Job Title

Location: Essex Police HQ, or other locations in Essex as required. This position necessitates office-based attendance, with local and national travel, to perform the duties as required. Starting Salary: Competitive salary based on Assistant Chief Officer (ACO) banding. Contract Type: Police Staff Permanent Closing Date: 17:00 Thursday 30th April 2026 Essex Police is seeking an exceptional communications leader to join our Chief Officer Group as Director of External Affairs and Corporate Communications. This rare opportunity within one of the UKs largest police forces brings communities and businesses together to prevent and detect crime, build trust, and make Greater Essex safer. About The Role As a member of the Chief Officer Group (Executive Board), you will lead the development and delivery of Essex Polices external affairs, corporate communications, and marketing strategies. You will shape how we engage with the public, partners, and stakeholders locally, regionally, and nationally. This role is more than leading a high-performing public affairs and corporate communications function. It will unite people and organisations to reduce crime, respond to critical incidents, keep the public informed and safe, and build a strong workforce and volunteer network of over 6,000 individuals who protect and serve the entire county. You will provide strategic advice at the highest level, lead through critical incidents, and represent the Force across multi-agency partnerships and national forums so that emergency services, local government and private businesses work together to make everyone safer. As Head of Profession for external affairs and communications you will set standards, drive innovation, and inspire our teams to deliver excellence across all communications and public affairs activity. You will ensure that people and businesses across Greater Essex know how to avoid becoming a victim of crime, how to contact or work with police officers and staff for help or advice, and most importantly, help make the county a great place to live and a bad place to commit crime. What We Are Looking For Extensive executive-level experience in external affairs, communications, media relations, marketing, employee engagement, and stakeholder engagement. A proven track record of operating at board level in large, complex organisations in the private, public or third sector. Strategic expertise in managing reputational risk, building trust and long-term brand development to support recruitment of the very best people and the creation of effective crime prevention campaigns. Political acumen and the ability to build effective relationships across agencies and sectors. Experience of leading high-performing teams and embedding long-term planning into a large-scale communications function. Exceptional communication and negotiation skills, with a personal ethos of transparency, integrity, and professionalism. Prior experience in policing is not essential, but the ability to understand and navigate the public sector and landscape is. Why Essex Police Essex Police is a values-led organisation committed to innovation, inclusion, and public service. We offer a unique opportunity to lead at the highest level, influence public trust and confidence, and make a tangible difference to the communities we serve. You will be joining a collaborative and forward-thinking executive team, with the autonomy to shape strategy and the support to deliver it. Crime is falling in Greater Essex; this is your chance to join our officers, police staff and volunteers to make a fast-growing region an even safer place to work, study, travel through, or live in. #J-18808-Ljbffr