23855 - Head of Digital Marketing and GOV.UK

This vacancy is only available to existing Civil Servant employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). Please review the "Eligibility" section before you apply.

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Job title:

G7 – Head of Digital Marketing and GOV.UK – maternity cover (12 months)

Available on promotion:

Yes. Advertised across Civil Service.

Vacancy Description:

Summary

Do you have a passion for digital leadership and innovation, and for bringing out the best in a diverse, experienced team?

We are seeking a maternity cover for the Head of Digital Marketing and GOV.UK at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).

This is a unique and specialist role at the forefront of government communications. IT works closely with all in-house communications and marketing teams, with the Government Communication Service (GCS), Government Digital Service (GDS) and multiple media agencies to ensure digital communications are optimised for the user and deliver value for money on media spend.

About the team

The Digital Marketing and GOV.UK team acts as advisors and specialists in digital marketing, digital analytics, tagging and GOV.UK content design. Its focus is on paid digital and partnerships for the MoJ’s priority campaigns, and on MoJ content hosted on the GOV.UK platform.

The team’s marketing and partnerships work brings in added value, innovation and agency scrutiny across the MoJ’s wide-ranging campaigns. These include behaviour change campaigns to better support victims of crime and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG); improving confidence in sentencing reform; and critical recruitment into front-line roles across the justice system. The team creates strategies for paid marketing such as creator partnerships, search, digital and social marketing, in collaboration with internal teams and external media agencies.

The team also delivers high-quality maintenance and publishing support for all MoJ content on GOV.UK pages and campaign websites. This includes web and content design, support on policy consultations, and support for GOV.UK campaign microsites.

About the role

This role champions the work of the team and empowers team members to be proactive, engaged and expert in their approaches.

We seek an individual who leads with purpose, empathy and energy. The successful applicant will balance the needs of the team, and its individuals, with the bigger picture.

They will work closely with others to improve cross-team and client-agency collaboration, and contribute to the continual optimisation of processes, ways of working, and campaign performance. They will be a strong listener, strategic and confident at building relationships.

Essential:

• Experience leading a team and managing multiple direct reports

• Experience and expertise across digital marketing and partnerships
• Experience in digital communications based on user insight, needs or experience e.g. analytics, web and content design, behavioural insight campaigns

Desirable:

• Experience in GOV.UK content design, publishing and standards

• Experience and confidence working with agency client directors
• Experience in agency procurement and agency review processes

Role responsibilities:

Effective and inclusive leadership of the Digital Marketing and GOV.UK team, as set out in the Civil Service Leadership statement (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-leadership-statement/civil-service-leadership-statement) and GCS Leadership framework (https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/publications/leadership-framework/). Including but not limited to:

• Aligning team priorities and workstreams with MoJ Communications strategies, ministerial/government priorities, GCS/GDS and industry best practices.
• Maintaining visibility of team and its offer to wider business via ongoing advocacy, networking and conversations with leadership teams.
• Nurturing team capability and ongoing professional standards via learning and development opportunities, networking, coaching and trainings.

• Line management of three SEO direct reports, including weekly 121s and 8-weekly touchpoint sessions to discuss work priorities, wellbeing, progress against objectives and professional development.

• Setting strategic direction for the team and its role across MoJ and its ALBs in:

• Digital partnerships with influencers, intermediaries and stakeholders
• Digital marketing for campaigns
• Content design for GOV.UK and campaign sites
• Google analytics and tagging, user-journeys and online attribution
• Innovation, AB testing and improving professional standards

• Digital leadership and championing of digital marketing and content design functions, internally within MoJ and externally with agencies and as part of x-gov networks.

• MoJ single-point-of-contact (SPOC) for MoJ’s media strategy, planning and buying agency (WPP650), leading quarterly business reviews and strategic planning on behalf of MoJ.

• Member of Campaigns, Digital and Insight SMT, contributing to regular meetings, collaborative workstreams and corporate strategies e.g. People Survey.

Success Profiles

1. Applications will be assessed using the Civil Service Success Profiles Framework.

2. This will focus on experience, assessed through your CV, Statement of Suitability and (for shortlisted candidates) in interview.

3. Performance will also be assessed based on the following Civil Service behaviours and GCS competencies, which will be assessed through your Statement of Suitability and (for shortlisted candidates) your interview:

i. Seeing the Big Picture

ii. Leadership

iii. Changing and Improving

iv. Working Together

v. GCS: Implementation

vi. GCS: Impact

Application:

4. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements.

5. A Statement of Suitability (no longer than 1250 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to how you meet the behaviours and competencies stipulated.

Terms And Conditions

Appointment term:

• This role is being offered as a fixed term role for 12 months

Salary range:

• The MoJ pay range for 2025/6 is:

• £58,511 - £65,329 (National)
• £63,343 - £70,725 (London)

• Depending on the grade of successful candidate(s), the salary would be agreed in line with MOJ policy.

Location:

• This role is advertised nationally. The successful candidate will be required to work at least two days a week in either the London HQ (102 PF) or a regional MOJ Hub office.

Working arrangements:

• Applications are welcomed from candidates that require flexible working arrangements.

Security Clearance:

SC – You will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of the application. If you have spent significant time abroad in the last 5 years you may be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why.

DBS required: No

Reserved for UK Nationals: No

Selection Process

Overview of process: This role is being advertised in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview in (dates TBC) and the anticipated start date is December 2026.

How To Apply

How to apply: Please complete the application, submitting a CV and a personal statement outlining your suitability for the role, focusing on the behaviours stipulated (no longer than 1250 words).

Further Information:

For further information about the role please contact Jemima Adcock – [email protected]

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles: All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Eligibility

Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.

Vacancies advertised “cross-government” are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.

Support

• A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
• Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
• For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

• To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ([email protected]);
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]

Please quote the job reference 23855

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]

Please quote the job reference 23855

Application form stage assessments

Experience

We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods

CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Statement of Suitability

Guidance for the Statement of Suitability

Please provide a Statement of Suitability of no more than 1,000 words, demonstrating how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the essential criteria outlined in the job advert and person specification. Your statement should also provide evidence of the Civil Service behaviours: Changing and Improving, Leadership, Seeing the Big Picture and Working Together. Please use specific examples to demonstrate your suitability for the role.

Evidence of Experience

CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates

To Be Confirmed

Behaviours

Changing and Improving

Leadership

Seeing the Big Picture

Working Together

Technical

GCS - Implementation

GCS - Impact

Level of security checks required

DBS Basic

Security Clearance (SC)

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

General Information

Salary

The national salary range is £58,511 - £65,329, London salary range is £63,343 - £70,725 Your salary will be dependent on your base location

Working Pattern

Full Time, Part Time, Flexible Working

Vacancy Approach

Cross Government

Location

National

Region

National

Closing Date

15-Nov-2026

Post Type

Fixed Term

Civil Service Grade

Grade 7

Number of jobs available

1

Reserve List

12 Months

Job ID

23855