74893 - Communications Manager at the Office of the Victims’ Commissioner
We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.
Communications Manager at the Office of the Victims’ Commissioner
Background
The Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales is a powerful and independent voice for victims. Their office is dedicated to improving how the criminal justice system works for all victims and witnesses.
The role of the Victims’ Commissioner is to:
• Raise awareness of the common issues faced by victims and witnesses
• Monitor how criminal justice agencies and victim support agencies comply with the Victims’ Code and Witness Charter
• Use their independent voice to influence national policymaking and hold partner agencies to account
• Speak up about what works best for victims and witnesses, and especially the most vulnerable.
While the Victims’ Commissioner does not presently hold many statutory powers, they do occupy a privileged position in the media and public debate and are able to use their voice to hold criminal justice agencies and the government to account. Through work in the media, the Victims’ Commissioner is able to speak up for victims, highlight inequality of treatment and the needs of vulnerable victims, speak to the victim’s experience of the criminal justice system and advocate for change.
Introduction and Job Summary
We’re looking for a talented, high-performing communicator with a proven track record of working in high-profile and fast-moving environments. We want an insightful, highly motivated individual with excellent political and news judgement who can throw themselves into our small, busy and friendly team.
A dynamic and creative person, you will help shape the way the Victims’ Commissioner communicates with external audiences. You will work on high-profile issues that change people’s lives, using your initiative and natural people skills to build relationships with journalists, media organisations and stakeholders who can reach the public and decision-makers to help affect change.
The role is ideally suited to someone who has experience of working across multiple communications disciplines, demonstrating excellent judgment, clear strategic thinking, and an interest in how the criminal justice system and victims’ issues are understood and talked about outside of policy circles.
As Communications Manager, you will lead on multi-channel communication planning and delivery, working closely with policy and research colleagues and reporting to the Head of Communications. You will be expected to craft first-class messaging and written content on behalf of the Victims’ Commissioner. You will draft statements, articles and press releases, organise interviews, and brief journalists in order to generate and influence the news agenda and meet strategic aims.
You will have regular contact with the Victims’ Commissioner, and you should be able to confidently provide them with media-handling advice on announcements, visits and speeches and align these to the wider Communications Strategy.
Main responsibilities
• Support the Head of Communications in developing strategies to promote the work and priorities of the Victims’ Commissioner across multiple channels, including press and media, digital platforms and stakeholder communications - using relevant insight to get the best possible results.
• Understand and get to grips with the Victims’ Commissioner’s priorities so you can communicate key messages clearly, accurately, and creatively to external audiences.
• Horizon scan for communications opportunities and identify and anticipate emerging stories and mitigate against any perceived risks.
• Develop handling strategies and provide regular media handling advice on policy briefs to the Senior Leadership Team and wider team.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with journalists, stakeholders, and government departments.
• Advise the Victims’ Commissioner and their team on strategic communications approaches in line with the Victims’ Commissioner’s overall Communications Strategy.
• Act independently on day-to-day issues and use own discretion to make decisions based on consideration of the issues and the use of judgement where issues fall outside of available guidance and where there is no precedent to follow.
Skills, experience and attributes
Essential
• A talented communicator, able to persuade and influence senior grades and stakeholders on complex and contentious issues and attracted by a role you can make your own.
• Able to quickly research and analyse complex and technical policy issues and translate and evaluate these for different audiences across a wide range of written material, such as statements, articles and press releases.
• Experience of developing innovative, multi-channel communications plans, and able to present, explain and defend your proposals to higher grades.
• Excellent writing, presentation, and interpersonal skills - able to effectively advise, guide, influence and persuade those within and outside of the organisation.
• Strong social media skills, including experience of developing innovative digital content and managing social media campaigns.
• Strong analytical skills – including effective use of insight and evaluation.
• Excellent political awareness and judgement - alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact or benefit our work and able to formulate proposals for senior grades, including the Victims’ Commissioner.
• An enthusiastic team player with proactive and collaborative attitude, confident in a fast-paced environment and willing to adapt and learn.
Application process
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement of suitability. Your statement of suitability should be between 500 and 750 words, explaining why you are interested in the role and how your experience makes you the best candidate. Please illustrate using examples how you meet the behaviours and technical skills below. For the two behaviours, these can include relevant activities outside of the workplace.
Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing
• Communicate in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner, choosing appropriate styles to maximise understanding and impact. Encourage the use of different communication methods, including digital resources and highlight the benefits, including ensuring cost effectiveness. Ensure communication has a clear purpose and takes into account people’s individual needs. Share information as appropriate and check understanding. Show positivity and enthusiasm towards work, encouraging others to do the same. Ensure that important messages are communicated with colleagues and stakeholders respectfully, taking into consideration the diversity of interests.
Seeing the Bigger Picture
• Understand the strategic drivers for your area of work. Align activities to contribute to wider organisational priorities. Remain alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact your work area. Seek out and share experiences to develop knowledge of the team’s business area. Understand how the strategies and activities of the team create value and meet the diverse needs of all stakeholders.
Technical skills
• Insight - Review communication and media plans to ensure activities reflect policy developments and the emerging news agenda
• Ideas - Initiate and lead the development of both reactive and proactive, integrated media campaigns that build on insight and tracking data. Work constructively with policy colleagues and partners to gain expert opinions.
• Implementation - Handle high-profile and sensitive media issues. Adhere to confidentiality and provide a clear, trusted brief to media and other partners. Demonstrate strong editing skills to ensure quality and timely press releases, rebuttals and lines to take in response to developing stories.
• Impact - Analyse media monitoring results to assess the effectiveness of media strategies and inform future proactive and reactive media campaigns.
More details on these can be found in the Government Communication Professional Competency (Technical Skills) Framework (PDF).
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.
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
Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.
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.
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.
Eligibility
Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.
Support
- A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
- Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
- For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
- Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
- Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order
- To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);
- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.
You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.
We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.
05/06/2023, 23:55 hours.
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.
Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance.
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.