The Cabinet Office has launched a recruitment drive to find a new director for the government’s flagship GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland marketing campaign and is offering up to £130,000 a year for the successful candidate.
Former director of communications at the Northern Ireland Office Andy Pike has held the role since October 2021 and is due to be a member of the recruitment panel selecting the new director, along with Conrad Bird, director of cross-government campaigns and marketing at the Cabinet Office.
Bird describes the GREAT campaign as the government’s “most ambitious and successful international communications campaign ever” in the application pack for the job. He adds that an “exceptional” individual is required.
“The GREAT campaign showcases the very best our nation has to offer, in order to encourage the world to visit, study, do business and live in the UK,” he said.
“Our multi award-winning campaign has drawn together the efforts of 22 government departments and public bodies, and the support of over 500 businesses and high-profile ambassadors to generate over £5bn in return on investment.”
Bird said the successful candidate would be “leading from the front” and demonstrating their “creativity and passion” along with their experience of running large-scale, integrated campaigns and exercising “considerable influencing and stakeholder-management skills”.
The person specification for the SCS Band 2 director role says the influencing skills required could range from cabinet ministers within government to top-flight executives in the private sector. It also specifies an ability to “navigate complex environments” and deliver through “effective and collaborative partnerships across organisational boundaries”.
Key responsibilities include maintaining and generating “significant new partnerships” with the private sector; harnessing communications technology to innovate with more effective campaigns; and working with the Government Communication Service to attract new comms talent.
According to the job advertisement, the role can be based in Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester or York. However applicants are warned that frequent presence in London will be required, often at short notice.
Consultancy Gatenby Sanderson is handling the recruitment campaign. The deadline for applications is 11.55pm on September 10.