communications coordinator Nottingham, England
Job description
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About the job
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About the job
Job summary
UKHSA’s Communications Directorate is responsible for helping to keep the national safe from health threats, engaging our workforce and developing and protecting the agency’s brand. We do this through media handling; social media engagement; internal communications; stakeholder communications; publications; marketing, branding and content; strategic comms and the comms response to incidents, outbreaks, and other emergencies. The Regional Communications Network is embedded with geographical regional teams around the country and works with national comms colleagues to provide regionally-specific advice and support across communications specialisms.
This role is being offered on a full-time basis. This is a Fixed Term Contract with an end date on 30/09/2024.
Location – National
This post is supporting a team based in Nottingham and regular visits to Nottingham will be required but the postholder could be based at their nearest UKHSA hub.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working – this means that whilst the role will be based in one of our offices, there will be opportunities for an element of working from home. UKHSA have office locations across the UK.
This role can be based at one of our UKHSA offices/locations (Leeds, Manchester, Totnes, London, Horsham, Cardiff, Bristol, Nottingham, Harlow, Liverpool, Fareham, Gloucester, Newcastle and Birmingham) with opportunities for an element of working from home. You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.
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
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- Direct responsibility for managing the reputation of UKHSA in the region, looking for opportunities to build and maintain the corporate reputation and horizon scanning for issues that might damage that reputation and as appropriate provide high level advice to management teams on any remedial action required.
- Maintain a regional 24 hour, seven days a week on-call press and Communications service for UKHSA regionally, ensuring that it meshes effectively with the national comms on-call service and that of neighbouring communications colleagues as well as similar services in Local Authorities, the NHS and others within the region’s health community.
- Play an active role as a member of the corporate Communications Directorate including contributing to national communications plans and supporting colleagues in neighbouring regions.
- Ensure UKHSA locally and nationally maintains effective stakeholder relations with Government agencies and departments at a regional level and when appropriate at a national level for example, with Other Government Departments.
- Work with the regional management team to support regional/local consultation with stakeholders on service delivery.
- Responsible for providing advice and assistance to regional management teams in responding to requests under the Freedom of Information Act and the handling of complaints.
- Commission, oversee and project manage the delivery of workshops and exercises for communications colleagues in health protection and emergency response in LAs, the NHS and other category one responders.
- Responsible for developing and maintaining the local UKHSA content on its designated areas of the intranet.
- Lead on regional/local communications for initiating change by providing a clear vision aligned to the UKHSA’s major organisational development initiatives.
For full list of main duties, please read the attached Job Description.
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.
Person specification
It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 750 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:
Essential
- Educated to degree level.
- At least five years in a senior communications position within a high-profile organisation, including liaison with national media.
- Demonstrable, proven and successful track record in developing and implementing innovative external strategies for public relations campaigns.
- Experience of crisis management specifically crisis communications.
- Extensive experience of operational liaison with local NHS and government
- Able to lead cross-organisational projects working with staff and managers from different disciplines.
Desirable
- Be a full member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (or the Chartered Institute of Marketing) or gained a professional accredited qualification e.g. CIPR, CAM or NCTJ diploma, or have a first degree in a relevant area such as public relations or media.
- Postgraduate degree or equivalent experience.
- Training in personnel and project management.
- Good contacts with national health correspondents, the NHS and other Health Protection and Health Improvement related bodies.
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.
- 26 days annual leave allowance increasing to 32 days after a 10-year service.
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
Selection process details
STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:
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.
Your Statement of Suitability (max 750 words) should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).
**Please do not submit your CV, we require you to complete the full application process including a Personal Statement/Statement of Suitability, as outlined below. Please ensure that your Statement of Suitability contains no personal identifiers e.g. name in either the file name or content of the document.**
You will also be asked to provide information within the ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.
STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW
This stage will involve an interview by video.
As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.
Expected Timeline:
Advert close: 23:55hrs on 6th August 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 28th August 2023
Please note these dates could be subject to change.
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.
A basic check is required.
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).
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