Head of Transformation Communications

Location: Westminster, hybrid or home based

Fixed term for 12 months (open to internal and external candidates and secondments from councils)

About us

The Local Government Association (LGA) is the national membership body for local authorities. We work on behalf of our member councils to support, promote and improve local government.

We are a politically led, cross-party organisation that works on behalf of councils to ensure local government has a strong, credible voice with national government. We influence and set the political agenda on the issues that matter to councils to help them deliver local solutions to national problems.

We also provide councils with the tools and resources to respond to challenges present and emerging, and support improvement across the sector.

We value diversity and encourage applications from all sections of the community to this high-profile role.

About the role

The Local Government Association (LGA) is undergoing an ambitious transformation programme to ensure we remain a strong, effective and sustainable voice for local government. We’re looking for a talented Head of Transformation Communications to lead the communications that support and shape this change.

This is a high-profile role at the heart of the LGA. You will be responsible for creating and delivering a compelling communications strategy for our Future LGA programme, working closely with senior leaders to ensure staff, members and stakeholders are informed, engaged and confident about the changes ahead.

You’ll lead on messaging and narrative, design internal engagement campaigns, and translate complex change into clear, accessible communications. You’ll also support our leadership team with high-quality content, advice and tools to communicate effectively through transformation.

About you

We’re looking for an experienced communications professional with:

• A strong track record in strategic communications and employee engagement.

• Proven experience of leading communications through organisational change or transformation.

• Excellent storytelling skills, able to translate complex information into clear, engaging messages.

• Political awareness and the ability to build trust and credibility with senior leaders and stakeholders.

• Strong planning, influencing and relationship-building skills.

This is a fantastic opportunity to shape how we communicate and engage through a period of major change — and to make a lasting impact on the future of local government.

If you would like an informal chat about this role before applying, please contact Andrea Newman – Director of Comms and Engagement on

andrea.newman@local.gov.uk

You must have the right to work in the UK, the LGA are unfortunately unable to offer sponsorship visas. Evidence for the right to work in the UK will be requested at the interview stage.

To apply

If you would like to be considered for the role, please complete the online form and include a supporting statement detailing how you meet the criteria for the role before the closing date.

We are specifically assessing candidates against the following criteria:

• Evidence of developing and delivering communications strategies in complex or politically sensitive environments, with clear alignment to organisational priorities.

• Proven track record of leading communications through organisational transformation programmes.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, engaging messages.

• Strong influencing and negotiating skills, with the ability to build trust and credibility with senior stakeholders quickly.

• Experience in designing and delivering multi-channel communications campaigns, with a focus on accessibility and impact.

• Able to deliver and lead others under pressure, prioritising work against competing demands to meet deadlines

Head of Transformation Communications – Job Description

Closing Date: 5pm, 21 September 2025

Interview Date: expected w/c 6 October, interviews will be virtual

Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications.

We use anonymous recruitment, which is the practice of hiding candidates’ identities. This process involves removing any identifying information from candidates’ applications which includes names.

At the LGA we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our recruitment decisions are based on fair, open competition, with appointment on merit.

The LGA are proud to be awarded a “Disability Confident Leader”. Please contact us via andrea.newman@local.gov.uk

if you require a reasonable adjustment, which is a change to the format or conditions of the recruitment process to accommodate any disability-related needs you may have.

Our benefits

• LGA annual leave entitlement is 29 days, rising to 31 days after three years’ service and to 33 days after five years’ service, plus all UK public holidays (pro rata for fixed term and part time contracts).

• Flexible & agile working – office-based staff are required to work in the LGA’s London office two days per week as a minimum, subject to business need and this may vary significantly between different roles and from week to week.

• Future development – face-to-face and virtual courses are scheduled in line with developmental goals

• The LGA offers 24/7 access to a free, confidential employee assistance programme managed by Health Assured. This service is also available for Dependants.

• Family friendly policies

For more of LGA’s benefits and working with us, please view our webpage https://www.local.gov.uk/benefits-and-working-lga

Our values & behaviours

Our Values and Behaviours are there to give us an understanding of who we are as an organisation and who we want to be. They are a framework to help us understand:

• how we work with each other

• how we work with our members and stakeholders

• our expectations for ourselves and each other

Our values are:

Collaboration – We value collaboration, to pursue shared goals by encouraging and utilising diverse perspectives and working with internal and external colleagues across the organisation.

Inclusion – We value inclusion, where everyone feels valued, understood, and supported to contribute meaningfully.

Ambition – We value ambition, reflecting our desire to achieve best possible outcomes for local government, communities, and individuals.

Respect – We value respect, to ensure fairness, recognition, and shared accountability.

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