Senior External Affairs Manager

The Government Legal Department is the largest provider of legal services across government, working on high profile matters that are frequently scrutinised in Parliament and the media. Our work includes:
+ Developing and drafting legislation
+ Providing legal advice on policies
+ Securing our economic and trade relationships
+ Ensuring value from commercial contracts worth billions of pounds
+ Providing the Civil Service’s employment law advice
We are at the heart of delivering the Government’s priorities and our success depends on our people.
GLD is a non-ministerial government department, sponsored by the Attorney General. We are headed by the Treasury Solicitor, our Permanent Secretary and employ nearly 3000 people, including over 2000 legal professionals. Our offices include London, Leeds, Bristol, Croydon and Manchester as well as overseas. We provide specialist legal services including Litigation, Employment and Commercial Law as well as advising most Government Departments on the policies and services they deliver.
GLD also depends on a range of vital corporate services. These are essential to the smooth and efficient running of the Department and provide the foundation to enable GLD to deliver outstanding legal services. Our corporate functions include Strategy, HR, Finance, Digital, Data and Technology, Communications, Security, Commercial and Project delivery.
Our vision is to be an outstanding legal organisation and a brilliant place to work where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential. This is an exciting time for GLD, with cutting edge
legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the Modern Civil Service.
To find out more about what we do visit the Government Legal Department’s webpage or have a look at this short film which showcases the breadth of work government lawyers and legal trainees are involved in., About the Communications and Engagement Team
The Communications and Engagement Team is part of the Strategy, People and Culture division, and is responsible for providing professional communications advice and support across the Government Legal Department.
It is an exciting time to be working at GLD. The rule of law is at the heart of the new government’s agenda and our people are involved in work to deliver the government’s 5 missions.
We are developing a communications strategy to reflect this important shift and to improve how we deliver communications in GLD.
Our team works to the standards expected by the Government Communications Service (GCS) and we’re committed to continued professional development.
The Role
This is an exciting opportunity for a communications or public affairs professional to join the external affairs team as a senior external affairs manager. As a relatively new team within GLD, our work in external affairs is developing and varied.
You’ll work with internal and external stakeholders from across GLD, other government departments, and the wider legal sector to identify and shape engagement opportunities that raise GLD’s profile, builds advocacy and promotes the department's priorities.
The ability to build trusted relationships, collaborate effectively with senior stakeholders, and identify opportunities for partnership activity is at the heart of this role.
The role would suit a confident self-starter with experience of working within complex stakeholder landscapes, managing events and thriving under pressure while maintaining sound judgement.
We are a friendly, inclusive and motivated team and we place high value on diversity and inclusion and encourage candidates from a range of backgrounds to apply.
The Role Outline
As a senior member of the external affairs team, you’ll support the head of external affairs to deliver stakeholder engagement and communications strategies, your responsibilities will include:
+ Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders including our executive team, senior leaders and corporate services colleagues to build strong relationships and provide effective communication advice.
+ Building and managing relationships with other government departments and legal sector organisations, capturing insight, sharing relevant information, and identifying opportunities to collaborate on communications activity.
+ Creating, delivering, and managing strategic engagement plans to support GLD strategic priorities.
+ Leading on the conception, organisation and delivery of events and stakeholder engagement in line with GCS best practice.
+ Provide and oversee stakeholder monitoring, sharing note-worthy news with our colleagues on a regular basis and using insight to ensure we are listening to and engaging the right people.
+ Working closely with the wider communications: media and internal communications, to support the delivery of multi-channel activity with clear objectives and consistent messaging.
+ Evaluating the success of stakeholder engagement and identifying creative ways to showcase the team's work sharing and embedding GCS best practice to improve the quality of stakeholder engagement.
+ Line manage up to 2 team members and support their career development.

Person specification
Behaviours
Below are details of the Success Profiles that make up this role.
You will be expected to provide evidence to show how you meet the criteria at selection and interview stage.
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Communicating and Influencing (lead behaviour)
+ Seeing the bigger picture
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Leadership, + Implementation
+ Insight
+ Ideas
+ Impact
Competency Framework - technical specifications - GCS (civilservice.gov.uk)

Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Seeing the Big Picture
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Leadership, 2. A statement of suitability of no more than 250 words outlining how you meet the person specification essential criteria behaviours and experience/technical skills.
+ Communicating and Influencing (lead behaviour) (250 words)
+ Seeing the bigger picture (250 word)
+ Delivering at Pace (250 words)
+ Leadership (250 words)
Selection Process
After the closing date, the appointing panel shall assess candidates’ suitability for the role based on evidence provided in their application against the behaviours and experience outlined in the person specification.
Interview
Should you be successful in being invited to interview, you will be assessed on your performance in all essential criteria as listed in the Person Specification, alongside scenario based exercises and strength-based questions.
As part of this interview candidates may be required to deliver a short 5 minute presentation and the title of that presentation will be confirmed at the time of notification of being shortlisted to interview.
+ Behaviour: Communicating and Influencing (Lead behaviour)
+ Behaviour: Seeing the Bigger Picture
+ Behaviour: Delivering at Pace
+ Behaviour: Leadership
Interviews will take place remotely via video conference, full details of the interview format will be provided to shortlisted candidates prior to interview.
The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which decisions are expected to be made, and all shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
Offer
Regardless of the outcome, we will notify all candidates as soon as possible after the final interview.
We appoint in strict order of merit. If you meet the minimum criteria for this position but are not successful for a post, you will be placed on the reserve list for up to 12 months. We then may contact you to see if you are interested in a post at the same, or a lower grade, in GLD should one arise.
Security Clearance
If successful you must hold or be willing to obtain, security clearance to BPSS level and once in post you must be willing to obtain SC level security clearance.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

+ Experience of working in communications and engagement.
+ Strong collaboration skills and experience of working with stakeholders, senior leaders and competing priorities.
+ Excellent judgement to spot communications opportunities and risks, being alert to the wider government and news agenda.
+ A proven ability to actively develop and nurture relationships, and confidently engage with senior colleagues and external stakeholders.
+ Ability to absorb complex information quickly, and communicate key points to a variety of audiences in creative, innovative, and engaging ways.
+ Excellent verbal and written skills with experience of producing quality concise briefings for senior colleagues.
+ Experience of working independently and using initiative to drive work forward, with a sharp focus on deliverables.

Alongside your salary of £39,728, Government Legal Department contributes £11,509 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%