Communications Officer (Ref: 19632)

Role overview

This role sits at the Royal Courts of Justice in London and supports the Judicial Communications team for judges and magistrates. You will join an experienced, collaborative communications group working in a complex public sector environment where judicial independence and impartiality are central.

The Judicial Office is a distinct organisation that serves the judiciary across England and Wales, with access to wider professional communications support through the Government Communications Service. For applicants already working in the Civil Service, the position may be available as a level transfer or promotion.

About the Judicial Office

The Judicial Office reports to the Lady Chief Justice and was created in 2006 under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 to support the judiciary in protecting the rule of law and delivering justice fairly, promptly and efficiently. It also supports the Senior President of Tribunals, whose remit extends to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The organisation works closely with HM Courts & Tribunals Service, the Ministry of Justice and other government and legal stakeholders. As an arm’s length body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, it operates in a setting where priorities are agreed with senior judiciary and funding is provided by the Ministry of Justice. The office has expanded significantly as its responsibilities have grown.

Programme background

Magistrates play a vital role in the justice system and are key to reducing criminal court backlog. In response to the Independent Review of Criminal Courts, strengthening the capacity and resilience of magistrates’ courts is a major priority for the judiciary, ministers and the Ministry of Justice Board.

Since most criminal cases begin—and about 95% end—in magistrates’ courts, it is essential to build and maintain a strong, skilled and diverse magistracy. The Magistrates Uplift programme brings together the judiciary, the Ministry of Justice, HMCTS, magistrates and partners such as the Magistrates Association, with the goal of increasing magistrate numbers by 50% to 21,000 by 2028/29.

What the role involves

Reporting to the Senior Communications Manager, you will contribute to internal and external communications activity linked to magistrate recruitment and retention, as well as changes arising from Sir Brian Leveson’s review of criminal courts and any related legislative developments.

The team manages communications for judges and magistrates across multiple channels, including judiciary.uk, the judicial intranet, and a dedicated magistrates recruitment site aimed at the public. You will work closely with the judicial press office and Ministry of Justice colleagues, who have overall responsibility for magistrate recruitment.

You will be expected to bring fresh campaign and content ideas, help put them into practice, and support communications that span all jurisdictions.

Main duties

• Spot opportunities for strategic communications focused on magistrate recruitment and retention, then deliver activity through a mix of internal and external channels.
• Help create and coordinate communications related to proposed judiciary changes linked to the Courts and Tribunals Bill and any later legislation.
• Write, edit and shape engaging content in both written and filmed formats.
• Keep intranet and website content current, accurate and adapted for different audiences.
• Work in partnership with the press office, the wider Judicial Office, HMCTS and Ministry of Justice teams to share messages and broaden audience reach.
• Collaborate with outside suppliers and design agencies when specialist content design or delivery is needed.
• Measure communications activity, review results and use audience insight to improve future engagement.
• Support other team projects and help deliver work across the communications function as needed.
• There may be an opportunity to join an out-of-hours social media rota, with an additional allowance payable for that responsibility.

Selection criteria

This vacancy uses Success Profiles and will assess behaviours, strengths and experience.

The behaviours assessed during selection are:

• Communicating and influencing
• Seeing the big picture
• Delivering at pace
• Making effective decisions

Experience and candidate profile

You should be an experienced communications professional who can work confidently across channels, manage multiple stakeholders and deliver high-profile public sector communications with care and accuracy.

Working arrangements and conditions

This post is based at CTS Royal Courts of Justice, WC2A 2LL.

The role is full-time and based onsite in London.

Successful candidates must complete a criminal record check and meet the required security conditions before appointment.

The recruitment process uses Success Profiles and may include behaviours, strengths and experience. Feedback is only provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Artificial intelligence may be used to support an application, but all examples and statements must be truthful, accurate and drawn from the applicant’s own experience. Using fabricated or copied material may lead to withdrawal from the process and possible disciplinary action for internal candidates.

Benefits and allowances

• Annual salary of £40,014.
• Employer pension contribution of £11,592, with a Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme contribution rate of 28.97%.
• Access to learning and development.
• Flexible working options designed to support work-life balance.
• An inclusive working culture that promotes diversity.
• Annual leave.
• Public holidays.
• Season ticket advance.