At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead communications and engagement for Sussex Police, ensuring public trust and effective internal messaging.
- Company: Join Sussex Police, a vital force dedicated to community safety and engagement.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, excellent pension, flexible working, and health checks.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional development and collaboration with Surrey Police.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in public service while tackling unique leadership challenges.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in communications with experience in crisis management and stakeholder relations.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Sussex Police is looking for a dynamic, creative and highly experienced communications and engagement specialist to lead the force’s Corporate Communications and Engagement team. This role is critical in maintaining the trust and confidence of our communities and you will be pivotal in ensuring that Sussex Police deliver an outstanding service to the public.
Reporting into the Deputy Chief Constable, you will be an integral member of our extended Chief Officer team. As the Head of Profession and the strategic advisor to our Chief Officers you will experience unique leadership challenges which will see you leading the delivery of external communications ranging from organisational issues such as the force’s ambitious transformation strategy through to operational issues arising from major incidents. You will also be responsible for the effective management of internal communications to ensure that our workforce is highly engaged and motivated to deliver the Chief Constable’s strategy to Protect, Catch, Deliver.
Finally, as a collaborated force, you will seek to build upon the close relationships with counterparts in Surrey Police to ensure a joined-up approach to those staff working within joint functions. Based at Police Headquarters in Lewes, East Sussex, you will be expected to travel throughout Sussex and outside of county as required. You will also be required to work evenings and weekends when operational commitments determine.
In return we offer a competitive benefits package which includes an excellent pension scheme, mileage allowance, opportunities for flexible and agile working, and executive health checks.
For this strategically important role we are looking for candidates who possess the following:
- Public-service centred individual with a track record in building public trust and confidence within communities.
- Exceptional leadership skills with extensive experience of leading outcome-focused teams.
- Substantial experience in a communications discipline or degree-level education or equivalent professional qualification with a commitment to Continued Professional Development.
- Demonstrable experience of delivering major communications projects across multiple channels.
- Exceptional influencing skills and the ability to develop effective working relationships within complex operational environments and across organisations.
- Experience in delivering crisis management responses to emerging and ongoing critical incidents.
- Political acumen to ensure the effective stakeholder management during complex local and national structural changes.
- Strong ability to balance and manage conflict between short- and long-term priorities and reactive/proactive work.
- Effective budgetary management to deliver excellent value for money.
For more info and to apply, the closing date for applications is 22nd June 2026 and interviews are on Friday 3rd July 2026.
Head of Communications employer: Sussex Police
Sussex Police is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to lead the Corporate Communications and Engagement team in a role that is vital for maintaining community trust and delivering outstanding public service. With a competitive benefits package, including an excellent pension scheme and flexible working options, employees are supported in their professional growth while contributing to meaningful initiatives that impact the safety and wellbeing of the communities we serve. Located in the picturesque Lewes, East Sussex, this role provides the chance to engage with diverse stakeholders and tackle significant leadership challenges in a collaborative environment.
