Matt Dolman

T: 07969 089 078 | E: matt_dolman@hotmail.co.uk | linkedin.com/in/matt-dolman | @MattDolman

Proactive, efficient, and empathetic communications professional with significant experience delivering multi-channel communications activity and providing strategic counsel.

Expert in designing, delivering, and evaluating strategies to foster policy and behaviour change. Skilled in building and leading diverse hybrid teams and forming cross-department

alliances to deliver multiple projects under tight deadlines.

Core Skills

 Communications Strategy  Relationship Building  Team Leadership

 Campaign Planning  Stakeholder Engagement  Training & Coaching

 Project Management  Measurement & Evaluation  Mental Health First-Aid

Professional Experience

Head of Strategic Communications, Housing and Building Safety | Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities | March 2023 - present

I lead communications planning and campaign delivery on major political and legislative priorities including social housing, rental and leasehold reform, and the building safety crisis.

I am part of the senior management team for the campaigns, marketing and insight division, leading a high-performing team of four including two direct reports.
 Developing an ambitious multi-channel communications and marketing campaign to promote new rights and responsibilities arising from the long-term plan for housing.

 Lead engagement and relationship-building with major stakeholders in the housing and building safety sectors.

 Oversee ‘Make Things Right’, DLUHC’s five-year, multimillion pound campaign to help social housing residents to understand their rights, access support, and escalate

complaints to the Ombudsman.

 Responsible for communications strategy on the Renters (Reform) Bill and Home Ownership Bill, working with senior officials and political teams to foster support and rebut

false narratives.
 Lead on communications for building safety and the response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, negotiating a complex network of sensitive community engagement and legal

action.
 Directorate lead for mental first aid and psychological safety, working with the senior leadership team to improve team culture and wellbeing.

Deputy Head of Strategic Campaigns | Department for Business and Trade | August 2022 - March 2023

Leading business-facing communications in DBT’s communications and marketing directorate to enable businesses to take advantage of trade deals and newly removed barriers to

international markets.
 Led communication planning for priority announcements and campaigns, convening and leading matrix teams to deliver integrated, insight-led communications campaigns.

 Pioneered use of audience segmentation to target UK and international communications activity, delivering across the full mix of communications channels.

 Managed design and production of marketing collateral and social media assets to enable businesses to take advantage of trade deals, based on behavioural insight into barriers

and motivators.
 Established a peer support network for DBT civil servants in communications and marketing.

Head of Communications, GCS Flex | Cabinet Office | October 2019 - July 2022

I helped lead the Government Communication Service (GCS) Flex Team, a group of communications consultants embedded into departments on priority projects and campaigns. I

was promoted from Senior Communications Manager in February 2021.

 Led planning, implementation, and evaluation of all vaccine communications at DHSC and the Vaccine Taskforce (VTF), convening matrix groups with partner organisations and

policy/clinical experts to deliver the largest public information campaign since WWII.
 Advised senior civil servants, special advisers and ministers on strategy and communications during the pandemic, counselling on long-term planning and reacting to emerging

risks and opportunities.

 Built and leveraged relationships with diverse stakeholders including multinational and UK businesses, public sector bodies and NGOs, and people with lived experience of Covid-

19.
 Led Home Office media relations on Afghan resettlement, leading a small team of press officers.

 Led on wellbeing, culture, and internal communications for GCS Flex and managed a high-performing Senior Communications Manager.

Media Officer | Centre for Ageing Better | March 2018 - October 2019

I led media relations and campaign delivery at a research-led charity. I grew national and trade coverage by 33% apiece year-on-year and increased the volume and quality of the

comment pieces we placed. I also managed media assistants and provided spokesperson, writing, and presentation training to staff.

Senior Account Executive | Madano | September 2015 - March 2018

Matt Dolman
T: 07969 089 078 | E: matt_dolman@hotmail.co.uk | linkedin.com/in/matt-dolman | @MattDolman

I managed PR, corporate communications, and public affairs at a consultancy, with clients in low-carbon energy, transport, and infrastructure. I was promoted from Account

Executive in January 2017.

Constituency Organiser and Parliamentary Assistant | Mike Thornton MP | November 2014 - July 2015

I delivered an integrated communications campaign, recruiting and training a team of more than 50 volunteers and activists. My role included media relations, stakeholder

engagement and content generation, along with producing 750,000 leaflets.

Voluntary Experience

Co-Chair | GCS Strategic Communications Network | May 2023 - present

Founder and Chair | GCS Wellbeing Group | October 2020 - October 2021

Mentor | GCS and PRCA | July 2020 - present

Selected Training

Topic Provider Date

 Project Magpie: Crisis Response Communications GCS / NCSC Sep 2023

 Digital Marketing in Practice Chartered Institute of Marketing Apr 2023

 Video for Digital Communications GCS Nov 2022

 Advanced Strategic Communications GCS Jul 2022

 Advanced Behavioural Science for Communicators GCS Mar 2022

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 Presenting with Impact The 100 Monkey Nov 2020

 Project Management for Communicators GCS Jul 2020

 Practical Approach to Insight, Planning & Evaluation GCS Dec 2019

 Language of Leadership: effective speechwriting Bespoke Speeches Jan 2019

 Media Training for TV and Radio Forster Communications Sep 2018

Education

MA Public Policy | Pass with Merit | King’s College London | September 2012 - September 2013

BA Politics | 2,1 | Keele University | September 2009 - June 2012