27198 - Press Officers (IOs)
Could you brief a journalist on a complicated topic ten minutes before they go live on air? What are we doing to reform probation, increase judicial confidence in community sentences and stop organised criminals from smuggling contraband into prisons? How would you tell a Government Minister that you disagree with them…and then convince them why? Do offenders get a better deal out of the justice system than their victims?
If these challenges and issues sound exciting rather than terrifying – please apply now to be a Ministry of Justice press officer. You are exactly who we’re looking for.
We want dynamic, hard-working, passionate people to throw themselves into our busy, friendly team.
We are highly-valued by the Secretary of State and Ministers for shaping stories and influencing our department’s work. Our busy policy agenda is never far from the headlines. This includes reforming prisons and probation to improve public safety and reduce re-offending; undertaking the biggest programme of court reform anywhere in the world; and improving the way the justice system treats victims.
About External Communications
You will be part of a team responsible for delivering a high quality 24/7 media relations operation for Ministers, Executive Agencies and senior officials across the department’s brief.
We have teams of press officers on specialist desks taking the initiative and seeking imaginative ways to generate positive, informed media coverage. They are complemented by a planning team liaising with No.10, coordinating announcements and horizon scanning; and a dedicated reactive newsdesk that responds to breaking news stories, manages interview bids and briefs regional, national and specialist journalists on key issues leading the news each day.
There are vacancies across the team, but whichever one you work on you will be welcomed, challenged and given all the support you need to do your job well and develop as a press officer.
Key responsibilities:
You should be comfortable with regular face to face contact with Ministers and special advisors and confidently provide them with media handling advice on announcements, visits and speeches. You will set up and manage media facilities, organise interviews, draft sharp reactive statements and brief journalists in order to generate and influence our coverage.
The exact balance of responsibilities will depend on the role, however, you will be expected to:
- Develop proactive longer-term handling strategies and provide regular media handling advice to the Secretary of State, Ministers, senior officials and colleagues on sensitive, complex and high profile issues.
- Anticipate and spot breaking news to issue swift, robust and appropriate responses.
- Use the full range of channels in promoting our priorities, maximising digital tools and using relevant insight to get the best possible results.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with Ministers, private offices, special advisers, senior officials, journalists, stakeholders and colleagues in other departments.
- Work effectively with the wider press office team and with communications colleagues so that press handling plans are joined up with wider communications strategies.
- Understand departmental and Ministerial priorities so you can communicate key messages clearly, accurately and creatively to media.
You would also contribute to the out-of-hours service, for which overtime is paid.
Skills & Qualifications
Essential Criteria
- You will have a sharp news sense, excellent judgement, strong political savvy and outstanding media skills gained from working in a communications environment.
- The ability to build effective relationships and use them to influence others and negotiate diplomatically is essential.
- You should have the confidence and ability to deal with senior people and challenge them where appropriate.
You will be required to provide evidence that you have the following competencies from the Civil Service Competency Framework:
Engaging People – Collaborating and partnering
Delivering Results – Delivering at pace
Professional Competencies
You are expected to be proficient in each of the Government Communication Service (GCS) competencies to IO level particularly skills and knowledge under the ‘Press and Media’ discipline. The brief summary below is not exhaustive - you should examine the full version on the GCS website.
Communications: Insight
- Understand how to optimise audience reach through a mix of media channels, including news aggregators.
Communications: Ideas
- Work up ideas for stories and case studies that support communication and business/policy objectives.
Communications: Implementation
- Develop and nurture excellent relationships with journalists and contacts (e.g. bloggers) in all forms of media, to improve story placement and check progress.
Communications: Impact
- Conduct media monitoring and evaluation to assess reach to target audiences and delivery of key messages.
Salary, Working Arrangements & Further Information
Salary
For reference salary range for this post is £30,389 - £37,806 plus generous overtime payments for participation in the out of hours rota. Existing civil servants on level transfer will retain their level of pay unless this is lower than the starting salary as per MoJ T&Cs. In all cases, overtime is paid pro rata for out of hours duties.
Flexible working hours
The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. However, the nature of the roles mean these posts are not suitable for reduced hours. Like most government press offices, our roles mean working hours can be unpredictable at times. You will be expected to take part in the out of hours duty rota, which is rewarded through generous overtime payments.
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.
06/08/2019, 23:55 hours.
If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Raymond (CID Business Office). Email address: Jennifer.Raymond@justice.gov.uk
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
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.