Robert Hall, director of communications for the UK Home Office, has announced he is leaving his job after accepting a new role “outside of government”.
Hall has been in the position for over four years having been promoted from deputy director in October 2021, under then home secretary Priti Patel.
When announcing his decision on LinkedIn last week, he said: “It’s been a privilege to support home secretaries, ministers and their teams as Home Office communications director over the last four and a half years, working with talented, committed and inspiring colleagues across government and beyond.”
Hall led teams of media, internal, digital, strategic, marketing and insight communications specialists working on the government’s home affairs priorities on crime, migration and security.
Prior to joining the Home Office, he spent two years as comms director for the Northern Ireland Office (July 2015 to June 2017).
“The Home Office, rightly, is never out of the national conversation because the issues matter so much,” Hall stated. “My successor in this brilliant, unique job will inherit an exceptional team of professionals committed to engaging, informing and building trust by connecting policy to people. It has been an honour to lead them.”
As a result of his departure the Home Office has begun looking for a replacement, offering a salary of up to £145,000 per year.
Applications for the role close on Wednesday 25 February, with the long list set to be drawn up on Wednesday 4 March. There will then be a period of preliminary interviews, shortlisting and assessment before a final panel will deliberate on the appointment in the week commencing 6 April.
The job advert states that “as the most senior communications adviser in the organisation, you will provide clear, confident counsel to Ministers and the Permanent Secretary, ensuring communications sits at the heart of policy delivery, reputation management and public confidence”.
It added that the new director will lead a “multi-disciplinary directorate of around 120 professionals”.