G5 Communications and Engagement Business Partner - 31973

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Overview

This is an opportunity to help tell the story of the Environment Agency.

Job Description

This is a new way of working, as the Internal Communications and Engagement (ICE) team builds cohesion across directorates. The Internal Communications and Engagement Business Partner roles support the Strategy, Transformation and Assurance (STA) Directorate across several high-profile areas, as the organisation evolves to respond to the environmental challenges of the future, set out in our corporate strategy, EA2030. Each will oversee a portfolio of work but collaborate to share insight and provide resilience. The roles will involve planning and coordinating activity right across STA, ensuring our people receive the right information, in the right format, at the right time. Transformation includes working with the Director for Service Transformation to understand the totality of change programmes across the EA, and help describe the narrative for change. People includes working with the People and Inclusion directorate to understand themes such as our People Plan and Health, Safety and Wellbeing. Strategy involves working across the organisation to help colleagues understand their role in delivering our corporate strategy, business plan, and the STA Leadership Team’s role in leading the organisation.

Responsibilities

• Work across a portfolio of themes, acting as a vital link between the directorate and the wider ICE team.
• Interact widely and be responsible for developing effective relationships with stakeholders and customers across the organisation.
• Plan strategy, share and drive best practice, set editorial standards, executional consistency, ensure adherence to organisational priorities and our brand.
• Align communications and engagement with the central narrative and assure corporate discipline to improve the consistency of messages.
• Champion the highest standards and help our people engage with the things that truly matter.
• Influence the teams and departments you work with to maximise the effectiveness of our work.

The Team

The business partner team is a small cross-functional team of communication and engagement experts. We are part of the Internal Communications and Engagement team, which sits within the Strategy, Transformation and Assurance Directorate. We collaborate with Defra Group Communications and other colleagues to ENABLE effective communications and engagement by ensuring we have the right tools, skills and ways of working. PLAN AND DELIVER integrated activities, continually improving how we engage with our people.

Experience/skills Required

• Your ability to persuade, influence and reason with others will be vital in this role.
• You will bring experience and understanding of how planning and delivering excellent communications and engagement activities can bring operational improvements.
• You will need to be able to balance wide understanding of the challenges facing the Environment Agency in delivering EA2030 with the prioritisation of individual projects and programmes.
• You will be comfortable in creating and maintaining relationships at all levels of the EA, and Defra. You must be able to work as part of a dispersed team.
• You will be comfortable challenging constructively and driving high standards for all communications and engagement activities.

Contact and additional information

This is a hybrid working role and you will work flexibly both from home and your nearest Environment Agency office. There will be a requirement for occasional travel. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share.

Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to, or provide support during, an incident. This may attract additional payment. Training and workplace adjustments will be available to support you with your incident role.

Interviews will take place towards the end of October.

Please contact sam.elfer@environment-agency.gov.uk for further information.

Competences

• Communicates Effectively
  Description: Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing.
• Engages others
  Description: Plans, carries out and evaluates effective engagement with internal and external stakeholders following the ‘Working with others’ approach.
• Influences and Persuades Others
  Description: Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly.
• Builds and Sustains Relationships
  Description: Develops and maintains effective working relationships.

If you are applying from the Civil Service Please note that the Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant if appointed. You will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants in local government or other listed bodies, continuous service for the purpose of calculating future redundancy payments may apply. Contact your HR Team if unsure.

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome flexible working patterns, including job share. We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment.

The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body and uses Central Government frameworks for external recruitment. For information on becoming a supplier, visit the Crown Commercial Service guidance.

Artificial intelligence note: Any use of AI must be truthful and accurately reflect your own experience. Please review Civil Service guidance on AI use.