Job Description

Director of Communications

Full time / Part time 

Salary: £91,276- £104,513pa, with potential for further progression to£117,748pa withour pay progression scheme. 

Location:Hybrid 

Contracted to our WilmsloworLondonoffice, we will berelocatingto Manchester city centre from 28 September 2026. Once the move takes place your contracted office will be Circle Square, Manchester. Through hybrid working we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities and there will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need.  

Why work for the ICO? 

• Challenging and interesting work.

• Pay progression scheme

• Hybrid and flexible working options.  

• 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays. 

• Flexi leave (up to 26additionaldays leave per year). 

• Pension (employer contribution around28.9%). 

• Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more. 

• Health Cash Plan. 

• Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress. 

Further details can be found on the benefits section ofour website . 

We are looking for an exceptional Director of Communications to lead a modern,high‑performingcommunications function at the heart of the ICO.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs and sitting on the Senior Leadership Team, you will set a clear, ambitious vision for communications and ensure it is embedded early in organisationaldecision‑making

You will lead an integrated,in‑housecommunications function of around 30 people, supported by two senior managers, covering media, digital, social, strategic communications and engagement. Your focus will be on impact,insightand outcomes,using communications as a core regulatory tool.

This is a senior leadership role with real influence,advisingthe Executive Team on sensitive andhigh‑profileissues, shaping how the ICO explains its role anddecisions, and ensuring communications strengthen understanding,trustand compliance.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data.

As an employer, we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people, and we empower you to be curious, impactful,collaborativeand respectful.

Key responsibilities

• Setting and leading the ICO’s communications strategy, aligned to regulatoryobjectivesand corporate priorities

• Positioning communications as a strategic asset, shaping behaviour, supportingcomplianceand reinforcing the ICO’s authority

• Providing senior counsel on reputational,sensitiveandhigh‑profileissues, including crisis readiness and response

• Leadinginsight‑driven, measurable communications, grounded in audience understanding, data and evaluation

• Championingdigital‑first, modern communications practice, encouraging creativity,innovationand pace withappropriate governance

• Owning and shaping the ICO’s overarching corporate narrative, building public confidence in information rights and regulation

• Building strong internal and external relationships, including with senior leaders,partnersand media

• Leading and developing ahigh‑performing, inclusive communications function, building capability and confidence at every level

• Managing resources,budgetsand agencies to ensure value for money and maximum impact

Person specification

You will be a senior communications leader with a strongtrack recordinhigh‑profile, highly scrutinised environments. You will bring credibility,judgementand presence, particularly whenoperatingunder pressure.

Essential criteria assessed at application stage:

• Significant experienceleading large,multi‑disciplinarycommunications and engagement teamsin apublic sector or a similarly scrutinised environment

• Proven experience advising senior leaders on complex, sensitive and reputationally significant communications issues

• Experience managing resources and budgets, includingcommissioningand working with agencies to enhance delivery

• Insight‑drivenapproach: strong understanding of audience insight,evaluationand performance measurement.

Additionalessential criteria assessed during interview:

• A demonstrable ability to use communications to shape outcomes-influencing understanding, behaviour,trustor organisational effectiveness

• Experience setting and delivering communications strategy across multiple disciplines (media, digital, campaigns,stakeholderor events).

• Experience leading and developing senior managers and buildinghigh‑performing, confident teams.

• Strategic judgement and influence: able to engage confidently with senior leaders, provide challenge, and securebuy‑inacross an organisation.

• Leadership presence: credible,calmand authoritative, particularly inhigh‑pressureorhigh‑profilesituations.

• Digital and modern communications literacy: able to leaddigital‑firstthinking,creativityand innovation at a senior level.

• Excellent communication skills: able to distil complex or technical issues into clear,trustedand accessible messages.

• Inclusive leadership: ability to develop talent, support diversity of thinking and create an environment where people can perform at their best.

• Experience leading communications transformation or capability uplift.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion 

The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace whereall ofour colleagueshave the opportunity tomake a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together witha number ofstaff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website.  

Candidates with a disability who meet theminimumcriteria for this vacancy will be invited to interview as part of the ICO’s commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme. 

As part of the ICO’s commitment to our EDIobjectivesand creating a workplace thatrepresentsthe communities and societies we serve, we guarantee an interview to candidates who declare they identify as belonging from an ethnic minority background and who meet theminimumcriteria for this vacancy

If you are disabled or have an impairment and require an alternative application method, please email the HR team at recruitment@ico.org.uk

Closing Date 

Pleasesubmityour CV and cover letter by 23:59 Tuesday 2 JuneYour cover letter should be no more than 1,000 words and should clearlydemonstratehow you meet the essential criteria for the role.

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. To ensure your application is considered, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application, please contact us at recruitment@ico.org.uk

In the event of a high volume of applications, we may not be able to invite all candidates who meet theminimumcriteria to interview. However, we encourage you stay in touch and apply for future roles that match your interests.

All candidates who meet theminimumcriteria and apply in-line with our guaranteed interview scheme for disabled and ethnic minority applicants will be interviewed.

Clearance Required for this role:

Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)