Job Title: National Police Chiefs' Council - Senior Communications Lead – Hydrant Programme
Salary: The starting salary is £56,911.
The salary is broken down as £56,911 basic salary, which will increase annually until you reach the top of the scale £69,342. There are no location allowances.
Location: Remote working nationally within UK. The Hydrant Programme is currently based at Moss Way Police Station, Moss Way, Sheffield, S20 7XX. As such, occasional travel to this location will be required. In addition, travel may be necessary to the NPCC office, currently situated near St James's Park Underground Station in London, as well as to other police premises across the UK.
We encourage applications from candidates living across the UK. Further details on flexible arrangements will be discussed at interview stage.
Contract – Fixed Term Contract until 31/03/2026 (with the potential for further extension subject to funding and performance).
THE NATIONAL POLICE CHIEFS’ COUNCIL (NPCC)
Policing is operating in a time of global change and uncertainty, the public and our staff need a service which is responsive, able to tackle future challenges and embrace opportunity.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) brings UK police leaders together to set direction in policing and drive progress for the public.
We achieve this through:
- Coordination – by joining up the operational response to critical national policing issues to deliver policing today and shape the future.
- Collaboration – by working in partnership as part of the whole policing system and beyond to improve public safety.
- Communication – by sharing the collective expertise, views and action of UK police chiefs.
NPCC HYDRANT PROGRAMME
The Hydrant Programme is a national policing programme supporting the work of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Child Protection and Abuse Investigation Working Group. Originally established in 2014 to coordinate the response to non-recent child sexual abuse but now supporting forces across all child protection and abuse investigation issues.
Hydrant develops policy and strategy on behalf of the NPCC, develops and delivers best practice advice including a learning, review and improvement function, provides a strategic analysis capability and partnership engagement with key stakeholders and partners.
THE ROLE
The successful candidate would need to have the following experiences and skills:
- Experience of leading, motivating and managing a corporate communications team in a fast-paced, pressurised, and high-profile organisation.
- Relevant senior experience of leading media handling and providing strategic advice to senior figures on reputational issues, working at pace and under deadline pressure.
- A strong track record of managing, developing, and delivering successful and innovative communications and digital content.
- Experienced line manager with proven ability to develop team capability, and coach, mentor and develop others.
- Highly adept at influencing, problem solving and providing constructive challenge, changing direction of strategies and plans when necessary, including in times of tension and pressure.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - If you join and work for us, you will get access to:
- A competitive salary with yearly increments.
- Support networks, free Employees' Assistance Programme, Occupational Health and wellbeing services.
- Flexitime, with the ability to undertake your hours flexibly and in line with business need.
- Hybrid working, with the ability to work remotely dependent on role.
- Competitive pension scheme.
- Job related equipment supplied
- Specialist equipment supplied, under Occupational Health referral
- Access to the Blue Light Card Scheme for discounts and services (requires a one-off payment of £5).
- Development, coaching and mentoring opportunities available.
- Supportive and flexible onboarding plan, including regular check-ins throughout your initial period of joining us to ensure you are up to speed with the role and getting the support you need.
VETTING
Applicants must hold or be prepared to undergo RV/CTC level before taking up the post.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Please provide a CV and evidence against the following competencies, (350 words maximum per competency) which are based on the knowledge, skills and experience set out in the job description and the competencies in the Competency and Values Framework (CVF). Please note, CV’s will not be assessed within the initial application, answers to the CVF questions alone determine next steps. Once candidates identified for interview has been confirmed, CV’s will then be shared with the appropriate Hiring Manager.
- We are collaborative, Level 3 - Describe a time when you had to work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders (e.g., senior police officers, government departments) to deliver a communications strategy. How did you ensure alignment and manage conflicting priorities?
- We deliver, support and inspire, Level 3 - Tell us about a time you led a team through a complex communications challenge under tight deadlines. How did you keep the team motivated and ensure quality delivery?
- We are emotionally aware, Level 3 - Describe a time when you supported a colleague who was under significant stress. What did you do to help them maintain performance?
Should you want to know more about the role, we would strongly encourage you contact hr-recruitment@npcc.police.uk to arrange an informal conversation.
- Please do not attach 2 copies of your CV.
REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS
With all recruitment processes, we support reasonable adjustments. This aligns with the Equality Act 2010 and reflects best practice in inclusive recruitment. Please let us know in advance so we can support you appropriately. See the following examples of adjustments recommended by Optima Medical Team for prior candidates.
- Assistive technology e.g. transcription software
- Advance access to interview questions
- Extra time for assessments and interviews
IMPORTANT NOTICE FAIR RECRUITMENT COMMITMENT / INTERVIEW CONDUCT
We recognise that AI can be a helpful tool in the preparation phase of the application process. Candidates may use AI to help structure their thoughts and refine their CVs providing the content remains truthful and accurately reflects their own experiences and capabilities.
Should you require assistive technology as part of a reasonable adjustment (e.g. transcription software), please let us know in advance so we can support you appropriately.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Occasional national travel may be required. Travel expenses will be paid if location allowance is not being received, or when travel falls outside of the home to work journey. NPCC will pay for overnight accommodation if required.
The Metropolitan Police manage HR for NPCC recruitment.
Completed applications must be submitted by 23:55 on 4th January 2026.
Once received, your application will be reviewed against eligibility criteria, following this, your application will be reviewed by the hiring manager. The application review for this vacancy will commence on 5th January 2026.
Following application review, successful candidates will be invited to interview. Interview dates will commence on 14th January 2026
This role is open to external candidates as a fixed term contract.
