AMS PSR

On behalf of The Department for Transport, we are looking for an Internal Communication & Engagement Manager (Human Resources) (Inside IR35) for a 6-9 month contract on a hybrid basis (3 days per in week in Leeds / Hastings / London/ Birmingham / Swansea)

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The role:

We are seeking an experienced communications professional to support the delivery of significant people and organisational transformation activity. With a primary focus on strategic communications and employee engagement, the role will work closely with HR leadership, the Transformation Directorate and Internal Communications to ensure colleagues are informed, engaged and supported throughout change initiatives.

The postholder will lead communications and engagement activity across HR programmes, build alignment with senior stakeholders, and help leaders communicate change effectively. This role will play a key part in supporting successful transformation by ensuring communications are clear, coordinated and aligned to organisational priorities.

As an Internal Communication & Engagement Manager (Human Resources), your main responsibilities will be:

Employee Engagement & Communications

• Lead the communications and engagement approach for HR and people transformation programmes, using insight and evidence to inform priorities and activity.
• Act as the primary liaison between HR and Internal Communications for people-related change initiatives.
• Ensure communications and engagement activity is coherent, coordinated and aligned to decision-making timelines.
• Develop and deliver strategic communications plans that support organisational and cultural change.
• Support the implementation of major people initiatives, including leadership and line management programmes.
• Establish and maintain effective two-way engagement channels, networks and forums to gather feedback and encourage participation.
• Work with performance, insight and evaluation teams to embed feedback mechanisms and assess the effectiveness of engagement activity.

Stakeholder Alignment & Change Support

• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior leaders and key stakeholders across HR, transformation and business areas.
• Support stakeholder alignment on people, culture and organisational change priorities.
• Identify and escalate engagement risks, stakeholder concerns and areas of misalignment ahead of key decisions.
• Contribute to the development of leadership briefings, narratives and communications for executive and governance forums.
• Support leaders in communicating complex decisions, trade-offs and organisational priorities with credibility and confidence.

Delivery & Collaboration

• Work closely with the Transformation Directorate to support the implementation and embedding of change initiatives.
• Collaborate across HR, Internal Communications and transformation teams to ensure a joined-up approach to engagement.
• Contribute to governance papers and reporting where people and engagement impacts are significant.
• Provide flexible support across priority projects and peak periods of activity as required.

Essential:

• Significant experience in strategic communications, employee engagement or change communications within a complex organisation.
• Proven experience of supporting large-scale organisational, people or cultural transformation programmes.
• Strong understanding of change management principles and their application within communications and engagement activity.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and build credibility at senior levels.
• Demonstrable experience of developing and delivering communications and engagement strategies that support organisational change.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop clear and compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
• Experience of working collaboratively with HR, Internal Communications and senior leadership teams.
• Ability to identify engagement risks and develop practical solutions to support successful change outcomes.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver at pace.

Desirable:

• Experience working within HR functions or supporting HR-led transformation programmes.
• Knowledge of reward, policy, organisational design or broader people-related initiatives.
• Experience of supporting governance processes and preparing materials for executive-level committees and boards.
• Experience of using employee insight, engagement data and evaluation techniques to inform communications approaches.
• Relevant professional qualification in communications, employee engagement, organisational development, change management or a related discipline.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident 

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, DfT guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant

DfT guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".