G5 Communications and Engagement Business Partner - 31973

The Internal Communications and Engagement (ICE) team supports the Strategy, Transformation and Assurance (STA) Directorate across high-profile areas as the Environment Agency evolves to respond to environmental challenges and deliver EA2030. This is a new way of working, building cohesion across directorates. Each role will oversee a portfolio of work while collaborating to share insight and provide resilience. You will plan and coordinate activity across STA to ensure our people receive the right information, in the right format, at the right time.

Responsibilities

• Work across a portfolio of themes, acting as a vital link between the directorate and the wider ICE team.
• Develop effective relationships with stakeholders and customers across the organisation.
• Plan strategy, share and drive best practice, set editorial standards, ensure executional consistency, and adhere to organisational priorities and our brand.
• Align communications and engagement with the central narrative and assure corporate discipline to improve message consistency.
• Champion high standards and help colleagues engage with what matters most.
• Influence teams and departments to maximise the effectiveness of our work.

The Team

The business partner team is a small cross-functional group of communication and engagement experts within the ICE team, part of the STA Directorate. We collaborate with Defra Group Communications and other colleagues to enable effective communications and engagement, plan and deliver integrated activities, and continually improve how we engage with our people.

• Enable effective communications and engagement by ensuring we have the right tools, skills and ways of working.
• Plan and deliver integrated activities, continually improving engagement with our people.

Experience/Skills Required

• Ability to persuade, influence and reason with others is vital.
• Experience and understanding of planning and delivering excellent communications and engagement activities to support operational improvements.
• Ability to balance a broad understanding of EA2030 challenges with prioritisation of individual projects and programmes.
• Comfortable building relationships at all levels of the EA and Defra, and able to work as part of a dispersed team.
• Comfortable challenging constructively and driving high standards for all communications and engagement activities.

Contact and Additional Information

This is a hybrid role with flexible working from home and a nearby Environment Agency office. Occasional travel may be required. We are committed to being an inclusive employer and welcome flexible working patterns, including job sharing. Responding to incidents is a central part of our role and you may be required to respond or provide support during incidents, which may attract additional pay. Training and workplace adjustments will be available to support you with this role. Interviews will take place towards the end of October. For more information, please contact sam.elfer@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Competencies

• Communicates Effectively: Listens and asks questions to understand and engage; conveys information clearly through speech and writing.
• Engages Others: Plans and evaluates effective engagement with internal and external stakeholders.
• Influences and Persuades: Presents a convincing case to win people over and encourage following plans.
• Builds and Sustains Relationships: Develops and maintains effective working relationships across diverse stakeholders.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns, including job share. There is a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support candidates with disabilities whose applications meet the minimum criteria.

Location and Status

Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom

Job Function

• Marketing, Public Relations, and Writing/Editing