media specialist London, England
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Location
About the job
Job summary
The first duty of the government is to keep citizens safe and the country secure. The Home Office has been at the front line of this endeavour since 1782. As such, the Home Office plays a fundamental role in the security and economic prosperity of the United Kingdom.
The Home Office mission is fundamentally important: to keep Britain’s streets safe and its borders secure. Each and every member of the Home Office plays a part in making that happen.
The Home Office is never far from the headlines and as a senior media manager you will be responsible for communicating some of the most important issues facing Britain today: delivering 20,000 new police recruits and cutting crime; restoring confidence in the criminal justice system, working with law enforcement and the security services to keep our country safe; taking back control of our borders and introducing a new points-based immigration system.
Job description
We are seeking talented senior media managers with the flair and passion to work in one of Whitehall’s most high-profile departments.
Besides the rewarding nature of the job itself, a competitive salary and a Civil Service pension, you'll also benefit from excellent career opportunities and our dedication to cultivating and developing talent.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusion at the Home Office. That means we are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive work environment where all our people are able to perform at their best.
Due to business requirements, this role is only available full-time.
Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA)
This post is eligible for RRA. This allowance is subject to an annual review in line with departmental priorities and could be reduced or withdrawn at any time.
Hybrid Working
Hybrid working enables employees to work partly in their workplace(s) and partly at home. A hybrid working pattern may be available, where business needs allow. Applicants can discuss what this means with the vacancy holder if they have specific questions.
Person specification
Posts available include our news desk and several policy desks and responsibilities will vary depending on the exact position but will include:
- Working closely with ministers and senior policy advisors to develop and deliver proactive and imaginative media campaigns aligned to the Home Secretary’s priorities - writing all necessary material, briefing journalists, attending visits, facilitating media interviews.
- Responding to major breaking news stories and media queries from political, home affairs and other key national journalists, confidently briefing them on sensitive issues and ensure the rapid turnaround of responses.
- Producing detailed handling plans ahead of the publication of relevant statistics and reports on complex and high-profile issues.
- Working closely with the media monitoring team to identify inaccuracies and unfounded criticism across print, online, social and broadcast media and ensure it is addressed in the most appropriate way.
- Line managing comms officers, setting priorities, and managing workflows.
- Providing leadership and guidance to colleagues, supporting their day-to-day work and helping them to develop over time.
- Using a full range of insight and evaluation tools to target communications and assess their impact, using the information to continuously improve.
- Taking part in the press office out of hours duty rota.
- Although largely media-based, the role-holder will be expected to work across all comms disciplines to support colleagues as and when necessary.
- Please note there may be shift work involved in this role.
- We are looking for someone with a strong news sense and political awareness who can develop positive relationships with journalists and have the confidence and credibility to become a trusted adviser to Ministers and senior policy colleagues.
The successful candidate will need a flexible approach and the ability to stay calm while responding to fast-paced breaking news stories as well as the ability to plan targeted and innovative media strategies and campaigns.
We are looking for a great teammate, who can lead and inspire people and is prepared to work hard to support colleagues achieve shared goals.
Essential criteria
- Consistent track record in a fast-paced news or press office environment.
- Strong written and oral communications skills.
- Excellent management and organisational skills.
- Detailed understanding of media trends and both traditional and digital media channels.
- Understanding of insight and evaluation tools.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Seeing the Big Picture
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Communications - Ideas
- Communications - Implementation
- Communications - Insight
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%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process, you will be asked to submit:
- A CV detailing job history/skills
- A statement of suitability (personal statement) (maximum 750 words)
- An example of the behaviour - Seeing the Big Picture (250 words maximum)
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please note your statement of suitability should be aligned to demonstrate your skills and experience for the role and how you meet the Essential criteria as detailed in the job advertisement.
The sift will be held on the behaviour - Seeing the Big Picture and the statement of suitability (personal statement).
The CV will not be scored.
However, if a large number of applications are received, an initial sift will be conducted on the lead behaviour Seeing the Big Picture. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift.
If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview which will be a blended approach of technical based and behaviour-based questions. Please see link below for reference to the technical skills framework;
GCS Competency Framework - technical specifications - https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/publications/competency-framework/
Sift and Interview Dates
Sift is expected to take place from 18th July 2023.
Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 7th August 2023.
We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert, however on occasions these dates may change.
Interviews will be carried out via video. Candidates will be required to have access to:
- A laptop (personal or work) with a working webcam
- Good internet connection
- Microsoft Teams
Further information
For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.
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
A reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.
Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.
We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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.
For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.
Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.
Transfer Terms: Voluntary.
If you are invited to an interview you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.
Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.
Any move to the Home Office 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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Reasonable Adjustments
If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
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
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
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
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
[email protected]. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.
