Head of Strategic Communications, Insight & Planning


Company:	Government Recruitment Service
Salary:	£69,931 to £83,981 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	23 Sept 2026
Closing date:	5 Oct 2026

Apply for this job

Summary

The Head of Strategic Communications, Insight and Planning is a senior role at the very heart of Defra group Communications. The role holder is responsible for shaping and leading the strategic approach to our communications across Defra and our largest Arms Length Bodies, ensuring we are identifying the right messages for the right audiences on the right channels to best support the outcomes Defra group wants to achieve.

The role holder will oversee insight-driven communications strategies that support our priorities, utilising data, research and evaluation to inform evidence-based planning and continuously improve delivery, while fostering collaboration across multiple disciplines. The role involves leading integrated communications planning, coordinating responses to high-profile issues, and ensuring communications narratives remain directional with proper alignment across all disciplines. They will demonstrate strong leadership capabilities in delivering audience-centred communications activities and possess the ability to see the bigger picture while managing complex stakeholder relationships.

Working to the Deputy Director for Strategy, Planning and Partnerships, this is a key leadership role within the Defra group Communications team, providing active and visible leadership to motivate, engage and develop team members to deliver multi-channel and insight driven communications plans that meet the priorities of Ministers and our Arms Length Bodies.
Develop and maintain strong relationships with senior leaders, Ministers, Special Advisers and stakeholders across Defra group and wider government, providing trusted strategic communications advice to support business and operational delivery.
Lead a communications team made up of specialists from across the communications mix, supporting the team with the development and delivery of high-priority communications work and bringing in colleagues from across Defra group Communications to help deliver.
Lead our Comms Planning team to provide a strategic forward plan of activity, milestones and opportunities to inform our audiences about our priorities and delivery progress, including managing our inputs to No10 and PM priorities.
Lead the Comms Insight function, ensuring communications strategies across Defra group's priority themes are underpinned by robust evidence, audience research and data analysis to maximise effectiveness and demonstrate impact.
Develop and embed evaluation frameworks across all functional teams, using the Government Communication Service (GCS) Evaluation Cycle and OASIS planning principles to inform continuous learning and improvement.
Work with the Senior Management Team to establish the role for communications in helping Defra group achieve priority business objectives.
Provide leadership in crisis and incident response communications as required, including out-of-hours working as necessary, working seamlessly across Defra group communications disciplines and with partners to ensure coordinated, timely and relevant information reaches the public and stakeholders.
Champion a culture of proactivity, flexibility and collaboration, with the ability to work well under pressure, manage multiple priorities and tight deadlines, and balance reactive work against strategic organisational goals.
Professional standards: Upholding and embedding GCS professional standards, ensuring compliance with the Communication Functional Standard (GovS011), propriety guidance, and accessibility requirements across all communications activity.

Apply for this job

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident

Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.