasion, or publicising our customer-facing services, our external communications is HMRC\’s reputational front-line.
About the Team
Customer Compliance Group (CCG) is larger than most government departments: it has 25,000 staff in locations across the country. It is at the heart of the transformation of HMRC and is responsible for delivering the department\’s high-profile and reputation-critical compliance activities.
HMRC\’s aim is for everyone to pay the right tax at the right time, no matter who they are. We support our customers to get their tax right and tackle those who set out to cheat or harm the system.
These are exciting times for the department, and we are now recruiting two roles to form a crucial part of the Compliance communications team.
About the Role
We\’re looking for experienced, driven and creative communications professionals to join our friendly integrated team where you\’ll get the chance to build your skills across all areas of our work. You will play a key role in the way we operate across the whole business area, coordinating communications plans and supporting HMRC Compliance Communications teams. These are hugely rewarding roles which will provide a fascinating challenge for the right candidates.
Job description
Communications Manager (2 vacancies):
We work closely with the Minister\’s office, DG and Perm Sec private offices, policy teams and special advisors to identify media risks and opportunities to promote the department\’s work and manage reactive media enquiries. We also work with Industry-level stakeholders and organisations to ensure a cohesive and comprehensive approach to announcements.
Our ideal candidates will have a strong record of achievement in a journalism adjacent role with excellent relationship management, planning and writing skills.
They will be able to support business objectives to deliver operational communication to customers and influence the reputation of HMRC among internal and external audiences through effective communication.
As a crucial link between compliance and external channels, they will ensure that business areas communications are properly planned, coordinated, delivered and aligned with the CCG and HMRC business plans.
They will be delivering strategic advice and challenge to senior leaders, providing strategic overview and direction on external and internal communication issues.
Setting high standards for all communications using creative and innovative communication techniques where appropriate.
While they will primarily work on one subject area within CCG Comms, they may be required to work on other areas within CCG Comms.
Person specification
About You
Constantly working closely with senior leaders to influence and identify communications requirements by providing proactive strategic advice.
Provide counsel and constructively challenge directors and senior leaders on how communications can help support business objectives and protect/enhance reputation while communicating on contentious topics.
Collaborating with senior stakeholders and other business leads to develop and deliver integrated internal, external and employee engagement communications plans.
Support and deputise for Communications Business Partners, as appropriate.
They will also:

• Handle reactive news stories, respond to queries and breaking issues effectively and in a timely manner.
• Provide media advice and support to senior officials and stakeholders.
• Work with external stakeholders and arm\’s length bodies to plan and maximise announcements and identify opportunities for joint working.
• Monitor and evaluate media work to ensure strategic objectives are being met and messages land in the media.

Essential Criteria:

• Recent detailed experience in communications, PR, journalism, or news.
• Been behind creative media plans, using the right channels for the target audience whilst possessing excellent written and oral communication abilities.
• Methodical and organised, with the ability to deliver at pace, under pressure whilst delivering against competing deadlines and on multiple projects.
• Demonstrate strong leadership skills with the ability to influence and advise senior colleagues.
• Experience of evaluating impact and effectiveness throughout the delivery of communication activity work.

Additional Information – Transitional Sites
For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.
If your location preference is for one of the following sites, it\’s important to note that these are not long-term sites for HMRC and we will require you to move to a new building in the future, subject to our location strategy and the applicable employee policies at that time.
These sites are:

• Waterview Park, Washington – moving to Pilgrims Quarter, Newcastle
• Benton Park View, Newcastle – moving to Pilgrims Quarter, Newcastle
• Centenary Court, Bradford – moving to 7 and 8 Wellington Place, Leeds
• Lynx House, Portsmouth – moving to No.1 The Goodsyard, Portsmouth
• Telford Plaza, Telford – moving to Parkside Court, Telford
• Trinity Bridge House, Manchester – moving to an alternative office in Manchester/ Salford

You will be given more information about what this means at the job offer stage.
Behaviours
We\’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together

Benefits
Alongside your salary of £44,110, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £12,778 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.
We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

• Pension – We make contributions to our colleagues\’ Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
• Family friendly policies.
• Personal support.
• Coaching and development.

To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it\’s really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
How to Apply
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:

• A name-blind CV including your job history. Please provide your most recent and relevant experience on how you meet the Job Description and Person Specification. Please keep your details anonymous where possible. Please list any relevant qualifications also.
• A 750-word personal statement. Please provide in 750 words using the STAR method an example that incorporates all the Essential Criteria, providing impacts, outcomes and results. What you learned also would be beneficial.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
We acknowledge that AI can assist you in your application. Find our guidelines here.
Sift
You will need to pass the CV Assessment at sift in order for your Personal Statement to be scored and assessed. We will only take passing scores of both to interview, those who fail the CV will have their Personal Statement not assessed.
We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.
Interview
During the panel interview, you will be asked behaviour-based questions to explore in detail what you are capable of.
Interviews will take place via video link. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Eligibility
Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days(Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, please contact us via: – Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – \’Please re-open my application – 412591 & vacancy closing date 16/07/2025\’.
To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles – if this applies to you, we\’ll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.
Merit List
After interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.
Criminal Record Check
Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.
Reasonable Adjustments
We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact the UBS Recruitment team via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the \”Assistance required\” section in the \”Additional requirements\” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you\’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers:
This role may be suitable for existing HMRC employees who are contractual homeworkers. Occasional attendance to the office will be required where there is a business need. Please consider the advertised office locations for this role when applying and only select locations from the \’location preferences\’ section that you can travel to.
Additional Information
We are looking into ways to enhance the applicant experience.
As part of our legitimate interests, we are testing the use of new technologies such as automation and/or Artificial Intelligence in the assessment for CV, personal statement and behaviour statement.
Please note that for this specific vacancy, this testing may run in parallel with our standard assessment process and will not influence or determine the outcome of your application in any way. You can read the Civil Service Jobs and HMRC Privacy Notices for more information about our lawful basis for processing your personal data and HMRC\’s use of AI.
If you don\’t want your data to be used as part of the trial, please send your Application ID and the Vacancy Reference to
Terms and Conditions
Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.
HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.
Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.
Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.
Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant\’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.
Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.
If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the \’Contact point for applicants\’ section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
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).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).