ID 4004
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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.
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Vacancy details
Vacancy title
Deputy Head of Communications: Housing and Regeneration
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Closing date
01/09/2026, 16:00
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Advertising basis
Permanent
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Actual starting salary
£61,098
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Salary range or pay band
Grade 7 £61,098 to £73,057
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Allowances
No
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Work pattern
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
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Group
Local Government, Housing, Rural Resilience & Sustainability Group
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Directorate
LGHRRS Finance & Operations Division
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Branch
LGHP Comms
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Location (s)
Pan Wales
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‘Pan Wales’ means the post holder can be based in any Welsh Government office, subject to business needs. Roles based outside Wales, including London, are not available unless explicitly stated in the advert.
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.
The post holder’s travel from their home to their assigned Welsh Government office is considered their ‘ordinary commute’ and must be done in their own time and at their own cost.
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Purpose of post
This role will lead and manage the strategic planning and delivery of housing and regeneration communication activities and campaigns within the communications team. In doing this the postholder will lead on the delivery of a number of our annual ministerial communications priorities. You will work closely alongside teams in the Housing & Regeneration directorate to develop the department’s strategic narrative, ensuring this is coherently and cohesively promoted including through key note speeches.
Working in a fast paced and challenging government communications environment, the postholder will be responsible for the day to day line management of one Senior Information Officer, play a leading role in supporting the Head of Communications and work alongside the Chief Press Officer to plan day to day communications activity. They will also help to respond to critical communications needs in the housing and regeneration portfolio.
The postholder will work closely with senior housing and regeneration officials to plan communications activity, including announcements and reactive issues. They will work with other communications teams across the Welsh Government to ensure a joined up, cross-government approach.
The postholder will also be expected to manage relationships with stakeholders to ensure a pipeline of positive stories for media and social channels, linked to the roll-out of key Government priorities and policies such as the delivery of 20,000 social homes.
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Key tasks
Lead and manage a strategic planning function, working alongside senior policy officials to plan and coordinate communication activities throughout the year and track progress against Programme for Government commitments.
Work alongside the Chief Press Officer to develop narratives and key messages on major Government priorities to help ensure consistent and clear messaging.
Work alongside Housing and Regeneration teams to support development of cohesive departmental narrative ensuring this is consistently and positively promoted
Provide strategic communications advice to senior officials and Ministers, using policy and insight to determine how comms can contribute to delivery.
Provide overarching speech writing advice and guidance to support delivery of key note speeches that positively promote key departmental messages.
Develop effective evaluation strategies and frameworks with clear metrics that are driven by audience insight and relate to measurable communications and policy outcomes.
Identify resources and budget to ensure delivery of strategies supporting Ministerial communications priorities.
Develop and deliver integrated communication campaigns, driven by behavioural insight, aligned to core business objectives, and briefing Ministers and senior officials on campaign proposals, progress and evaluation.
Manage and oversee the work of external communication agencies and research companies producing insight and evaluation material, ensuring that campaigns deliver on time and to budget
Build ongoing relationships with key external stakeholders within the housing sector (such as Community Housing Cymru, Cymorth Cymru, Shelter Cymru, TPAS Cymru, WLGA, UK Finance) to gather intelligence and build insight and awareness of the overall context for communications.
Deputise for the Head of Communications at high level ministerial and senior leadership meetings as required, including within the Communications profession.
Line management of one Senior Information Officer for Housing and Regeneration.
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Development opportunities
The role will form part of Welsh Government’s Communication profession. The postholder will also be part of the Government Communication Service and Comms Cymru network
The postholder will have the opportunity to work closely alongside policy teams to help shape the strategic narrative of the department and ensure key achievements are positively promoted.
The postholder will work closely with the Cabinet Secretary and senior Houisng & Regeneration policy officials to plan key note speeches.
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Other vacancy related information
In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion: Communicating and Influencing. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
If two or more candidates achieve the same total score, the following order of criteria will be used to determine merit in weighted order:
Communicating & Influencing',
Leadership'
Seeing the Bigger Picture'.
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.
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Vetting level
Basic
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Number of posts
1
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Contact point for further information regarding the post
[email protected]
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