Head of Communications & Stakeholder Engagement

An exciting opportunity to use your communications skills to promote positive change in the housing sector within a growing, ambitious and increasingly high-profile organisation. The Housing Ombudsman Service provides independent, impartial and fair dispute resolution services for nearly 5 million households in England. Through resolving disputes effectively and promoting positive change across the social housing sector, we improve residents’ lives and landlords’ services. We have a range of new powers allowing us to undertake systemic investigations for the first time and further expand our influence and ability to make a difference. Based within our new Quality, Engagement and Development (QED) team, reporting to the Director of QED and managing a small team, you will be responsible for developing, planning and implementing comprehensive and innovative communications and engagement strategies to raise awareness of our service, increase the visible impact of our work and share learning from our work through our Centre for Learning to our key stakeholders – residents, landlords and government. While it is likely that you will have gained experience within the housing, ombudsman and / or public sector, it is your proven ability to increase the profile of an organisation and the impact of its work that is key. You will be responsible for all aspects of our external and internal communications including communications, media relations, public affairs, social media, events and publications activity. As well as being highly motivated and results oriented, you will need to be a team player with excellent planning and influencing skills and will be able to demonstrate: senior level communications experience in an organisation with a high public profile and a track record of advising at the most senior level; extensive experience of working with the media in a high profile, national organisation including knowledge of social media and the way it can work alongside traditional media; proven ability to develop and deliver high quality and innovative strategic communication campaigns and powerful storytelling communications internally and externally across a range of channels, with a track record in evaluation to ensure efficient and effective use of resources; a track record of leading, managing and motivating professional teams.