40467 - Content and Creative Hub Manager - HM Prison and Youth Custody Service

We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity

Job description  

We are looking for an exceptional communications professional to join the HM Prison and Probation (HMPPS) communications team in the Ministry of Justice. You will manage a creative team to deliver internal communications and contribute to wider team initiatives and campaigns. You will play a vital role in developing and delivering both the Prisons/Youth Custody, and the wider HMPPS, communications strategies. 

Working to the Head of Strategic Planning and Content this role primarily works to articulate the voice of HMPPS through consistent and clear editorial guidance, language, planning, delivery and message management. 

As corporate ‘editor in chief’ the role is responsible for ensuring that all corporate information and content project the organisation’s vision, values and objectives through the production and implementation of a corporate content strategy. 

The role is responsible for creating and delivering a content strategy across all channels that measurably supports business priorities with comprehensive, accurate, current and audience appropriate content that reflects the organisation’s vision, voice and values. 

The post holder leads a team of editorial and visual content creators that together help bring the work of the Agency alive. 

This is a non-operation role, based nationally as part of the HMPPS Communications Group within the Ministry of Justice Communication Team, reporting to the Head of Strategic Planning and Content. 

Key Responsibilities 

• You will articulate the voice of HMPPS and key messages across all of HMPPS corporate communication channels through consistent and clear editorial guidance, planning, delivery and message management, to support corporate Business Plan priorities and Agency reputation
• Social media in terms of the content planning, copywriting and scheduling for HMPPS social media accounts and take part in social media monitoring and evaluation
• Through clear and precise planning, you will ensure the creative hub is able to delivery priority work to agreed time, budget and quality requirements.
• Responsible for the tone and messages of HMPPS content (off and online) which is suitably tailored across our range of different audiences and is mindful of political and media interest (hence need for close working relationships with MOJ press office and ministerial offices as appropriate)
• Responsible for creating and maintaining editorial and style guides to reflect and build the language of rehabilitation and reform across all output
• Responsible for the content strategy holding the corporate message memory and planning across channels in collaboration with the Digital and Channel Manager
• Produces editorial plan for all channels, ensuring content directly supports overall strategic business objectives.
• Works with the Evaluation and Insight Manager to ensure that appropriate measures for content are identified, applied and used.
• Enhances corporate reputation by ensuring HMPPS content receives appropriate coverage through MoJ publications and channels (including online) and HMPPS stakeholder activity
• Responsible for ensuring consistency, coherence and professional standards are applied to all content.
• Acts as Plain English champion ensuring messages and content are demonstrably clear and understood by intended audience.
• Devises quality check of content to ensure standards are maintained and develops skills across the team if needed.
• Creation and ownership of style guidance and equality, race and diversity representation assurance.
• Responsible for corporate core narratives to support strategic objectives and enhance the brand strategy.
• Responsible for style and tone that support and develop the brand, providing guidelines and guidance and advertising policy for publications as appropriate.
• Ensures all content is appropriate for intended audience, using available research (or commissioning if necessary) develops content as appropriate.
• Works with the Evaluation and Insight Manager to put in place effective mechanisms to enable bottom-up content generation and audience testing.
• Responds to feedback and learning from internal evaluation mechanisms by addressing issues in content and guidelines as necessary.
• Ensures delivery and production of corporate reports such as annual report, business plan, how HMPPS works and org charts. Includes liaison with key directorates (e.g. finance) to enable delivery of products to agreed expectations, timetable and budgets.
• Working alongside the Partnership and Stakeholder Manager and Digital and Channel Manager to put in place an effective social media strategy. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE AND INTERVIEW DATES

Application closing date is 27th January at 2359 hrs

Interviews to be conducted early March 2021 

Competencies and Strengths

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: 

1. 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. 

2. Working Together - Encourage joined up teamwork 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.  

3. Managing a Quality Service- Develop, implement, maintain and review systems and services to ensure delivery of professional excellence. Work with stakeholders to set priorities, objectives and timescales. Successfully deliver high quality outcomes that meet the customers’ needs and gives value for money. Identify risks and resolve issues efficiently. Involve a diverse range of colleagues, stakeholders and delivery partners in developing suggestions for improvements. Establish ways to find and respond to feedback from customers about the services provided. 

4. Developing Self and Others

Prioritise and role-model continuous self-learning and development. Identify areas individuals and teams need to develop in order to achieve future objectives. Support colleagues to take responsibility for their own learning and development. Ensure that development opportunities are available for all individuals regardless of their background or desire to achieve promotion. Ensure individuals take full advantage of learning and development opportunities available to them, including workplace based learning. Encourage discussions within and between teams to learn from each other’s experiences and change organisational plans and processes accordingly.

Contact information  

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 the job reference 21812 

Further information If you have any queries about completing the application form, the terms of employment, the recruitment process or you need any further information about the vacancy you are encouraged to contact: james.davies7@justice.gov.uk 

Level of security checks required  

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.