6387 - Deputy Head of Communications
Summary
The Wales Office is looking for an ambitious, enthusiastic and experienced communications specialist to be Deputy Head of Communications for the UK Government in Wales.
Context
The Wales Office is the face of the UK Government in Wales and the voice of Wales in Whitehall. Our aim is to show that the UK Government is relevant in Wales and is helping to improve people's lives. We work with UK Government departments to ensure that the UK Government is communicating consistently and with impact in Wales.
The Wales Office and its Ministers have never had a higher profile or a more significant role since devolution and the creation of the Welsh Assembly in 1999. With Brexit, economic growth and strengthening the Union at the heart of the UK Government’s programme, the Secretary of State is the leading political figure in Wales who can influence Whitehall departments and promote UK Government policies in Wales.
Over the past two years, the department has modernised its communications function and now has a much greater focus on external relations, events and strategic communications partnerships as well as digital communications and media relations.
There are communications officers based in both London and Cardiff, and the Deputy Head of Communications would have line management responsibility for the team. The Deputy Head of Communications will be also be expected to play a leadership role across the whole department, inspiring policy officials and others to prioritise communications and external relations.
Our departmental values are Commitment; Collaboration and Quality. These shape how we operate in a challenging, demanding and fast paced environment which requires flexibility, transparency and professionalism.
This is a time limited post, available to candidates on either a fixed term contract or loan/secondment with the possibility of extension. The post is based in Whitehall but the successful candidate will be expected to travel to Wales regularly.
Responsibilities
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Leading delivery of the communications strategy for the UK Government in Wales and line management of members of the communications team.
- Building and maintaining a network of contacts in the media and partner organisations, then using them to promote the work of the UK Government.
- Proactively seeking opportunities to communicate UK Government policy and delivery to target audiences in Wales, including events, visits and media features.
- Building strong relationships with colleagues in UK Government departments and supporting them to communicate with audiences in Wales.
- Advising ministers and senior officials on communications strategies, training them in presentation skills and briefing them ahead of interviews and public speaking events.
- Drafting and editing articles, web stories, press notices and other communications products as well as using digital communications and social media channels to communicate with target audiences.
- Evaluating communications delivery and adapting strategies based on findings.
Skills / Experience
We are looking for a communications specialist with a strong track record in delivery and effective media handling skills. You will have a wide knowledge and understanding of how to exploit the full communications mix.
Evidence that you have delivered imaginative solutions to communications problems and used third parties to help advance narratives is essential.
You will be able to demonstrate that you possess strong news judgement and have a clear understanding of the opportunities and risks of different communications channels and their roles in a communications campaign.
We will also be looking for demonstrable evidence of audience insight and the ability to develop successful external relationships, so that communications are integrated to support policy messages.
Experience of working with politicians and senior policy officials is essential.
You will need to demonstrate your ability to act as an effective deputy to the Head of Communications.
You will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the welsh political and communications landscape. The Wales Office is committed to the Welsh language so an understanding and enthusiasm for communicating in the Welsh language would be a distinct advantage
GCS Competencies
Insight
- Identify implications of Departmental and political priorities and strategy on own area to ensure plans and activities reflect these.
- Actively build and maintain a network of colleagues and contacts to achieve progress on objectives and shared interests.
- Provide robust and deliverable communication advice to ministers and policy colleagues.
- Promote and encourage the early integration of strategic communication and policy development.
- Examine ministerial priorities to identify the role for communication and translate those priorities into measurable communication objectives.
- Ensure communication objectives complement and support policy/ business objectives.
Ideas
- Clarify strategies and plans, giving clear sense of direction and purpose for self and team.
- Confidently engage with stakeholders and colleagues at all levels to generate commitment to goals.
- Review communication strategies to ensure integration across communication channels and identify any gaps.
- Demonstrate robust knowledge of the industry, media and wider communication and marketing landscape. Draw on this expertise to deliver innovative campaign strategies and provide recommendations to ministers and policy colleagues.
Implementation
- Take overall responsibilityfor developing and implementing communication/media strategies and campaigns from the strategic planning stage onwards.
- Develop strong relationships with ministers, policy colleagues and key stakeholders. Build influential networks to enable communication teams to deliver quality solutions.
- Demonstrate excellent written communication skills and set standards for communication. Provide overall editorial control to ensure appropriate content, messaging, tone and consistency in all communication.
- Continuously review and provide quality assurance for communication and media campaigns. Ensure communication strategies represent value for money. Identify and action opportunities for improvements to current activity.
Impact
- Evaluate the effectiveness of communication against objectives. Review lessons learnt and compare with industry best practice to identify areas for improvement for future communication strategies.
- Report on evaluation of communication strategies to ministers and policy teams. Make recommendations and share learning for future communication activity.
- Evaluate impact to shape direction of future media campaigns and lead on the implementation of best practice across the communications team.
- Assess the impact of campaigns across a range of measures including output, out take, outcome and return on investment. Identify recommendations for future campaigns.
Further information
The post is being advertised as a one year Fixed Term contract or loan / secondment.
The application should consist of an up-to-date CV and a covering letter providing evidence of suitability (maximum of two A4 pages).
Working Arrangements and 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.
Civil Service Code
The Civil Service Code, first published in 1996, sets out the core Civil Service values and the standards of behaviour expected of all civil servants in upholding these values.
- Integrity – putting the obligations of public service above personal interests.
- Honesty – being truthful and open.
- Objectivity – basing advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence.
- Impartiality – acting solely according to the merits of the case and serving governments of different political parties equally well.
To review the Civil Service Code visit: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/values
Eligibility
Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.
27/03/2017, 23:55 hours.
Closing Date: 27th March 2017 at 23:55 hours.
If you require any assistance please call 0845 010 3512 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment@noms.gsi.gov.uk
Please quote job reference 6387.
For further information, please contact Allan Ross, Director of Communications (tel: 020 7270 0432) or email allan.ross@walesoffice.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.