Communications and Engagement Manager

On behalf of Defra, we are looking for 2 x Communications and Engagement Managers (Inside IR35) for a contract until December 2026 based remotely within the UK. 

In the Defra group, we deal with a vast range of issues that profoundly impact on people’s lives. We are responsible for England’s environment, our countryside and rural economy, the food and farming sectors and have lead responsibility for protection from a wide range of natural threats and hazards. We have developed a set of three strategic objectives covering our policy outcomes and corporate objectives. These objectives help us to deliver our ambitious vision to build our green and healthy future and provide a framework for all the important work we carry out.

Our objectives are:

• To pass on to the next generation a natural environment protected and enhanced for the future. 
• To lead the world in food, farming, and fisheries with a sustainable model of food production. 
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• To be an outstanding organisation focused on making a difference, with world class delivery capability.

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs www.gov.uk. 

25 Year Environment Plan - GOV.UK www.gov.uk.

Role Profile:

To join the EU Reset Business and Borders Readiness Directorate.

These roles sit within the Business Readiness Team, supporting businesses across the food supply chain to prepare for changes arising from the SPS Agreement. The successful candidates will play a key role in helping retailers, food manufacturers, processors, wholesalers, logistics providers, distributors and trade associations understand new requirements and implement necessary business changes.

This is a highly stakeholder-focused role and would suit candidates with strong external communications, engagement and business readiness experience. It is not a traditional PR, media or social media position.

You will act as the interface between policy teams, communications teams and external stakeholders, translating complex policy and regulatory information into clear, practical guidance that helps businesses take action.

As a Communications and Engagement Manager, your main responsibilities will be to:

• Develop and deliver communication and engagement activity supporting business readiness across multiple policy and implementation workstreams.
• Translate complex policy and regulatory changes into clear, concise and actionable messaging for business audiences.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with businesses, trade bodies, industry associations and other external stakeholders.
• Act as a trusted communications advisor to policy and programme teams.
• Develop stakeholder engagement plans, communications products and campaign activity to drive awareness and preparedness.
• Create and coordinate communication materials.
• Support the planning and delivery of stakeholder forums, workshops, webinars and industry engagement events.
• Work closely with policy, legal, content design and central communications teams to ensure messaging is accurate and consistent.
• Gather stakeholder feedback and intelligence, identifying emerging risks, concerns and opportunities to improve business readiness activity.
• Represent communications and engagement interests across complex programme workstreams.
• Contribute to wider communications strategies and business readiness campaigns.
• Support senior officials during stakeholder meetings, presentations and industry events.

Essential:

• Proven experience in a Communications, Stakeholder Engagement, Business Readiness or Change Communications role.
• Strong external stakeholder management experience, including building relationships with industry bodies, businesses and delivery partners.
• Experience developing and delivering engagement strategies, communications plans and stakeholder campaigns.
• Experience organising and facilitating webinars, workshops, events or large stakeholder engagement activities.
• Excellent written communication skills, including briefing notes, presentations, scripts, stakeholder packs and guidance materials.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced environment.
• Experience influencing and collaborating across multiple teams and senior stakeholders.
• Public sector experience.

Desirable:

• Experience within food, retail, manufacturing, logistics, supply chain or trade sectors.
• Experience supporting ministerial or senior leadership engagement activity.
• Training or facilitation experience.
• Experience working with policy, legal and content design teams to develop communication products.
• Experience planning and delivering national stakeholder events or summits.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident 

As a Disability Confident employer, Defra encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent candidates. Applications from candidates who identify as having a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review. Where application volumes are high, additional role-specific and desirable criteria may be applied as part of the shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant 

As a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, Defra welcome applications from veterans, service leavers, reservists and military spouses or partners. Applications from eligible candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review. Where application volumes are high, additional role-specific and desirable criteria may be applied as part of the shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".