Overview
ID 2589
The Welsh Government operates name-free recruitment. The recruiting panel will not see personal information such as a candidate’s name and address during the sifting process. This policy is in line with our commitment to end bias and promote equality and diversity.
Vacancy details
Vacancy title
Deputy Head of Communications – Climate Change
Closing date
13/05/2025, 16:00
Advertising basis
Permanent
Actual starting salary
£58,918
Salary range or pay band
Grade 7 £58,918 to £70,450
Allowances
No
Work pattern
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Group
Local Govt, Housing, Climate Change and Rural Affairs
Directorate
Finance and Operations
Branch
Climate Change
Location (s)
Pan Wales
Pan Wales’ means that the location in which the vacancy can be based is flexible, subject to the needs of the business. A list of the Welsh Government’s offices can be found on www.gov.wales/welsh-government-offices. Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location.
Purpose of post
Working for the Head of Communications for Climate Change and Rural Affairs (CCRA), this role will lead and manage climate change strategic communications, as well as the planning and digital functions within the team. The strategic communications function plans our day-to-day communications activity on climate change and environment working closely with press office and with officials across CCRA to help deliver our annual communications strategy. The post holder/s will form and build relationships with key officials and Special Advisors to help design communications strategies that support the delivery of the Programme for Government and First Minister priorities. They will work with the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change advising on the best communications approaches.
This is a wide-ranging role that leads on communications for climate change, flooding, drought, nature, biodiversity and the wider environment. The role also leads the digital function across the team, with responsibility for the day-to-day delivery of a number of social media channels (on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter/X) and web content management and design services to the rest of CCRA.
Key tasks
Strategic communications lead for all climate change and environmental sustainability activities.
Designing communications approaches to support the annual communications plan – including ministerial visits, announcements, storytelling and handling reactive issues (working closely with press office).
Advising ministers on communications issues and handling, working with Special Advisors to agree advice.
Building and owning relationships with key delivery partners (Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Water and Met Office).
Managing the strategic planning function for the team, leading on long and short term communications planning.
Leading a team of six who deliver the digital communications function for the wider team (line managing one SIO).
Development opportunities
Opportunity to:
work with Ministers and Special Advisors
work with external organisations such as Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Water etc
Other vacancy related information
CV requirements: evidence of leading strategic communications in current or pervious roles and of working with senior people in a public sector organisation or similar.
A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.
For behaviours 3 and 4 you will find can use the Government-Communications-Professional-Competency-Framework.pdf when considering your evidence.
Vetting level
Basic
Number of posts
1
Contact point for further information regarding the post
ClimateChange.CommsMA@gov.wales