22243 - Head of External Communications, Office of the Public Guardian (Ministry of Justice)

£42,879 - £69,659
1
12 Months
East Midlands, London, West Midlands
Birmingham , London, Nottingham
102 PETTY FRANCE LONDON, SW1H 9AJ, NOTTINGHAM OPG NOTTINGHAM, NG2 1AR, THE AXIS BIRMINGHAM, B1 1TG
Grade 7, Grade 6
A
Permanent
Full Time
Communications / Marketing

Are you a highly motivated and proactive communications professional, with the skills and experience to lead a team to high performance? Are you passionate about the role communications can play in continuing the build the reputation of a successful organisation? This role gives you the opportunity to be part of a thriving communications team, working to the high standards set out by the Government Communication Service (GCS). You will be someone who is looking for a challenging and rewarding role, where you can bring your influencing skills, creativity and focus on performance.

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) protects people in England and Wales who may not have the mental capacity to make certain decisions for themselves, such as about their health and finance. OPG is an executive agency, sponsored by the Ministry of Justice. OPG employs over 1,300 people across offices in Birmingham, Nottingham and London.

OPG Communications is part of the wider Ministry of Justice Corporate Communications team.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is a major government department, at the heart of the justice system. Our vision is to deliver a world-class justice system that works for everyone in society. Our four strategic priorities to deliver our vision are:

  • A prison and probation service that reforms offenders
  • A modern courts and justice system
  • A Global Britain that promotes the rule of law
  • A transformed department

The organisation works together to bring the principles of justice to life for everyone in society. From our civil courts, tribunals and family law hearings, to criminal justice, prison and probation services. From seeing to it that sentences are served and offenders are encouraged to turn their lives around and become law-abiding citizens, keeping the public safe. From safeguarding victims and the vulnerable to regulating our legal services. We believe the principles of justice are pivotal and we are steadfast in our shared commitment to uphold them.

Job profile

You will lead the External Communications Team, which provides OPG with advice on external communications strategies to help deliver OPG’s priorities. You will lead the delivery of the OPG external communications strategy, encompassing campaigns, external affairs and social media. You will advise staff at all levels of external communications handling and advice on external communication channels. You will also work closely with the MoJ Press Office to ensure the OPG is represented fairly in all media coverage. This role is varied and challenging, requiring leadership and strong organisational skills as well as a capacity for adaptable working. The ability to deliver high quality work to tight deadlines is vital.

The post holder will:

  • Develop and lead an OPG external communications strategy and lead long term planning for OPG communications activity to support delivery of OPG’s Strategy
  • Lead campaigns, strategic communications and external affairs, working closely with the OPG leadership, OPG customer relationship management team, central MOJ Campaigns and Strategic Communications teams
  • Oversee the development and delivery of targeted campaigns to support delivery of the strategy
  • Build strong relationships with OPG leaders and external stakeholders. Provide communications advice to senior officials on communications and campaigns approaches and opportunities.
  • Ensure that all OPG campaigns are based on audience insight and undertake research as needed and where budget permits. Drive innovation in the use of low-cost campaigning techniques using insight from other sectors
  • Develop positive and productive relationships, with external stakeholders and partners. You will lead a programme of external affairs, to build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders, working closely with the Customer Relationship Management team.
  • Working closely with OPG and wider MOJ communications on policy changes and policy announcements
  • Continually seek new ways to engage our audiences, based on insight and informed by GCS best practice
  • Line manage the OPG external communications team of six people.

Some travel to London will be required

Core competencies:

  • Communications - Insight: Core
  • Communications - Ideas: Core
  • Communications - Implementation: Core
  • Communications - Impact: Core

Civil Service competencies

  • Delivering at Pace
  • Seeing the Big Picture

For full details on the competencies please see:

GCS competency framework

Civil Service competency framework

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.

To be confirmed

23/11/2018, 23:55 hours.

Closing Date: 23rd November 2018 at 23:55 hours


If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or email moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@sscl.gse.gov.uk Please quote the job reference 22243

If you require any assistance please email sara.vogt@justice.gov.uk .

Security Clearance (SC)

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.



if you feel that your application has not been treated in line with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance
Comms - Ideas: Core
Comms - Impact: Core
Comms - Implementation: Core
Comms - Insight: Core
Seeing the Big Picture
Delivering at Pace

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

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.

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.