Band 3 - Senior Communications Manager - Fixed Term Appointment up to 2 years

Job description

Job purpose

ONR is committed to being a modern and transparent regulator, delivering trusted outcomes and value. We are making substantial investments in new digital technologies and skills to enhance our regulatory processes and management of information.

The Senior Communications Manager will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the organisation's internal communications activity, ensuring staff at all levels are informed, engaged and connected in support of our regulatory mission and organisational priorities. Working with autonomy, the postholder will be an experienced internal communications practitioner, leading the planning and delivery of change communications campaigns, translating complex organisational projects into clear, compelling narratives for internal audiences. The role requires a commitment to continuous improvement, applying Government Communication Service best practice and insight-led approaches to enhance colleague engagement and support organisational effectiveness.

The Senior Communications Manager is a key member of the Strategy and Corporate Affairs directorate and will report to the Head of Communications.

Principal responsibilities

The Senior Communications Manager will:

• lead effective and engaging internal communications strategies, campaigns and content in line with our Strategy - ‘ONR together’
• lead change communications campaigns for key strategic modernisation projects and workstreams
• support development of our engagement channels, keeping pace with emerging trends and digital technologies in line with Government Communications Service guidance
• incorporate best practice across the public sector and beyond to ensure our communications are fit for purpose and continuously improving
• be an ambassador for the Strategy and Corporate Affairs directorate, encouraging the early integration of strategic communication in the delivery of corporate milestones
• provide expert and strategic advice to others across the organisation on ways communications can successfully support the implementation of regulatory activity, modernisation programmes and improve our reputation
• ensure communications activities are underpinned by measurable objectives and evaluation frameworks to inform continuous improvement and demonstrate the contribution of internal communications to wider organisational priorities
• support the development and implementation of a new Communications and Engagement Plan in line with our new strategy

Line Management Responsibilities

None currently, however, there could be an expectation to manage staff in the future.

Location / Travel

This post may be undertaken from a base at any one of ONR’s office locations (Bootle, Cheltenham or London).

ONR operates hybrid working (working in the office and or at home) as part of our flexible working policy. There is an expectation that everyone will spend time in the office on a regular basis, recognising that some work is better done face to face. Managers will work with their teams on what works best to meet individual, team, business and organisational needs to enable collaboration, as well as balancing personal choice and wellbeing.

Work with us

Our colleagues are from all walks of life with varied personal experiences and career journeys into ONR. We want the best people for our roles. As an inclusive employer we value individuals’ contributions , regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, social background, religion, or belief. Our values ‘supportive, open-minded, fair and accountable’ are central to this. We invest in our people to build capability, resilience, and promote wellbeing in our great teams, underpinned by our inherent focus on inclusion and excellence.

Security Clearance

BPSS is required for this role.

Person Specification

Inclusion

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We will consider reasonable adjustments to ensure the recruitment process is inclusive and barrier-free. If you require reasonable adjustments as part of your application, please contact ONR HR as soon as possible, preferably before the vacancy closes, by emailing [email protected] or [email protected] to discuss further. We will also offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for applicants who opt into the guaranteed interview scheme.

We recognise we have a role to play in helping those leaving the Armed Forces and have a Veterans guaranteed interview scheme. We offer an interview to Veterans who meet the minimum criteria for applicants who opt into the scheme. Please see eligibility criteria below.

• served for at least one year in His Majesty's Armed Forces (as a Regular or Reserve).
• be in transition from, or ceased to be a member of, His Majesty’s Armed Forces.

• not already be employed by ONR.

Essential Skills/Job Related Expertise

• Proven experience of developing and delivering internal communications strategies and campaigns within a complex organisation, with demonstrable success in engaging diverse employee audiences.
• Strong track record of leading change communications, including the ability to translate complex projects, policies or organisational developments into clear, accessible and compelling narratives for internal audiences.
• Experience of setting measurable communications objectives and evaluating effectiveness, using data and insight to assess impact, inform continuous improvement and demonstrate the value of communications activity.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality content across a range of formats and channels, and to adapt tone and style for different audiences and purposes.
• Enthusiasm for digital innovation and emerging communication technologies, with experience of producing or commissioning multimedia content and a willingness to explore new formats and channels to enhance colleague engagement.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work in a team and build effective stakeholder relationships - demonstrating sound judgement and initiative, and the confidence to provide trusted communications advice to colleagues at all levels.

Qualifications

• A communications or media related qualification such as CIPR, NCTJ, IoIC or CIM is desirable or demonstrable appropriate experience and skills.

For Further Information

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Chris Hannaway.

E: [email protected]

How to apply

Please submit your application through the recruitment portal.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 6 th November 2026 at 11:45.

Your application should include:

• CV to include a full record of your education and professional qualifications and a full employment history.
• A suitability statement (maximum of 800 words) highlighting how you meet the ‘essential skills and experience” required for the role, which will be used at shortlisting in conjunction with your CV.
• Where applicable highlight if you have any experience under ‘desirable skills and experience’ within the application form.

Throughout our shortlisting process, we will make decisions about your capability to do the job, based on evidence you provide against the essential criteria (and the desirable if applicable).

Artificial Intelligence
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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Important guidance when providing CV’s – please upload text-based CVs with no graphics or pictures to ensure the anonymisation function works correctly.

Please note - if whilst completing your application, you use special characters such as (‘; “- _ *) within your examples, Hireserve will convert these characters into symbols. We are currently unable to change this.

Whilst these examples will appear on your application, this will not prevent it from being reviewed at the shortlisting stage.