IPSA is an independent body that regulates and administers the business costs and decides the pay and pensions of the 650 elected Members of Parliament and their staff in the UK. In fact, we were the first independent regulator of its kind in any of the world’s democracies.
Our mission is simple: we want to enable MPs to do what really matters by providing an exemplary, seamless regulatory service. We’re guided by our values and our brilliant, inclusive culture ensures we’re not only a great place to work but that we can also constantly adapt, evolve, and improve everything we do so that we can meet our customers' needs.
The role and its responsibilities
The Communications and Engagement Manager is key to ensuring that IPSA’s role as an independent regulator is well understood by the media, the public and stakeholders. The role will also be involved in a wide range of communications activity within, and outside of IPSA with specific focus on ensuring that internal communications and stakeholder engagement is innovate, inspiring and supports the delivery of IPSA’s strategic plan and improvement programme. The post-holder will lead and co-ordinate the external and internal engagement for the organisation-wide improvement programme. This will include delivery of communications, events, materials, and engagement, and line management of the Communications Officer.
Communications and Engagement Manager’s responsibilities include:
- Develop and manage a strategy for stakeholder communications;
- Making innovative, modern, and impactful use of social media tools;
- Explaining to the media and other interested parties IPSA’s position on strategy and policy issues;
- Develop a plan for internal communications and staff engagement, focused on engagement;
- Supporting the Head of Communications in network building;
- Undertake a range of communication, engagement and continuous improvement projects;
- Deputising for the Head of Communications and acting as an out of hours spokesperson;
- Undertaking autonomous projects and other ad-hoc pieces of work;
- Ensuring that the intranet is up to date and properly utilised;
- Line management of the Communications Officer;
- Undertake communication and engagement projects.
Who we’re looking for
The successful candidate will understand the environment IPSA operates in, the role of Parliament and the work MP’s do for the general public. You’ll have a demonstrable track record of communications practices, including innovative ways of engaging your audience. You’ll have experience using social media and other tools to effectively engage internally and externally about IPSA’s work, and specifically, you’ll be comfortable using technology to deliver innovative solutions in line with government digital services standards.
You’ll demonstrate brilliant interpersonal skills to effectively deal with internal and external stakeholders and you’ll be adept at multi-tasking and enjoy collaborating with others.
As you’ll be joining a high-performing team, resilience is a key attribute which we will look for, and given the remit of the role, the ability to work dynamically with an unwavering commitment to meeting your own internal deadlines is important. Undertaking communication and engagement projects to help deliver IPSA’s communications ambitions will be expected of the postholder, and you’ll understand how strategic communications can add value to all areas of IPSA’s work.
A critical thinker with high initiative, a flexible approach to work and change are important so you’ll be comfortable working autonomously but also in the face of changing headwinds and developing situations.
You’ll be joining a diverse and knowledgeable bunch of people, passionate about making IPSA brilliant and so you’ll need to fit right in. Above all, you’ll live and breathe IPSA’s values and be able to demonstrate how your experience and ways of working align with these.
Location
We’re a hybrid organisation with employees working in all corners of the UK. We have an office in central London which you can work from, although we welcome applications from all across the UK, offering flexible homeworking on UK mainland locations (which includes Northern Ireland).
What IPSA can offer you
- A competitive salary which is regularly benchmarked against industry;
- Hybrid and flexible working, with occasional travel to our London office for team meetings;
- Generous contributions into a ‘Civil Service’ pension;
- 25 days holiday entitlement (+ bank holidays), increasing by 1 day each year up to 30 days;
- Option to purchase additional holiday days each year;
- Access to learning and development tailored to your role with coaching opportunities;
- Working in a high-performing organisation which supports democracy with a great team ethic;
- A culture encouraging equity, diversity and inclusion;
- Time to participate in our inclusive workplace networks;
- Mental Health First Aid network and access to our EAP;
- Enhanced family leave provisions;
- Workplace awards programme for living IPSA’s values and innovative ideas;
- Season ticket/rent deposit loans;
- Cycle to work scheme;
- Volunteering days and ‘you’ time.
Our commitment and values
We’re committed to making IPSA a brilliant place to work and at the heart of our people philosophy is our promise to engage, enable and empower every member of our team to deliver excellence, learn and develop each day. Through a diversity of backgrounds, experience and thought IPSA will continue to be a high-performing organisation with a truly diverse and inclusive culture. We’re guided by our values and live and breathe them through all the work that we do. These are Staying Connected, Seeing the Bigger Picture, Being Open, Doing the Right Thing and Making a Difference. As a values-based organisation you can expect these to feature throughout the recruitment process and beyond.