Police Digital Service (PDS) is recruiting on behalf of the NPCC National Data & Analytics Office (NDAO) - a dedicated national capability transforming data use in policing
Starting at £70,000 per annum
The Head of Comms and Engagement is responsible for developing and delivering a cohesive, strategic communications function for the NPCC National Data & Analytics Office (NDAO), ensuring clear, consistent, and impactful engagement across UK policing and with government, partners, and the public.
Key Responsibilities
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Create and implement a communications strategy that supports NDAO priorities, national data initiatives, and NPDAB direction.
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Build and maintain successful relationships with NPCC portfolios, PDS, CoP, Home Office teams, forces, and national boards to ensure consistent messaging and alignment across the policing communications landscape.
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Shape the national narrative on data and analytics, producing clear, accessible communications that promote understanding, adoption, and trust in policing’s data capabilities in line with the national narrative for policing
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Develop and deliver communications plans for national data products, standards, transformation programmes, and policy changes, ensuring timely, accurate and targeted communications.
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Advise NDAO leadership, programme heads, and NPCC colleagues on communications risks, opportunities, and approaches to maximise strategic impact.
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Maintain and utilise effective communication channels to support staff awareness, engagement, and participation in national data initiatives.
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Produce and oversee briefings, newsletters, reports, presentations, online content, stakeholder updates, and external facing materials.
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Plan and support national workshops, conferences, and stakeholder events by developing messaging, presentations, and engagement materials.
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Track audience engagement, feedback, and impact across channels to refine communications approaches and support the success of national projects.
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Work with NPCC Communications and force communications teams to ensure NDAO outputs align with national policing style, security requirements, and messaging guidance.
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Provide support and advice on media engagement and management of complex and high-risk issues
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Represent communication at exec level meetings with seniors and partners
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Lead by example, role modelling ethics, values and visibly demonstrate self-motivation, energy, creativity and a commitment to high quality communications
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Manage high profile, and politically sensitive issues. Be able to make decisions that will have national implications and impact the reputation of the police service
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Be responsible for the line management and growth of the NDAO Comms team
What you need to succeed in the role
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Strong understanding of strategic communications in complex, multistakeholder or public-sector environments. Ideally experience and knowledge of behaviour change theory and its application
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A strong communications background, with demonstrated impact. Knowledge of policing governance structures, policing communications approaches, Policing and Home Office Portfolios and the broader national policing landscape
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In depth understanding of data, digital transformation, and information governance issues relevant to policing
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A strong track record in communications planning, audience segmentation, and behavioural change communications
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, accessible language
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Strong relationship building and influencing skills across senior, technical, and operational policing audiences
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Extensive experience creating compelling narratives, key messages, and high quality, detailed communications materials at pace for a range of different audiences
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Skilled in strategic planning, prioritisation, and managing multiple concurrent communications demands
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Proven strong judgement with the ability to identify reputational risks and develop appropriate mitigating communication strategies
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Experience leading and delivering strategic communications in policing, government, digital, or similarly complex environments
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Experience developing and implementing organisation wide communications strategies or campaign plans that have driven change
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Experience developing and maintaining strong working relationships with senior leaders, boards, national programmes, or cross agency stakeholders, being a trusted advisor on communication issues
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Extensive experience producing high-quality written content, presentations, and public facing materials.
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Experience supporting communications for digital, data, or transformation initiatives is advantageous.
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Line management experience able to direct and professionally develop line reports, developing a positive culture.
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Excellent news and political acumen and a deep understanding of the range of media
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Confident gathering, commissioning and using audience insight, data and analysis to shape strategies and in evaluating communication including defining evaluation measures and methods
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Proven track record of managing programmes from start to finish including multiple complex communications deliverables.
Diversity, equity and inclusion
We are committed to equal opportunities for all and will not discriminate on any grounds. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible span of experience. All applicants will be considered without attention to age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, parental status, nationality, neurodiversity or disability status.
Working Arrangements
This is a remote role with some national travel required.
All applicants must be eligible to undergo NPPV3 (Non Police Personnel Vetting Level 3) and SC vetting clearances. Successful applicants will require NPPV3 clearance to have been cleared before starting with PDS.
