communications associate London, England
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About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
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Location
About the job
Job summary
Please note this is a full-time position.
About Us
We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.
UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.
Job Summary
Working in a busy press office, the post holder will contribute towards the overall aim of promoting UKHSA’s key messages and outputs, as well as supporting the various strands of the UKHSA-wide communications strategy and managing the organisation’s reputation. The post holder will possess excellent writing skills, which are essential to this role, and have a proven track record of drafting versatile, quality content for a wide range of channels, with particular experience working with print, broadcast and online media.
The post holder will bring a strategic approach to developing impactful public health communications and information for promoting the UKHSA’s work on infectious disease and environmental risks so that the public and stakeholders have access to timely, useful information which will assist them in decision making about their or their populations’ health.
The post holder’s remit will lead on crafting our messages across the breadth of health security topics covering some of UKHSA’s busiest areas, including antibiotic resistance, sexual health, outbreaks and incidents and world leading science. You will work closely with UKHSA’s surveillance teams to ensure the best use of science and evidence in support of communications activity.
Key working relationships
The post holder will develop and maintain mutually beneficial working relationships both internally within UKHSA and externally with stakeholders and the media.
Internal
Close liaison with experts across the organisations, including senior management, and colleagues throughout the communications directorate, including regional communications teams.
External
Close liaison with the media and many stakeholder groups including other government departments, the NHS, local authorities, charities, public health bodies and academics.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.
Location
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working – this means that whilst the role will be based in our London offices, there will be opportunities for an element of working from home. UKHSA have office locations across the UK.
The balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business needs and in line with departmental policy.
*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*
Job description
Main Duties of the job
We are looking for an organised, creative individual who is a self-starter with first-rate written and verbal communication skills.
The post holder will be adept at drafting high quality media releases and planning proactive communications campaigns, which will make an impact for diverse audiences. In addition, the post holder will be competent in dealing with complex scientific issues and statistical data and have the ability to explain this information clearly to non-scientific audiences.
The post holder will also have a strong news sense – identifying and developing proactive communications. Strong influencing and negotiating skills are essential, enabling the post holder to deal effectively and persuasively with stakeholders, as well as the media.
Working well under pressure and to tight deadlines is essential, as is a flexible approach to work and being a good team player.
Main Responsibilities
- To provide strategic communications handling advice to colleagues both nationally and regionally on a range of topic areas, including during incidents and outbreaks
- To draft clear, high quality content for print, broadcast and online media
- To ensure content is underpinned by sound use of UKHSA’s data and intelligence wherever appropriate.
- To identify opportunities for developing quality proactive communications output, as well as identifying any potential reputational risks.
- To manage proactive and reactive media communications, including:
- to act as a point of contact for incoming enquiries from journalists and to develop timely responses in line with UKHSA’s corporate view;
- to proactively sell in stories to the media – press and broadcast;
- to monitor the range of media channels, including press and digital, and respond to any inaccurate or misleading content particularly where there is a reputational risk;
- to build and maintain good relations with key journalists;
- to co-ordinate any broadcast bids and provide support to UKHSA spokespeople undertaking interviews;
- to participate in an out-of-hours on-call rota that covers national media issues.
- To build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders including other government departments and agencies, local government, health partners and charities – using good diplomacy skills.
- To have clear insight of the wider health system and UKHSA’s role within it.
- To work in accordance with Government Communications Service principles with regard to communications planning and evaluation, also ensuring the team does this.
- To act as an ambassador for the communications directorate in all engagement with all parties, demonstrating UKHSA behaviours throughout
Professional development
- We’re looking for someone who wants to keep learning and developing. We’ll encourage the post holder to pursue a programme of continuous professional development.
This job description and person specification are an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties that may reasonably be required by their line manager. The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the Department and the organisation.
Person specification
It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1000 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:
Essential Criteria:
Qualifications
- Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area.
Knowledge and experience
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary communications role, particularly within a press office, developing quality content for a range of channels and audiences.
- Experience of working across sensitive and challenging situations/issues, showing diplomacy, tact and a proven track record of using negotiating and influencing skills to achieve outcomes.
- Experience of using initiative and creativity to find innovative solutions to communications challenges.
- Experience of building good relationships with stakeholders a range of organisations including local authorities, government departments, voluntary organisations, charities and health providers.
- Experience of working in a busy press office, demonstrating a sound knowledge of how media works and developing good relationships with journalists.
Skills and capabilities
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of explaining complex and challenging information clearly and concisely for a diverse range of channels and audiences
- Ability to manage and motivate communications colleagues to maximize their ability, while also being receptive to feedback for own personal development. ensuring their personal development
- Ability to handle crisis communications
Equality and diversity
- Demonstrating a commitment to equality and diversity in day-to-day working practices, as well as output
Desirable criteria:
- A good understanding of the health and social care environment and the roles and responsibilities within it.
- Good knowledge of the workings of government including local government, current government priorities and agenda.
- Experience of working with scientists and/or scientific material.
Benefits
Working for the UKHSA
For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
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%
- Range of health and wellbeing support
Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at Childcare Choices , 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More , Help with Costs , GOV.UK
Things you need to know
Selection process details
STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:
You will be required to complete an application form and a statement of suitability. Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, against the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section). Your Statement of Suitability must not exceed 1000 words.
You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria – please do provide evidence of how you meet this.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.
STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW
This competition will involve an interview by video.
All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on a blended interview against behaviour element of Success Profiles and will include a written assessment, the subject of which will be given to you during the interview.
The Success Profiles framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate. The following behaviours will be used at the interview:
Behaviours to be assessed:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Changing and Improving
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
Expected Timeline:
Advert close: 23:55hrs on 13/08/2023 – unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Interviews: w/c 04/09/2023
Please note these dates could be subject to change.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)
Nationality requirements
Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
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 equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.
Security clearance level requirement
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard. People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.
For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
Please Note
This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&C’s are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/
Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.
Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/
The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: [email protected]. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.
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 Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
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
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