Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Digital Engagement Lead
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Bristol, Darlington, London, Manchester, Wolverhampton
Job Summary
We are MHCLG
At the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), we work on things that make a real difference to people’s lives. We have over 3,500 staff who are based in 20 offices across the UK. Whether it's through the homes we live in, the work of local councils, or the communities we’re all part of, our work is central to the political agenda. With ambitious and far-reaching goals this year, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.
The Elections Directorate within MHCLG is responsible for a challenging and dynamic portfolio spanning electoral policy and legislation, research and analysis, electoral security, electoral administration, and digital. The Elections Digital team is responsible for a suite of public- and sector-facing digital services, including Register to Vote and an ambitious programme of work to deliver the government’s manifesto commitments on elections.
We’re looking for a highly experienced Digital Engagement Lead to join the Elections Digital team, providing strategic coordination and oversight of cross-government engagement activities.
This is an exciting opportunity to help enable the successful delivery of a high-profile and ambitious programme of work to transform electoral registration. Successful delivery depends on close collaboration across government, with multiple departments and partner organisations working together to develop new digital solutions, data sharing arrangements and legislative change. The Digital Engagement Lead will work across professions, project teams and government departments to ensure organisational dependencies, governance pathways and stakeholder relationships are understood, managed and escalated appropriately. You’ll be working in a fast-paced, high-profile, agile environment, helping to create the conditions for successful cross-government delivery.
Your work will directly benefit millions of people who use our services each year to participate in elections in the UK. Learn more about our direction and priorities in our strategy for elections (Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections - GOV.UK). You can find the elections blog here: Elections – MHCLG Digital
Find out more about our Digital teams and what they are working on through our MHCLG Digital blog. Please note that MHCLG do not offer visa sponsorship and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of your employment.
Job Description
As a Digital Engagement Lead, you'll:
- Lead the cross-government strategic engagement, communications and stakeholder management activities for the digital work being delivered under the Electoral Resilience and Democratic Engagement Programme
- Build and maintain strong relationships across other government departments and MHCLG teams to support successful programme outcomes
- Support realistic delivery planning by providing visibility of external dependencies, organisational constraints and stakeholder readiness
- Establish structured engagement assessments to understand stakeholder requirements, organisational priorities, governance arrangements and decision-making pathways
- Create and maintain a comprehensive view of cross-government dependencies, identifying risks, constraints and opportunities that may impact delivery outcomes and timelines
- Monitor and report on stakeholder engagement effectiveness, delivery confidence, dependency status and emerging risks, escalating issues where intervention is required
- Identify and remove barriers to collaboration, fostering joined-up working across organisations, services and government functions to deliver better electoral outcomes
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As a Digital Engagement Lead, You'll
- Lead the cross-government strategic engagement, communications and stakeholder management activities for the digital work being delivered under the Electoral Resilience and Democratic Engagement Programme
- Build and maintain strong relationships across other government departments and MHCLG teams to support successful programme outcomes
- Support realistic delivery planning by providing visibility of external dependencies, organisational constraints and stakeholder readiness
- Establish structured engagement assessments to understand stakeholder requirements, organisational priorities, governance arrangements and decision-making pathways
- Create and maintain a comprehensive view of cross-government dependencies, identifying risks, constraints and opportunities that may impact delivery outcomes and timelines
- Monitor and report on stakeholder engagement effectiveness, delivery confidence, dependency status and emerging risks, escalating issues where intervention is required
- Identify and remove barriers to collaboration, fostering joined-up working across organisations, services and government functions to deliver better electoral outcomes
Person specification
As a Digital Engagement Lead, You'll Have
- Significant experience leading complex stakeholder engagement across multiple organisations within government, public sector or similarly complex delivery environments
- Strong understanding of how organisational structures, governance processes and decision-making arrangements influence digital programme and project delivery
- Proven ability to build and maintain trusted and productive relationships with senior stakeholders, including officials from other government departments and partner organisations
- Excellent communication, facilitation and influencing skills, with the ability to challenge constructively, negotiate priorities and achieve consensus across organisational boundaries
- Proven ability to identify, assess and manage strategic dependencies and delivery risks that sit outside direct programme control
- Experience designing and delivering engagement and communications plans that support large-scale and complex digital delivery
- Ability to work autonomously and deliver at pace in complex, high-profile and politically sensitive environments, balancing competing priorities and adapting to changing circumstances
- Experience of working within digital, data and technology environments, with a strong understanding of agile ways of working
Alongside your salary of £60,230, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £17,448 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Childcare Voucher and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.
Artificial intelligence
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. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
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Selection process details
Application and Selection
The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:
- Behaviours
- Experience
- Technical
Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information.
Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link.
Important: Your CV and Cover Letter must be merged into a single document before uploading.
Stage 1: Sift (CV & Cover Letter)
Technical & Experience: Your covering letter should be no more than 1 page referencing how you meet the criteria set out in the job description.
In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead sift question listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview, you do not need to include your lead sift answer on your CV as it will be taken during your application.
Lead Sift Question (Experience): 250 words max - Please describe a situation where you shaped the approach to engaging another government department, or external organisation with complex governance, in support of a digital service or programme. How did you build your understanding of its governance and decision-making arrangements, and use this to ensure engagement was focused appropriately? What was the outcome?
Stage 2: Interview
Behaviours: Communicating and Influencing, Working Together, Seeing the Bigger Picture
Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.*
Candidates will be asked to prepare a 5-10 minute presentation, further details will be provided on invitation to interview.
Sift and Interview Dates
Sifting is envisaged to take place from 1st October 2026.
Interviews are envisaged to take place shortly after and are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.
How We Recruit
Find out everything you need to know before applying here..
Applying
- Sifting
- Interview
- Interview Results & Feedback
- Reserve List
- Near Miss
- Civil Service Grades
- We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer
- Reasonable Adjustments
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How To Apply
What you need to know before applying.
- Security Clearance Requirements
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- Right to Work
- Artificial Intelligence
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- CV Declaration
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- Existing Civil Servants
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