13575 - Scotland Office Media Officer (London based)
Background:
We are looking for a motivated and talented Media Officer to join the Scotland Office’s London office. Brexit, Scotland’s economy and constitutional change are rarely off the Scottish front pages, and you’ll be at the heart of how we communicate on these issues.
We are Scotland’s voice in Whitehall and the UK Government’s voice in Scotland. That creates a unique Government communications challenge. We have exciting times ahead – Brexit, continuing to implement the Scotland Act 2016, the 2017 Budget, and celebrating Scotland through its wonderful events and produce.
This is a great job for anyone who is ready to build their career. You will be part of a small, busy media relations team. The advantage of working in a small team is you will get to do far more than in many bigger departments – better access to Ministers, more opportunity to create stories, and the chance to deal with the big issues of the day. As a small team we work flexibly, so you will get the chance to work on a range of issues.
You will also become part of the wider Government Communications Service, which offers exceptional professional development and career opportunities.
This role is based in Dover House (66 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2AU) but will involve regular travel to Edinburgh and elsewhere in Scotland.
The job:
You will:
Provide creative and considered communications advice to ministers and policy colleagues.
Create communications products which will engage and inform key audiences through a broad range of media channels.
Work closely with ministers, including on visits and for broadcast interviews.
Build good relationships with journalists in Edinburgh and London, and provide robust rebuttal where needed.
Support digital and campaigns colleagues by creating and sharing digital content to support our news agenda.
Be responsible for supporting the ongoing evaluation of our work.
Be responsible for liaising with No 10 and other departments on the grid.
Take part in the out-of-hours duty rota.
Engage with key partners (including communications colleagues across government) to manage emerging issues and deliver effective communications.
The person:
We are looking for initiative, enthusiasm, energy and resilience. And for someone who will work well as part of a small team, bringing ideas and creativity.
You will have:
Knowledge of the Scottish political and media landscape.
Experience of working in a busy press office, the media or in a news-focused public relations role.
Excellent news judgment.
First class writing skills.
Good face-to-face communication and influencing skills, and the ability to win quickly the confidence of ministers and policy officials.
Creativity and problem-solving skills.
Further information:
Closing date: Thursday 9 November 2017
Interviews likely to be held on: Thursday 15 November 2017 (in London)
Applicants should demonstrate evidence of skills against the core Government Communications Service competencies (insight, ideas, implementation and impact). Further information on the Government Communications Service competencies is here.
Further information about the Scotland Office can be found here.
Working Arrangements & Further Information
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
Flexible working hours
The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices.
Benefits
The MoJ offers a range of benefits:
Annual Leave
Generous allowances for paid holiday starting at 25 days per year, and rising as your service increases. There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
Pension
The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Training
The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
Support
A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
Access to flexible benefits such as salary sacrifice arrangements for childcare vouchers, and voluntary benefits such as retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
Networks
The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity.
There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
09/11/2017, 23:55 hours.
Closing Date: 9th November 2017 at 23:55 hours
For further information contact Linda Martin (0131 244 9023 / 07825 904888 / linda.martin@scotlandoffice.gsi.gov.uk)
To apply for roles in MOJ you will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of application so that pre-employment checks (BPSS) can be undertaken. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why.
For some roles you will be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorism (CTC), Security Clearance (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) level as a condition of appointment. To meet CTC/SC/DV requirements you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3/5/10 years prior to the date of application (The level of checks that are required are stated in the advert).
If you do not meet the above requirements, you may still be considered if, for example:
- You've been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government
- You were studying abroad
- You were living overseas with parents
In such cases you will need to be able to provide referee cover for the period(s) of residence overseas. The duration of overseas residence and the country of abode will also be taken into account.
Candidate Information
You may be required to provide statements describing your skills and experience relevant to each of the selection criteria. We recommend that you structure any examples as Situation, Task, Action and Result. For more information about the recruitment process and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.
Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
In the event of a large number of applications, we reserve the right to undertake the following processes:
- An automated online test where a benchmark must be passed to progress;
- A sift on the lead selection criteria. If this happens, the lead criteria will be the first one listed in the advert.
During the selection process, you may be asked to undertake an additional assessment (such as written test). If this is applicable you will be notified of this when you are invited to interview.
We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.
Application form stage assessments
Interview stage assessments
A Great Place to Work for Veterans
The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans
Redeployment Interview Scheme
Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.
MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
· UK nationals
· nationals of the Republic of Ireland
· nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
· individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
· Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
This Vacancy is closed to applications.