*** 12-month fixed term contract ***

About us

The Local Government Association (LGA) is the national membership body for local authorities. We work on behalf of our member councils to support, promote and improve local government.

We are a politically led, cross-party organisation that works on behalf of councils to ensure local government has a strong, credible voice with national government. We influence and set the political agenda on the issues that matter to councils to help them deliver local solutions to national problems.

We also provide councils with the tools and resources to respond to challenges present and emerging, and support improvement across the sector.

We value diversity and encourage applications from all sections of the community to this high-profile role.

About the role

We are looking for a dynamic and effective Senior Adviser to lead our internal communications strategy and ensure our workforce is informed, engaged, and aligned with our corporate ambitions.  

As the Senior Adviser for Internal Communications, you will spearhead the development and execution of a top-tier internal communications strategy that aligns with the LGA’s mission and strategic goals.  

This high-profile role, reporting directly to the Assistant Chief Executive, involves managing and refreshing internal communication channels, including for staff and our members, and serving as a trusted advisor to senior leaders. Your efforts will be pivotal in fostering a cohesive and informed workforce, promoting the LGA’s values, and driving the adoption of digital tools to enhance internal communications. 

You will embrace innovation and continuous improvement, ensuring our internal communications are increasingly data-driven, and maximising the opportunities of innovative digital technologies. 

You will join us at a critical juncture as we assist the local government sector in navigating the opportunities and challenges presented by the Government’s English Devolution Whitepaper, digitisation and AI, as well as financial pressures and increased service demands. Keeping internal colleagues informed and engaged will enable them to best support our peers across the sector. 

About you

You are an effective and creative communicator with extensive experience in leading internal communications within large organisations.

You will oversee all internal communication channels, ensuring they are meaningful, accessible, and innovative, incorporating digital tools and platforms to meet the needs of a diverse workforce.  

You will lead the entire communications lifecycle, from development and delivery to impact measurement, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and priorities.   

You will work closely with the senior leadership team, the wider corporate communications and public affairs team, and corporate transformation teams on a daily basis.  

You will embrace innovation and technology, with a relentless focus on ensuring all communications are inclusive and impactful in line with our strong commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.  

While experience in local government is not essential, demonstrating your passion for the mission and values of the LGA is crucial. 

You must have the right to work in the UK, the LGA are unfortunately unable to offer sponsorship visas. Evidence for the right to work in the UK will be requested at the interview stage.

To apply

If you would like to be considered for the role, please complete this offline application form which includes a supporting statement detailing how you meet the criteria of the role and email this to recruitment@local.gov.uk before the closing date.

Senior Adviser - Internal Communications Job Description

• Proven track record of developing and implementing successful internal communications strategies. 

• Knowledge of the local government sector and the challenges and opportunities facing local councils. 

• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and influence at all levels of the organisation. 

• Ability to lead, inspire and motivate others.

• Able to deliver and lead others under pressure, prioritising work against competing demands to meet deadlines.

• Highly developed written and oral presentation skills with ability to present complex ideas in a clear and comprehensible way. 

• Personal drive and commitment to the LGA priorities.

• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Closing Date:        5pm, Monday 17th February 2025 

Interview Date:     6th and 7th March 2025. Interviews are expected to be in-person.  

We use anonymous recruitment, which is the practice of hiding candidates’ identities. This process involves removing any identifying information from candidates’ applications which includes names. 

At the LGA we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our recruitment decisions are based on fair, open competition, with appointment on merit. The LGA are proud to be awarded a “Disability Confident Leader”. If you are require an reasonable adjustment, which is a change to the format or conditions of the recruitment process to accommodate any disability-related needs you may have. Please contact us via recruitment@local.gov.uk

Our benefits

• LGA annual leave entitlement is 29 days, rising to 31 days after three years’ service and to 33 days after five years’ service, plus all UK public holidays (pro rata for fixed term and part time contracts).*

• Flexible & agile working – office-based staff are required to work in the LGA’s London office two days per week as a minimum, subject to business need and this may vary significantly between different roles and from week to week.

• Future development – face-to-face and virtual courses are scheduled in line with developmental goals

• The LGA offers 24/7 access to a free, confidential employee assistance programme managed by Health Assured. This service is also available for Dependants.

• Family friendly policies

For more of LGA’s benefits and working with us, please view our webpage https://www.local.gov.uk/benefits-and-working-lga

Our values & behaviours

Our Values and Behaviours are there to give us an understanding of who we are as an organisation and who we want to be. They are a framework to help us understand:

• how we work with each other

• how we work with our members and stakeholders

• our expectations for ourselves and each other

Our values are:

Inclusive - We ensure that our work is inclusive of all voices.

Ambitious - We are ambitious for councils and their communities and are committed to striving for excellence in all that we do to support our colleagues, our membership and the sector to deliver the best possible outcomes.

Collaborative - We bring together the expertise and skills needed, working as one team.