York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority
Head of Communications and Public Affairs
Salary: £60,161 - £71,513 per annum
Location: York/Hybrid
Welcome Letter
Thank you for your interest in the role of Head of Communications and Public Affairs at York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (“the Combined Authority”).
As the first Assistant Director of Communications, I am excited to be recruiting for this role as we continue to build and strengthen our communications function. Having recently achieved Established Status, the Combined Authority is entering a new phase of maturity and influence. We are now looking for an exceptional Head of Communications and Public Affairs who can help us build on this momentum, shape our reputation and ensure our strategic communications and engagement activity supports the ambitious goals we have for York and North Yorkshire.
As a key member of the communications leadership team, you will provide strategic direction across media relations, digital communications, campaigns, stakeholder engagement and public affairs. Acting as my deputy, you will play a central role in ensuring our communications and stakeholder engagement activity not only supports organisational objectives but also strengthens public confidence in the work we deliver on behalf of residents, businesses and partners.
This role offers an opportunity to influence how the Combined Authority presents itself to a wide range of audiences, navigate complex and often high profile issues, and help shape the conversations that matter most to our region. Working closely with the Mayor's Office, senior leaders and external partners, you will bring strategic insight, strong judgement and a clear understanding of the opportunities and challenges that come with operating in a political environment.
I am looking for someone who can combine excellent communications expertise with strong leadership capability. You will be comfortable making decisions in fast moving situations, able to advise confidently at senior level, and committed to developing a high performing team culture. Just as importantly, you will understand the value of building trusted relationships, both within the organisation and across our wider network of stakeholders and partners.
Alongside this, you will be able to take a strategic approach, balancing immediate priorities with long term goals, seeing the bigger picture, and aligning communications activity with the organisation's broader ambitions and direction.
This is a chance to make a genuine impact at an exciting stage in the Combined Authority's journey. You will help shape the future direction of our communications function while contributing to the wider ambition of creating opportunities and improving outcomes for people across York and North Yorkshire.
If you are motivated by the opportunity to shape the future of our organisation and believe you can bring the experience, perspective and leadership we are seeking, I would welcome your application.
If you would like to learn more about the role or our ambitions for the future, please contact the Resourcing Solutions team, who will be happy to arrange an informal discussion.
Chris Burton
Assistant Director of Communications
York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority
About the Role
Salary: £60,161 - £71,513 per annum
Location: York/Hybrid
As Head of Communications and Public Affairs, you will act as Deputy to the Assistant Director of Communications, providing strategic leadership across all aspects of communications and public affairs. You will lead a team of communications managers, oversee high profile campaigns, manage reputational issues, and ensure our communications activity supports the Mayor's priorities and organisational objectives.
Working within a fast paced and politically sensitive environment, you will provide expert advice to senior leaders, build strong relationships across the organisation and with external partners, and develop a clear and compelling narrative for the Combined Authority.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership for the Communications service and deputise for the Assistant Director of Communications.
- Lead the development and delivery of innovative communications, campaigns and public affairs activity that support organisational priorities and Mayoral objectives.
- Develop and implement the organisation's Public Affairs strategy.
- Lead on high profile media relations, reputation management and crisis communications.
- Build strong relationships with the Mayor's Office, senior leaders, partner organisations and stakeholders.
- Ensure high standards of governance, assurance, compliance and value for money across communications activities.
- Lead, inspire and develop managers and teams to deliver excellent results in a complex environment.
- Oversee digital communications platforms, ensuring accessibility, data protection and effective audience engagement.
About You
You will be an experienced communications leader with a successful track record of delivering strategic communications in complex organisations, ideally within local government or another politically focused environment.
You will bring:
- Significant leadership experience within a communications function.
- Expertise in media relations, stakeholder engagement, reputation management and crisis communications.
- The ability to influence and advise senior leaders with confidence and credibility.
- Strong strategic thinking and excellent judgement.
- Experience managing high profile and sensitive issues.
- The ability to build collaborative relationships across organisational and sector boundaries.
- A commitment to integrity, inclusion and public service values.
A degree-level qualification or equivalent experience is essential, alongside evidence of continuing professional development. A professional communications qualification such as CIPR or CIM would be advantageous.
For more information please the job description [pdf. 339kb].
Closing date: Tuesday 13 October (midnight)
Shortlisting date: Thursday 15 October
1:1 Teams Interview date: Tuesday 22 or Wednesday 23 October
Final Interview (in person at West Offices, York): Thursday 5 November
About the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority
The Combined Authority was launched as a new organisation in early 2024. It is a public sector employer with access to powers and funding to unlock transport and housing improvements, boost skills provision and help the economy transition to net zero for York and North Yorkshire. Making the most of the combined strengths of the city region and rural powerhouse, the Combined Authority is a long-term commitment to shaping a brighter future for generations to come. As one of only two combined authorities to incorporate partners in the form of Police, Fire and Crime and the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, plans are in place to harness huge economic opportunity for the region and to raise the living standards for communities to enable the region to make a full contribution to the UK economy. There is a focus on delivery to put the York and North Yorkshire area on the map for regional and national success.
By working for us you will play a part in making positive changes, unlocking investment, supporting business and communities to thrive and creating new and better opportunities for people that live and work here.
Roles within the Combined Authority operate on a hybrid basis. While flexible working is supported, postholders will be expected to attend in-person meetings and partnership activities at our offices in Harrogate, Northallerton, and York, as required by the role and service.
The benefits of working for the Combined Authority include:
- Generous leave entitlement, starting at 28 days plus 8 bank holidays (pro-rota for part time staff)
- Flexible working practices including working from other locations and from home
- Local government pension scheme
- Commitment to staff development and continuous learning
About York and North Yorkshire
We are proud of York’s status as one of the safest and best cities to live in the UK, engaging our 202,000 residents and 7 million visitors to live healthier, happier independent lives.
We are a vibrant, digital city at the heart of Yorkshire - the best of tradition and the modern. With excellent connectivity by road and rail, the neighbouring towns and cities of Leeds, Hull and Harrogate are in easy reach. National Parks and areas of areas outstanding natural beauty are on our doorstep, with their quaint villages and market towns, whilst the Yorkshire coast provides a retreat ideal for sunny days.
We are known for our considerable assets – we have our internationally important heritage, with strong creative industries and a significant cultural offering. We have strengths as a science city, and our digital infrastructure recognises us as the UK’s first Gigabit City. We have a young and highly skilled workforce, and lay claim to world-leading universities and some of the highest performing schools and colleges in the country.
We are ambitious and aim to be a prosperous city for all - where local businesses can thrive and residents have good quality jobs, housing, opportunities and access to quality public services. We celebrate and champion the diversity of our population and encourage everyone to play an active role in the city, so that our vibrant economy and rich communities can make York the acclaimed city it is. We are one of the safest cities in the country and offer some of best available education.
A city of Sanctuary and Human Rights, our community is truly multicultural and diverse. We are the first city in the North of England to set the aspiration to make our city an anti- racist and inclusive one. We are committed to tackling discrimination in all aspects of services that the Council delivers, including public health, in order to have an impact and bring about positive change to our residents.
Our thriving retail and visitor economy welcomes millions of visitors every year. We have been recognised as the ‘foodie centre of the universe’ and our Christmas market is the best in the UK. Our many awards include Sunday Times best place to live, Conde Nast city of best architecture and in 2018 YouGov found that we are the nation’s favourite city. We are friendly, community-spirited, festive and summer-friendly – what’s not to like?
Find out more about working and living in the City of York here It's All York
North Yorkshire is a thriving county that adapts to a changing world and remains a special place to live and work.
North Yorkshire's natural beauty is captured in its three areas of Outstanding Natural Parks, National Nature Reserves, stunning coastlines, scenic rural villages, vibrant cities and market towns. North Yorkshire really is a beautiful, thriving and special place to live and work, rich in heritage and culture.
North Yorkshire features significantly in the ten best places to live in the UK in Halifax Quality of Life Survey. The Quality of Life index aims to quantify where living standards are highest in the UK by ranking local performance across a range of indicators. Local areas featured in the top ten included Richmond, Selby and Malton.
Figures released by the Office for National Statistics bulletin positions North Yorkshire as the safest place in England with extremely low crime rates.
In addition, the county benefits from excellent road and rail links, with easy access via the east coast mainline, the A1(M) and A19. Leeds, York, Newcastle, Durham and Teesside are all easily commutable, and London and Edinburgh are just two hours away by train.
From its lively cities to pretty villages, rolling countryside and grand coastline, North Yorkshire has so much to offer including great employment opportunities for your family members, along with a higher proportion of schools which are good or outstanding compared to national figures.
You can find out more about what North Yorkshire has to offer on the No place like North Yorkshire website North Yorkshire - start planning your visit - VisitNorthYorkshire.com
Contact us and Apply
If you are interested in this fantastic opportunity or would like to discuss the role in more detail, please contact Katherine Brioude Katherine.Brioude@northyorks.gov.uk
To apply please submit one Word document that details a comprehensive CV, including current salary, and a supporting statement outlining your suitability for the role.
Please clearly state which role you are applying for in the email header. Applications should be emailed to Executive.ResourcingSolutions@northyorks.gov.uk. Please do not send PDFs.
It is important that your written application fully addresses the experience criteria as detailed in the person specification.
You should include contact details for at least two referees, one of whom must be your current / most recent employer/engager. If you specifically do not wish referees to be approached without your permission, please indicate this.
We will remove your personal details from your application on receipt to enable anonymised shortlisting, therefore it is important that your application is made using one Word document. Please do not send PDF versions and please make it clear which role you are applying for.
Please ensure that you have included both your work and home telephone contact numbers and e-mail addresses where applicable.
We believe in the importance of inclusion, which is why we are always working towards being a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive employer.
These are politically restricted posts and will require police security vetting.
We will not accept applications nor services from agency suppliers.