27852 - Corporate Communications Manager

£30,531 - £46,888 salary dependent on location
1
12 Months
London, North West
London, Manchester
102 PETTY FRANCE (MOJ) LONDON, SW1H 9AJ, MANCHESTER CIVIL JUSTICE CENTRE MANCHESTER, M3 3FX
SEO
B
Permanent
Full Time, Flexible Working
Communications / Marketing

Overview

We are recruiting for a Corporate Communications Manager to join HM Inspectorate of Probation’s Communications Team.

The successful candidate will work on a range of corporate communications issues including leading on writing key corporate documents (e.g. Annual Report) and speeches. They will manage or work with team members on communications projects that will further our corporate reputation (e.g. revising and developing new content for our website). In addition, they will work with the Head of Communications on media tasks including writing press releases and assisting with day-to-day media enquiries.

The successful candidate will report to the Head of Communications and work alongside four other team members. We have a positive culture, including a commitment to individual and team learning and development. We strive to give our best every day and to reflect the Inspectorate’s values: working with integrity, being accountable, being effective, and being inclusive.

HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of youth offending and probation services in England and Wales. We report on the effectiveness of these services and publish inspection reports. We highlight good and poor practice, and use our data and information to encourage high-quality services. We are independent of government, and speak independently. Find out more about us at: www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation

Key requirements of the role

  • lead on writing corporate communications such as Annual Report and website content
  • work closely with the Chief Inspector to draft speeches and personal statements
  • support the Head of Communications with media activity such as writing and distributing press releases, setting up press conferences and media interviews, and assisting with day-to-day enquiries
  • contribute to a planning grid with key events, speeches etc and horizon scan for emerging issues that could affect the Inspectorate’s work/reputation
  • work with/manage team members on specific communications projects to improve our corporate reputation. Examples could include developing new content for our website or improving the way we communicate with probation and youth offending services about our inspections
  • contribute to the team’s evaluation and continual learning
  • deputise for the Head of Communications, as required.

Person Specification - Success Profiles

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 and ensure 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.

Working together

Encourage joined-up team work within own team and across other groups. Establish professional relationships with a range of stakeholders. Collaborate with these to share information, resources and support. Invest time to develop a common focus and genuine positive team spirit where colleagues feel valued and respect one another. Put in place support for the wellbeing of individuals within the team, including consideration of your own needs. Make it clear to all team members that bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable. Actively seek and consider input of people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Delivering at pace

Show a positive approach to keeping the whole team’s efforts focused on the top priorities. Promote a culture of following the appropriate procedures to ensure results are achieved on time whilst still enabling innovation. Ensure the most appropriate resources are available for colleagues to use to do their job effectively. Regularly monitor your own and team’s work against milestones ensuring individual needs are considered when setting tasks. Act promptly to reassess workloads and priorities when there are conflicting demands to maintain performance. Allow individuals the space and authority to meet objectives, providing additional support where necessary, whilst keeping overall responsibility.

GCS impact

Contribute to the overall evaluation approach for the Communications Team, using relevant tools and guidance. Analyse evidence, including media coverage and digital communications, to assess effectiveness of communication and identify lessons learned. Contribute to dashboards to support timely, effective evaluation.

In addition, for the post with line management responsibilities:

Identify who and what is required to ensure success, set clear goals and areas of responsibility and continually assess workloads considering individual needs. Ensure that colleagues are supported where tasks are challenging.

Ability

Ability to write, edit and proofread copy to a high standard. You must be able to write in plain English, pay close attention to detail and ensure the accuracy of your work - Essential

Experience

Experience of working with stakeholders including influencing/negotiating with senior managers - Desirable

Experience of any media handling e.g. writing press releases, taking phone calls from journalists etc. Full training will be given. - Desirable

Strengths

Explainer

You communicate thoughts and ideas, verbally or in writing. You simplify complexities and adapt communication so others can understand.

Influencer

You influence others, you articulate the rationale to gain their agreement.

Adaptable

You can adapt to variations in work or environment and your effectiveness isn’t impacted by change. You are flexible and versatile and act as an advocate for change.

Responsible

You take ownership for your decisions and hold yourself accountable for what you have promised to deliver.

Team player

You work well as part of a team and strive to ensure the team pulls together and is effective.

Selection Process

Application form

Behaviours and Experience

Assessment

Interview – written exercise (1 hour)

Assessment

Interview – presentation (approx. 15 mins including questions)

Experience + GCS impact

Assessment

Interview (approx. 30 mins including introductions)

Strengths

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 voluntary benefits,retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers
  • 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.

Eligibility

Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.

Expected: Week Commencing 26th August 2019

05/08/2019, 23:55 hours.

If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@sscl.gse.gov.uk Please quote the job reference - 27852.

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.

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

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

Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing - word limit
Working Together - word limit
Delivering at Pace - word limit
Managing a Quality Service - word limit
Experience
Statement of Suitability - 250 word limit

Interview stage assessments

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.
Strengths may also be assessed at interview but these are not shared in advance.
Additional Assessment(s)
Presentation
Written Exercise

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.