Internal Communications Senior Manager

Apply before

17/08/2026, 23:55

Reference number

Salary

£70,179

London weighting allowance (Per Annum)

£4,379

Role grade

G2

Contract type

Permanent, Fixed Term Appointment, Loan, Secondment

Length of employment

24 months

Please note that the Length of Employment does not include those hired on Permanent contracts.

Command

Strategy

Business Area

Communications

Type of role

Communications / Marketing

Working pattern

Full time

Number of roles available

Internal Communications Senior Manager

Location(s)

Birmingham, Bristol, London, Warrington

About the Role

Information about the Command

The Strategy Directorate drives NCA strategic mission through rigorous intelligence insights, performance insights, risk management and communications. We shape priorities and build influence across government, law enforcement and the public.

Information about the Business Area

Communications plays a vital role in promoting and supporting NCA activity. We use our communications channels as an operational tool to disrupt serious and organised crime. Communications manage the Agency relationship with media outlets and journalists, issuing media releases and statements as well as interviews with Agency spokespersons. The team commission targeted audience research, developing, implementing, and evaluating marketing strategies for awareness raising or behaviour change. Communications lead a range of projects, channels and events to increase leadership visibility and boost Officer engagement.

Role Summary

An exciting G2 Internal Communications Senior Manager role has become available in the Internal Communications Team.

As part of the NCA's Strategy Command, the Internal Communications Team sits within the wider Communications Team and plays a vital role in promoting and supporting NCA activity, working closely with teams, officers and senior leaders to raise awareness of our priorities, increase engagement in our Mission and Values and celebrate success.

If you are an experienced creative thinker with excellent communication skills and a passion to lead the way we inform, engage with and motivate our colleagues, we would like to hear from you.

Role Description

You will lead on Police Reform internal and change communications. Police Reform represents one of the most significant changes to UK policing in a generation, fundamentally reshaping how national threats are tackled and how the public is protected. As the Agency prepares for the creation of the National Police Service (NPS) and the NCA's eventual transformation into it, strong visible leadership and communication are essential. This role is critical in supporting senior leaders and working-level teams to effectively communicate and deliver the Police Reform programme and the NCA's transition to the NPS.

As a member of the Communications Senior Leadership Team, you will help to deliver our NCA Communications Strategy and Annual Plan, ensuring that our internal communications channels, products and activities engage, inspire and motivate our workforce. We are a busy and productive team, operating in a dynamic environment in which priorities can shift at short notice.

Regular travel to London may be required to attend in person meetings.

Duties and Responsibilities

Deliver strategic and tactical communications Work alongside the G1 Head of Internal Engagement, the G2 Head of Internal Communications and G2 Head of Leadership Communications in helping to deliver internal communications elements of our NCA Communications Strategy and Annual Plan.

Lead, develop and manage a team Lead a small team responsible for providing Police Reform internal and change communications advice and support to NCA leaders and officers, contributing to effective communication and engagement within the Agency.

Manage Police Reform internal and change communications Lead the ongoing development and delivery of Police Reform internal communications plan, including deploying resources and managing risks and working closely with both the Police Reform and the Communications teams.

Coach and support team Provide support and clarification to junior members of the team to ensure they are confident in delivering key messages.

Understanding and tailoring communication to internal audience Develop a excellent understanding of different internal audiences and tailor communications appropriately, utilising analysis and segmenting internal audiences so communication effectively targeted.

Matrix management Lead, manage and develop individuals as necessary ensuring other team members are able to deliver communication plans effectively.

Trusted advisor Develop and manage senior relationships within the Agency, acting as a key advisor to senior leadership on Police Reform internal communications matters, providing strategic counsel and insights.

Person Specification

Leadership - Demonstrate leadership behaviours such as self-awareness, accountability and inclusivity.

Communications - Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Planning - Excellent understanding of planning and resource management.

Continuous Improvement - Ability to apply creative solutions and seek to continuously improve products and processes.

Stakeholder management - Ability to influence and build credibility with senior leaders.

Essential Criteria

You must meet the essential criteria and evidence this within your application to be considered for the role.

Entry Requirements

Any applications from candidates not meeting this eligibility criteria will not progress.

Desirable Criteria

Desirable criteria are only used for assessment in the event of a tie break.

Excellent stakeholder management skills.

Leadership experience and skills.

Salary

Allowances are reviewed annually and may be increased, decreased or removed.

All salary offers will be made in line with Remuneration Policy.

Roles based in London will receive an additional London Weighting (Per Annum) of £4,379

Benefits

All NCA employees are members of the UK Civil Service and eligible for the Civil Service pension scheme, alongside your salary the NCA contributes £20330. Further information on the benefits of the scheme is available on the Civil Service Pension Website.

New entrants to the NCA receive 26 days annual leave, rising to 31 on completion of 5 years continuous service, plus 8 bank holidays.

If qualifying criteria is met new joiners from UK Police Forces or the UK Intelligence Community (UKIC) will have service with those employers taken into account for continuous service purposes for annual leave entitlement only, this will be up to a maximum of 31 days leave (including 1 privilege day).

Other benefits include

Flexible working, including flexi-time, compressed hours and job sharing (in line with business requirements)

Family friendly policies, notably above the statutory minimum

Learning and Development opportunities

Interest free loans and advances, including season tickets, childcare and rental deposits

Housing schemes - Key Worker status

Discounts and Savings with a wide variety of services including Cycle to Work, Smart Tech schemes, dental insurance, gym discounts and savings on everyday spending, available through the Reward Gateway | Edenred and Blue Light Card schemes.

Staff support groups/networks

Sports and social activities, including membership to the Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC)

Further information is available on the NCA Website.

Selection Process Details

This vacancy is using the Success Profiles framework and will assess using the following criteria: Behaviours, Experience, Strengths, Technical Skills

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.

How we will assess you

Ability to build relationships and command confidence

Experience - This will be assessed

CV

Please include your full career history, training, qualifications, key responsibilities, and achievements. Explain any employment gaps in the last two years. Ensure all accreditation dates are accurate.

Details of what is expected within your CV are as follows: 1) Experience of working in a busy, senior, internal communications role, developing and executing a comprehensive strategy and plan and delivering measurable outcomes.

2) Experience of Leading and developing an internal communications team, prioritising effectively and decisively to deliver impact and fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration and high performance.

What Good looks like: -

Experience leading internal and change communications; - Work with senor leaders and complex stakeholders; - Delivery of Communications strategies aligned to organisational priorities; - leadership of teams; - experience of operating with complex, high profile or politically sensitive environments; - delivered measurable organisational impact.

A panel will assess how well your application demonstrates the requirements outlined above.

Longlist

In the event of a high number of applications, we may operate a longlist. Applicants will need to meet the minimum pass mark for the lead criteria.

• Ability to build relationships and command confidence .

Candidates who do not meet the minimum pass mark for the lead criteria will not progress to having their other criteria assessed. Applications must meet the minimum criteria to be progressed to the assessment stage.

You will receive an acknowledgement once your application is submitted.

We aim to have sift completed and scores released within 10 working days of the closing date of the advert. For high volume campaigns this timeframe may be extended.

Scores will be provided but further feedback will not be available at this stage.

For guidance on the application process, visit

NCA Applying and Onboarding

Assessment 1

The format of this assessment will be Interview which will be tested on the criteria listed in the Success Profiles at Assessment section.

Success Profiles at Assessment

Behaviours

Seeing the Big Picture

Changing and Improving

Technical

Ability to build relationships and command confidence

Experience

Experience of working in a busy, senior, internal communications role, developing and executing a comprehensive strategy and plan and delivering measurable outcomes

Experience of Leading and developing an internal communications team, prioritising effectively and decisively to deliver impact and fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration and high performance.

Strengths

Strengths are tested at interview stage - the strengths tested are not shared before the interview.

Assessment Outcome

Outcomes will be communicated via the NCA recruitment portal.

If successful but no role is immediately available, you may be placed on a reserve list for 12 months.

Reserve lists can be used to fill similar role types across the Agency where the assessment criteria is considered a match by the recruitment team and the business area.

In the event of a tie at the assessment stage, available roles will be offered in merit order using the following order:

Lead criteria (behaviours/technical/experience)

If still tied, desirable criteria will be assessed (if advertised)

If still tied, application sift scores will be used

Feedback is provided only to those who attend an assessment.

You will be subject to vetting and pre-employment checks before appointment.

Once the vacancy closes, the advert will no longer be accessible. Please save a copy for your records.

We encourage all candidates to visit the NCA Careers Page for more information.

Eligibility, Pre-Employment Check and Vetting

Please see the NCA T&Cs and Privacy Policy (pdf) for details on how your data is handled.

If you are an internal candidate who has passed interview but is undergoing an internal investigation or have a written warning in place preventing a post move you may not be able to be posted until this investigation is concluded or restriction lifted.

Nationality Requirements

This role is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals or dual nationals, where one component is British
• 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)
• 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

You will be required to participate in digital right to work and address checks as part of the recruitment process.

Security and Vetting

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is SC Enhanced. All security clearances will be managed by the NCA.

For more information on security vetting please visit: UK Security Vetting guidance for applicants and Demystifying Vetting and see our vetting charter at: The Vetting Charter.

Vetting requirements - SC Enhanced

Prior to commencing the role, you will need to successfully complete SC Enhanced clearance.

The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years.

Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.

For further information on National Security Vetting checks please visit the following page Demystifying Vetting

Individuals will be required to undertake and pass a substance misuse test as part of pre-employment checks.

Occupational Health

Successful candidates will be expected to undertake an occupational health assessment. Depending on the role an in-person medical may be required in either London or Warrington. Unfortunately, travel costs will not be reimbursed.

Things you need to know

Multi Location

Where multiple locations are advertised, appointments will be made in merit order for each location.

Please indicate up to three location preferences clearly. Only your first three preferences will be considered. You may be allocated to any of the locations you select. If you decline an offer for a location you have selected as a preference, a further offer may not be made.

If you choose to reject an offer and no alternative preferred location can be offered, you will not be able to return to the process or be placed on a reserve list.

Only the advertised locations are available; any additional notes added to the application will not be taken into account.

Near Miss

If you meet the criteria for a lower grade, you may be offered that role if not appointable at the advertised grade.

Conversely, if found appointable at a higher grade but no posts are available, you may be offered a lower-grade role.

All offers are made based on merit.

Hybrid Working

The NCA supports hybrid working. The extent of remote working will depend on the role and can be discussed at the offer stage.

Reasonable Adjustments

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and an inclusive, equal opportunities employer.

We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone can be their authentic self. If you’re neurodiverse, have a disability, or live with a long-term health condition, we encourage you to let us know about any reasonable adjustments you may need during the recruitment process.

If you experience accessibility issues with the advert or require reasonable adjustments, please contact our Recruitment Team at ***email_hidden*** before the advert closing date.

Please ensure you complete the ‘Equal opportunities’ and 'Reasonable Adjustments' sections in the application form to inform us on what support you may need in the recruitment process.

For more on our Disability Confident commitment, visit Disability Confident Scheme | Civil Service Careers.

Visit NCA Benefits and Support for more details.

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

In order to monitor the effectiveness of the National Crime Agency's Diversity & Inclusion strategy, we require certain personal details about you on submission of your application for statistical and monitoring purposes only. Please note that this will be treated in confidence and will not impact your application.

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Working for the Civil Service

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

We recruit on merit through fair and open competition, in line with the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

If you believe your application has not been treated fairly, email: ***email_hidden*** (quoting the vacancy reference).

If unresolved, you may escalate your complaint to the Civil Service Commission.

Working for the NCA

The National Crime Agency is a 24/7 organisation, and working patterns must support business requirements. Some roles may require you to respond at short notice or outside of core hours.

If preferable, alternative contract types may be available. Please review the green bar of this advert to view all available contract types for this role. Where Loan or Secondment options are available, these would be for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from accredited Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) or any other employer (Secondment). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

If you have any specific queries about the role that are not covered by the advert, please contact:

Name : Central Recruitment Team

Email : ***email_hidden***