Business Change Officer - Comms & Engagement Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Job description
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Salary
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Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
About the job
Job summary
This is a busy role in the Business Change and Readiness team which is responsible for supporting the delivery of the Resource and Waste Strategy with a particular focus on Collection and Packaging Reforms and its associated projects.
Reporting to the Engagement Lead, you will support the development and delivery of all aspects of communications for specified projects. You will work across a range of communication disciplines including external campaigns, digital presence, event management and external communications. You will work with colleagues from across Defra, the Devolved Administrations and other government departments to target key audiences.
We are looking for a communications officer with experience of writing for external audiences, mainly businesses in the UK through digital channels i.e. web content, newsletters etc. You will also have strong news sense, excellent drafting and editing skills, and the political nous to spot issues.
Most importantly, you will need to have the experience and skills to communicate technical information in a simple and engaging way to support businesses in preparing for the upcoming changes. As part of a team, you will also respond to external business enquiries ensuring they have all the information they need for the successful implementation of the reforms.
You will have experience of event management – conferences, exhibitions, trade shows etc.
In addition, you will need to apply thinking to communications and planning, to ensure appropriate clearances are secured, timing aligns well with other communications activities and appropriate credible authors/speakers are involved.
The role is being advertised at any of the Defra hubs – York, London, Bristol, Newcastle and Cardiff. There is flexibility on location for the right candidate.
Job description
The successful candidate will be expected to:
- Develop and maintain relationships with key external partners and stakeholders
- Foster effective engagement across government to ensure a coordinated approach to communications
- Plan and deliver events, campaigns, and activities to support business objectives and significant milestones
- Proactively work with projects to develop messages and engage with businesses and industry groups to relay change messages and involve them in testing policies and guidance
- To keep businesses and external affected bodies updated on the latest developments regarding the changes of Resources and Waste directorate
- Ensure businesses can share feedback and concerns regarding changes
- Convey business feedback and concerns into the project team. This will include ensuring that feedback is appropriately acted upon and communicated back to stakeholders
- Be at the forefront of delivering engagement activities, whether these are face to face events over digital channel webinars
- Development of engagement materials tailored to different groups to support activities i.e. presentations, articles, Q&A etc
- Work with different departments and projects to ensure messages are aligned and the customer journey is communicated in a clear and complete way
Ensure appropriate ongoing two-way engagement with cross government organisations at project level utilising technical input where required.
Person specification
Personal specification
Essential:
- Excellent written and oral communication skills and a demonstrable ability to simplify complex issues accurately
- The skills to build productive working relationships in a complex, multi-organisational environment, with proven ability of expertly managing networks of varied stakeholders
- Strong organisational and management skills to see projects through from inception to completion
- Organising events – forums, conferences, workshops, exhibitions etc
- Experience of developing presentations for events (digital and face to face) interpreting complex information into simple plain English
- Plenty of drive, energy, and a real enthusiasm for engagement and supporting businesses
- Worked on a large-scale change programme with external customers
- Able to present to large and small audiences through digital routes (webinars/meetings) and face to face at events
- Ability to manage groups of stakeholders with challenging questions and discussions
- Knowledge and experience of government and/or policy engagement
Qualifications
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
- Seeing the Big Picture
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Blended Working
Defra operates a blended working policy subject to business need, giving people the flexibility to choose when and where they work and collaborate with others.
Individuals are expected to work from one of the office locations stated in the advert to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs. There is flexibility to split the working week, spending minimum of 40-60% in the workplace, unless exceptional circumstances apply and/or you are a contractual home worker.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Process
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
- A CV detailing your career history (including any relevant qualifications. Your CV will be used for Information Only).
- A personal statement (max. 500 words) demonstrating how you meet the requirements of the job description, responsibilities, and about you.
- 1 behaviour statement (max 250 words) - Communicating & Influencing
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Sift
The sift panel will use the information in your CV, personal statement and behaviour statement to assess your experience and knowledge.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Communicating & Influencing. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Sifting is likely to occur w/c 26th September 2023, with interviews likely to take place w/c 9th October 2023.
These dates are indicative only.
Interview
If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to complete a timed written assessment prior to interview – to be discussed at interview.
You will be also be invited to a video interview.
This vacancy is using Civil Service Success Profiles and we will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
Location
Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.
Candidates applying for these roles will be based at one of the Defra hubs as advertised.
For information, our core Defra hub locations are:
- York – the Kings Pool;
- Newcastle – Lancaster House;
- Bristol – Horizon House (Please note that space at this office is limited and it may not be possible for all Policy roles to be recruited to this location);
- London – 2 Marsham Street.
Internal (core Defra) employees can apply for this role and choose to remain in their current location or to be based in one of the advertised locations.
All other applicants will be based in one of the advertised locations.
Defra continues to support a blended working model and candidates are currently expected to attend their office base for 40-60% of the week.
Travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to a base office location.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Merit Lists
Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.
Salary
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
Visa Sponsorship Statement
Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
Please note tests on this vacancy are timed, therefore if due to the need for a reasonable adjustment such as additional time contact us as below.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
- Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.
Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Criminal Record Check
If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Internal Fraud Database Check
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Higher Security Clearance
Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter.
All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to London may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
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)
- 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
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
Government Recruitment Services via email: [email protected]
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission.
