In recognition of the hurt caused by the infected blood scandal and highlighted by the Infected Blood Inquiry (IBI), compensation will be paid to those infected and affected. This role is an opportunity to join a new Arms Length Body – the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) – as we build a team of Communications and Engagement professionals to put the infected and affected community at the heart of our communications and support them to get the compensation they are entitled to.
The number one goal for this new organisation is to build and maintain trust with its users. Effective, open and transparent communications will play an important part in this.
The Communications and Engagement team sits at the heart of IBCA to ensure we explain the new compensation scheme with clarity, simplicity and effectiveness.
Opportunities to move to the new Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA)
At the moment all IBCA roles are hosted by Cabinet Office within the Civil Service. However, once IBCA becomes operational, it is anticipated that most of these roles will transfer to IBCA, which is a new Arms Length Body (ALB) separate from the Cabinet Office. Roles that transfer to IBCA from Cabinet Office will maintain the same or substantially the same terms and conditions of employment that are overall no less favourable. It is anticipated that employees who move from Cabinet Office to IBCA will be able to continue to participate in the Civil Service Pension arrangements with no break in their pensionable service. Roles commencing after IBCA has become operational will be with IBCA itself on similar terms and conditions. All successful candidates will receive full details of the terms and conditions of employment for their role with their formal job offer.
Please note that the mission of IBCA means that it is likely to be operational for a period of approximately 5 to 7 years. When IBCA’s work begins to wind down, IBCA employees will receive support and practical guidance to find a new role, whether in the Civil Service, another Arms Length Body (ALB), or an external employer.
We are building a Communications and Engagement Team unlike any other with one aim: to deliver compensation to the infected blood community. As a Team we collaborate, we lead and we work at pace. You’ll be striving for innovation and excellence, with a big job to do as we build the team together.
We’re looking for an experienced, driven and creative communications leader. The job holder will have a deep understanding of modern media and social media outlets and how to harness these to reach marginalised and hard-to-reach audiences to deliver targeted messaging. As IBCA is a community-first organisation, you will be passionate about user centric communications that understands the audience.
Sitting within the Media and Digital Team, this role will set the direction, pace and ambition for IBCA’s external output through dynamic and intelligent media and social plans and products.
This person will be expected to design, deliver and implement short, medium and long-term communications strategies that will support IBCA’s external channels and stakeholders to reach our audience with support, information and news of IBCA’s claim service.
While delivering and building the team’s strategic capability, this role will drive and grow the authority's social media presence, channels and brand ensuring that IBCA is using agile, appropriate and current trends and tools. Alongside responding to media requests and coverage, you will also be responsible for identifying and making media moments and opportunities across a range of media outlets from traditional print such as newspapers and magazines to emerging digital platforms and outlets. You will be unafraid to guide senior leaders through media interviews, and opportunities.
The job holder will be expected to sometimes work out of hours including weekends and evenings, they will understand what is needed to run an out of hours media team.
Main Responsibilities
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic leader to join our communications and engagement team. This is a vital role and will be a challenging and exciting opportunity to develop communications strategies and build a high-performing and motivated team to deliver high quality campaigns.
The job will require the candidate to:
* Be responsible for the development and implementation of robust and creative social, press and consumer media communications strategies, implementation plans, scoring evaluation criteria and an evaluation framework (according to the OASIS planning method) to support IBCA’s objectives.
* Be responsible for the development, management and content strategies of IBCA’s digital and media channels.
* Lead and oversee responses to live media and digital questions.
* Work closely with senior leaders to influence and identify communications requirements, including guiding them through media interviews, and opportunities.
* Evaluate and monitor communications activity and feedback insight and evaluation, ensuring lessons learned are applied and shared in a cycle of continuous improvement.
* Identify and manage issues and potential risks that pose a threat to IBCA’s reputation or delivery.
* Focus on your own professional development, with consideration to Government Communication Service (GCS) and other frameworks.
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