Social Media & Digital Communications Lead for the Secretary of State London, England
Job description
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Senior Executive Officer
Contract type
Loan
Length of employment
Business area
Type of role
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
About the job
Job summary
Whilst DCMS is advertising this vacancy, the successful candidate(s) may ultimately be appointed to the newly created Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
The Private Office and Ministerial Support and Parliamentary Team is one of the largest and most dynamic teams in DCMS involved in all aspects of departmental business. We have a Ministerial Team of four, each with a Private Office, who work closely with the Private Offices of the Permanent Secretary, the Special Advisers and the three Directors General. Our team is crucial to the successful running of the Department - we are here to help our Ministers and senior officials deliver their priorities, and to support the Department in working with them.
The Secretary of State, Rt Hon Lucy Frazer MP, has overall policy responsibility for all DCMS areas. She is supported by a team of four ministers:
- Minister of State - John Whittingdale (Julia Lopez Mat Leave MP)
- Parliamentary Under Secretary of State - Stuart Andrew MP
- Lords Minister - Lord Parkinson
PO/MSPT is part of the wider Corporate Strategy Directorate.
Job description
You will be part of Private Office and work extremely closely with the Secretary of State, special advisers and the DCMS Communications teams. Your role will be to help communicate the work and priorities of the department and Ministers to the wider public through creative, engaging and imaginative digital communications.
Skilled in using tools, including photoshop, final cut and premier pro you will make and refine engaging digital content to use across a range of channels. Working with the Communications Lead in Private Office, you will ensure creative, clear and consistent communications across the whole range of DCMS priorities and policies.
This will include working to develop a clear social media strategy, supporting the Secretary of State on major announcements and using your skills on social media and digital content to promote the work of Ministers in order to support wider Departmental aims.
1. Development and delivery of a digital comms strategy
You will work collaboratively with colleagues across the wider department to draw together a medium and long term digital comms strategy, and produce a range of content for social media channels including videos and graphics.
2. Support for major announcements
You will plan for large scale announcements and help bring them to life through the Culture Secretary’s social media channels.
3. Drive forward specific digital comms campaigns alongside the DCMS communications team
4. Keeping track of major digital comms campaigns/issues that relate to DCMS sectors or interests.
You will keep on top of the news agenda and closely track relevant opportunities to promote DCMS messaging.
Person specification
The ideal candidate would have the following key skills and experience
Essential Requirements
- Ability to use social media and tools to produce engaging creative content
- Experience of video, animation and software tools relevant to managing social media accounts.
- Seeing the Big Picture - Ability to think creatively and identify opportunities for new approaches to explaining policy and demonstrating delivery.
- Communicating and influencing - Well-developed communication skills, including the ability to negotiate where needed to secure Ministerial interests.
- Delivering at pace - Demonstrable experience of working in a fast-paced environment and driving progress amid competing views.
Desirable Skills
- Experience of working closely with Ministers
- The ability to understand political priorities and translate that in easily understood content.
- A working knowledge of, and networks across, DCMS’ sectors.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Managing a Quality Service
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- As part of the first interview, there will be a technical exercise lasting for 1 hour. This will test the technical skills involved in this role and will be shared at the beginning of the exercise.
Benefits
DCMS values its staff and offers a wide range of benefits to everyone who works here. We’re committed to developing talent, and supporting colleagues to have great careers in our department. To support with that, some of the benefits we offer include:
- Flexible working arrangements and hybrid working - DCMS staff work on a flexible basis with time spent in offices, and time spent working from home.
- 26.5 days annual leave on entry, increasing to 31.5 days after 5 years’ service.
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
- 3 days of paid volunteering leave.
- Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave.
- Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year.
- Occupational sick pay.
- Active and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, Ethnic Diversity, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Gender Equality Networks.
- Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day to day work.
- Season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme and much more!
Terms and conditions at SCS grades will vary. Those applying for SCS roles should refer to the candidate information pack for more information on terms and conditions.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
To apply for this post, please send us the following documents no later than 23:55 on Monday 12th June 2023 via the CS Jobs portal:
- A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. Please refer to the essential requirements.
- A Statement of Suitability (max 750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential requirements highlighted. You may also choose to reference the desirable skills listed.
- A number of examples of your work (up to 3). This can be example animations, infographics, videos, carousels or other relevant materials. If you are unable to upload to CS jobs please forward to [email protected].
In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial sift will be conducted on the statement of suitability. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Interview
This is a two-stage interview process. Candidates who are successful from the first round of interviews will then meet with the Secretary of State for a second interview. Full details will be provided ahead of the second interview.
The first interview will assess your technical skills, experience, behaviours and strengths.
As part of the first interview, there will be a technical exercise lasting for 1 hour and will be sent 1 hour before the interview is scheduled to take place. This will test the technical skills involved in this role and will be shared at the beginning of the exercise.
The second interview will be held with the Secretary of State who will assess you against behaviours and experience.
The behaviours to be tested at interview are:
-
Communicating and Influencing
-
Delivering at pace
- Managing a Quality Service
In most cases interviews will take place remotely via Google Meet video call. However please refer to the Candidate Information Pack to confirm the interview approach.
For indicative sift and interview dates please refer to the attached Candidate Information Pack.
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to DCMS 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
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.
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.
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.
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
DCMS has a London and a National pay scale. For more information on this, including the circumstances in which each pay scale will apply, please see the ‘Information for Applicants’ document.
If you choose to join on a loan basis, prior agreement to be released on loan must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.
Reasonable Adjustment
We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process.
In order to request an adjustment, please:
Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on 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 a verbal test rather than a written one.
Alternatively, contact the Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility difficulties with any of the attachments, please contact us. Contact details can be found in the 'contact point for applicants' section of the job advert.
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
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact ([email protected]) in the first instance.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/civilservicerecruitmentcomplaints/
