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​NLGN, Head of Communications

Employer
New Local Government Network
Location
Victoria, Central London
Salary
£38,000 - £45,000 (or higher for an exceptional candidate)
Closing date
10 May 2019

Job Details

We are on a mission to revolutionise the public sector by giving local communities real power over how their public services are delivered.

We are seeking a Head of Communications who shares our passion for this mission and will be tireless in their efforts to get our message heard.

NLGN is unique. Unlike other think tanks we can directly influence both national policy and front-line service delivery.

This is because we are rooted in the real world of public service delivery working with our fifty-five local authority members to radically transform the way they work.

In addition, we have a clear and radical long-term vision of change, recently launched in our influential paper The Community Paradigm, which seeks to revolutionise the public sector by giving communities real power over how their public services are delivered.

We also undertake a range of thought leadership work in other areas such as inclusive economic growth, city innovation and children’s services.

We are looking for a Head of Communications who is as furiously ambitious as us to change how public services are delivered and to use their communication, campaigning and influencing skills to reshape national policy in a way that genuinely addresses the big challenges facing the public sector.

You can find out more about NLGN on our website.

Our ideal colleague for this role will:

  • be an obsessive entrepreneur and networker always seeking new partnerships and opportunities to enhance our influence and impact
  • have a passion for excellence and will never settle for second best
  • be a constant source of new ideas and open to radical ideas from their colleagues
  • be optimistic, supportive and fun to work with


Job Description

You mission in this role is to ensure that NLGN’s vision of radically transformed public services gets heard, understood and applied by decision-takers, policy-makers and the wider public.

You will achieve this by:

  • developing and implementing a communications strategy designed to raise the profile and acceptance of our vision embracing social media and conventional media
  • developing a highly systematic approach to social media designed to raise the profile, reach and impact of the NLGN vision and outputs
  • working with the NLGN Director and Deputy Director to build close personal connections with MPs, Lords, Councillors, civil servants, journalists, social media influencers and anyone else who can help promote and implement our vision of empowered communities
  • working very closely with the thought leadership team at NLGN to identify opportunities to promote outputs and enhance the impact of policy and practice ideas and recommendations
  • working very closely with the membership and events teams to promote and enhance their work and identify synergies between our membership and events activities and our communications and influencing work
  • playing a strong corporate role as a member of the Senior Management Team and wider staff team integrating your work with that of other colleagues and working for the success of NLGN as a whole
  • producing your own content such as blog posts, articles, video and audio output
  • commissioning content from others both inside and outside NLGN
  • leading all aspects of NLGN’s communications function from daily operations to overarching strategy
  • forming connections with NLGN members and integrating them into your work
  • reporting to and working with the NLGN Board as appropriate
  • supporting other critical activities of NLGN as necessary including fundraising, membership recruitment and supporting research and events
  • acting as a coach and line manager for more junior members of staff
  • overseeing the production and design of all NLGN outputs and NLGN’s online presence and ensuring they reach the highest standards
  • most importantly, delivering excellence in all you do and, in return, being free to work in a highly autonomous fashion: this is the deal NLGN seeks to make with all of its staff.


Person Specification:

The person appointed to this role will:

  • be highly experienced in developing and implementing media strategies with a particularly strong understanding of generating impact through social media
  • have a strong understanding of public policy issues, public service reform and ideally have worked in a political, campaigning or policy environment
  • have a campaigning mindset focused on delivering change as well as generating coverage
  • flourish in an environment of autonomous working and speedy decision making and be trusted by their colleagues to make the right calls
  • be a supportive and effective manager and coach of more junior staff
  • be a great communicator with the capacity to both commission content and produce their own
  • be eager to share their plans and work openly with other members of NLGN staff in a spirit of collaboration


The Head of Communications will report to the NLGN Director. The role will involve the line management of our Design and Production Co-ordinator.

Once the new communications strategy has been developed there will be the opportunity to expand the team if necessary depending on available resource.

Recruitment process:

To apply for the role please send a CV, an example of media content you have produced as an attachment or a link and a covering email of no more than 500 words describing your suitability for the role and indicating the role/s in which you are interested by completing the application form below.

All applications should be received by 12 noon on Friday 10 May. Interviews will take place 20-22 May at NLGN’s offices.

NLGN is very strongly committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We don’t just ‘value diversity’, we think it is central to what makes for a high impact, successful organisation. We positively encourage you to apply.

If you have a disability and need any assistance applying for this role, please do not hesitate to contact us using the form below.

Leave and working hours: We operate a highly flexible policy on working hours and leave. The NLGN’s team core working hours are 10am to 4pm but around this, staff are trusted to determine their own working hours and leave consummate with the fulfilment of their job goals to the highest level of excellence. To ensure well-being, NLGN staff are expected to take a minimum of 25 days leave each year and work no more than 35 hours a week.

Well-being: NLGN is extremely committed to staff well-being. Working long and late hours is actively discouraged and all staff at NLGN are committed to creating a pleasant, friendly and supportive environment in which to work.

Probation and Notice: This role is subject to a six-month probationary period and a two month notice period.

If you would like to discuss the role or recruitment process please feel free to call Adam Lent, NLGN Director, for an informal and confidential conversation on 020 7148 4601.

Company

New Local Government Network is an elite group of around 50 organisations from the public and private sector united by a belief in innovation and creativity.

NLGN forms the safe space we need to meet as peers and have the most forward thinking conversations in the sector.

Company info
Website
Location
The Raincloud
76 Vincent Square
London
SW1P 2PD
GB

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