Director of External Communications

Job title: Director of External Communications
Location: Hybrid working – Birmingham office at least 1 day per week
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week)
Salary: £90,000 per annum
Grade: 15 (Senior Civil Service 1 equivalent)
Job Req: EXE10

This is one of the most influential communications leadership roles in UK regulation.

As Director of Communications at the Gambling Commission, you will be responsible for shaping how one of the UK’s most visible public bodies communicates with consumers, government, industry, media and stakeholders. Your work will directly influence public understanding, strengthen trust, and support our mission to make gambling safer, fairer and crime-free.

Reporting into the Executive Team and acting as a trusted adviser to the CEO, you will lead the strategic narrative of an organisation that sits at the centre of important national conversations around consumer protection, regulation, technology and social responsibility.

This is an opportunity to build and lead a modern, insight-driven communications function that delivers real impact across media relations, digital engagement, public affairs, stakeholder engagement and reputation management.

If you’re an ambitious communications leader who thrives in high-profile environments and wants to make a genuine difference to society, we’d love to hear from you.

Why this role matters

The Gambling Commission plays a critical role in protecting the public and ensuring gambling is conducted fairly, openly and safely across Great Britain. The decisions we make attract significant public, political and media interest. Effective communication is therefore fundamental to our success.

As Director of Communications, you will help shape national understanding of our work, build confidence in our regulatory approach and ensure our voice is trusted, authoritative and influential.

This is a unique opportunity to lead the Commission’s communications function, partnering with the CEO and Executive Committee to shape public understanding, influence key stakeholders and strengthen trust in an organisation that serves millions across Great Britain.

Our offer to you:

- Civil Service Pension, with 28.97% employer contribution. Click for more information
- 26 days’ holiday, rising to 29 days after two years’ service (pro rata)
- Holiday purchase scheme (option to buy up to five extra days annual leave)
- Flexible working & family friendly policies
- Ergonomic, fully accessible office, very close to Birmingham New Street Station
- Open, collaborative and people-focused culture

Your responsibilities:

- Lead the Commission’s external communications strategy, including media, social and public campaigns
- Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Executive Committee, shaping narrative and public positioning
- Serve as a senior spokesperson, building strong relationships with national and regional media
- Develop and deliver integrated communications programmes aligned to organisational priorities
- Partner with senior leaders and cross-functional teams to embed communications into planning and delivery
- Oversee public affairs and stakeholder engagement strategies
- Lead, inspire and develop a high-performing communications and public affairs team
- Champion data-driven communications, using insight, digital tools and innovation to maximise impact
- Manage budgets, external agencies and resources to deliver value for money

What we’re looking for:

Essential criteria:

- Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills as a trusted adviser with diverse stakeholders internally and externally, including at Board, C-suite and ministerial (or equivalent) level. You have experience advising and influencing at the most senior levels with political acumen and emotional intelligence
- Demonstrable experience of audience-led, insight-driven campaigns. You understand segmentation, targeting and positioning. You have proven success developing multi-channel campaigns and creative content strategies with clear evaluation metrics and measurable impact, including large-scale behaviour-change or trust-building campaigns
- Strong media handling experience, including acting as a spokesperson
- Proven ability to lead high-performing teams with a focus on building inclusive, future-focused cultures

Desirable criteria:

- Experience working in complex, regulated or public sector environments
- Strong understanding of data-led communications and evaluation methodologies
- Experience working with national, regional and trade media
- Knowledge of the gambling sector or similar regulatory landscape

Your application:

We value diversity in our workplace and are committed to a culture where each individual is engaged and feels that their contribution is valued and respected. We welcome all applications from candidates who meet the minimum requirements for the role.

To apply for this position, please see the Gambling Commission careers website.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

The selection process for this vacancy will comprise an in-person interview consisting of competency, situational and technical questions supplemented with a press media style exercise. To prepare for your interview, please familiarise yourself with the STAR technique for answering interview questions.

The closing date for this role is midnight on 28th June 2026.

Interviews are expected to be held at Victoria Square House, Birmingham, B2 4BP on 15th July 2026.

We are committed to creating an inclusive recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you during the application or interview process, please let us know. We will work with you to ensure you can participate fully and fairly