HM Revenue & Customs Careers – Business Partner

About the job

Location

Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Portsmouth.

About HMRC Communications Group

The Communications Directorate delivers professional communications on behalf of HMRC and has one of the largest and busiest communications teams in government, recognised as running one of the top communications operations in Whitehall.

We are creative, fast-working and encourage collaboration. With a big job to do you’ll be joining a strong, motivated communications team. No other department touches the lives of so many people.

This role will sit in the Internal and Change Communications team. Our dynamic ICC team supports colleagues across HMRC to understand our organisational vision, celebrate our achievements and help everyone make HMRC a great place to work. The team uses the latest communications to target internal audiences effectively and is adopting a data-driven approach to engaging our audiences.

About SOLS

Solicitor’s Office and Legal Services (SOLS) provide legal services to the whole of HMRC. This includes activities such as legal advice to ExCom and HMRC colleagues, work on new legislation or drafting of statutory instruments and other legal documents. SOLS also provides technical accountancy and forensic services to HMRC, are head of the Compliance Accountants’ and Insolvency Professions as well as handling Ministerial Correspondence and Freedom of Information requests for HMRC.

Job description

This is an exciting job where you will be able to use your communications expertise to make an impact and help us deliver to the HMRC Communications priorities. It is a very high-profile role, working directly with seniors such as the Director General and the Directors within HMRC Solicitors’ Office and Legal Services Group (SOLS), providing strategic advice and counsel. You will pull on your previous experience to help create communications strategies to support their business objectives and delivering across both internal and external communications.

You will be able to see the direct impact you make by bringing the voices of HMRC’s customers and colleagues into meetings with senior leaders. You will thrive on working at a senior level, advising on and delivering on priority workstreams, and identifying and handling risk and reputational issues where needed.

It is a challenging role, requiring a diverse range of skills: in strategic communications; reputation and relationship management; leadership and influencing at senior level; and delivering integrated communications plans through others, often working in a virtual environment.

You’ll develop and maintain excellent working relationships with colleagues across the SOLS group and HMRC communications, directly line managing one individual and supporting others. Being clear and direct with colleagues of all levels, while maintaining our commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive environment.

Person specification

As the Communications Business Partner, you will:

• You will set the direction for, and have oversight of, internal and external communications activity within and for SOLS, and delivered by colleagues across HMRC Communications
• You will apply your communications experience and understanding of HMRC and the SOLS Group to provide tailored strategic advice to the Director General, and their leadership team, on internal and external communications opportunities. You will support SOLS to build trust with stakeholders and giving both appropriate challenge and support
• You will identify and prioritise the opportunities where communications activity can support SOLS to achieve their goals and/or where the project supports the HMRC communications strategy
• You will use your knowledge of communications planning (specifically the Government Communications’ Service OASIS model) to develop and deliver activity which support the SOLS business plan
• You will influence colleagues across HMRC Communications to deliver communications including Press Office, External Affairs and the Compliance Communications Team
• You will work closely with colleagues in other communications team to ensure there is a single approach to cross-cutting issues, such as how HMRC communicates litigation activity and outcomes. You will line manage the SOLS Senior Communications Officer (SO) and support their development, empowering them to own and deliver creative communications plans and products, and lead on work streams or projects
• You will flexibly support other HMRC communications activity as and when necessary

Essential Criteria

You will need to demonstrate practical knowledge and experience in the following:

• Experience as a credible trusted advisor with strong relationship building skills, including an ability to develop trusted and authoritative two-way relationships with senior officials and influence at the highest levels
• Experience of developing and delivering communications strategies that support business objectives
• Use of relevant audience insight to inform communication objectives, messages and solutions
• Confident working at pace and able to prioritise work across multiple projects and under pressure
• Ability to use and apply appropriate judgements to add value in the most efficient way
• Experience of line managing team members and building and developing a virtual team of communications professionals

Desirable Criteria

• Familiarity with the Government Communication Service’s campaign planning model and evaluation framework

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture