Social Media Officer London, England
Job description
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Press Relations
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About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
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Location
About the job
Job summary
The work of the Department for Work and Pensions makes a difference to the lives of millions of people, right across the country.
We pay out nearly £1bn every single day and help some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Supporting over 20 million people we have a huge responsibility to ensure that everyone can depend on the state when they need it most. Our services cover everything from helping children & families right through to supporting relatives of lost loved ones with bereavement support and funeral care. In between we find jobs for people, we support people financially where they are unable to work due to health conditions and we ensure everybody has the money they need to live during their retirement years. We are first and foremost a people focused organisation and that’s why we want to attract the best possible talent to come and help us create the best possible services for the people who need our support.
The department’s work is often national news and we are recruiting for one Social Media Officer to be part of our supportive and high-performing digital communications team. We work closely and collaboratively with the rest of the communications directorate to find the best ways to inform the public about the work of the department and the support and services we provide. We are looking for someone who has good judgement, a strong understanding of social media content and an ability to work creatively. As part of the team, you will have the opportunity to support national announcements and collaborate with colleagues within our video and design teams.
This post will be based at Caxton House, London.
Job description
This is a great opportunity to join a team where you will be able to get involved in exciting pieces of work covering various policy areas ranging from employment, social mobility and welfare to pensions and disabilities.
The successful candidate will support the Department for Work and Pensions in touching the lives of millions of people each day – whether that is helping jobseekers find a secure future through work in the drive to full employment, offering financial support through benefits, or supporting older workers and pensioners.
We are looking for someone who has good judgement, a strong understanding of social media content and an ability to work creatively. Within this role, you will have the opportunity to support national announcements and collaborate with colleagues within our video and design teams.
You will be joining a team of six in the social media team, reporting to the Social Media Manager and occasionally the Senior Social Media Manager. We are a supportive and friendly team who welcome innovation and originality – if this is you we would really like to hear from you.
Key responsibilities include:
- Presenting digital updates during daily press meetings on a rota basis.
- Drafting and publishing social media content across DWP social media channels.
- Working with teams across the department to produce the weekly social media campaign schedule.
- Reviewing and publishing press releases on GOV.UK.
- Supporting colleagues to produce social media plans.
- Evaluating social media performance using channel analytics.
Person specification
Candidates for this role must be able to demonstrate they can meet the following essential criteria:
1. Have a keen interest in the evolving social and digital media landscapes and how different channels are used by various target audiences. An ability and enthusiasm in creating engaging social media content.
2. Have excellent written and verbal communication skills and the confidence to present, report and explain plans accurately in formal and informal settings.
3. Be able to demonstrate teamwork when creating content for digital channels.
4. Have an understanding or interest in analysing and evaluating the performance of social media content, learning from past performance.
5. Be capable of managing multiple, concurrent projects, estimating and allocating time effectively, and meeting tight deadlines.
6. Be willing to assist team members with duties such as the creation of graphics or video, as well as any other creative content for the department's needs.
7. An understanding of how to optimise messaging for a range of audiences and online channels.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Insight
- Ideas
- Implementation
- Impact
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%
- 23 days annual leave allowance in year one. However, this may vary for existing civil servants based on their number of years’ service.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
We’ll assess both what candidates are good at and also what they enjoy to help us measure candidates’ behaviours, strengths and their potential. The assessment process comprises of a written application, and for shortlisted candidates, an interview.
1. Written application
You’ll need to complete a CV and Personal Statement when you apply. Your CV should set out your career history with key responsibilities and achievements. Your Personal Statement (max 1000 words) should explain how your personal skills and qualities make you a suitable candidate for this role. Your CV and personal statement will both be assessed against the essential criteria set out in the advert.
Please note – If there are a high number of applications received, an initial sift may be undertaken based on the first 4 essential criteria listed above. Candidates who pass the initial sift may progress to a full sift or may go straight to interview.
2. Interview
A ‘blended’ interview lasting around 45 minutes to 1 hour will test a mix of behaviours, technical skills and strengths:
a. We’ll assess candidates against the following Civil Service Behaviours at EO level:
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
b. For this professional communications role, you’ll also be tested against the following Government Communications Service (GCS) technical skills at AIO level
- Insight
- Ideas
- Implementation
- Impact
c. You'll also be assessed against 2 Civil Service Strengths relevant to the role. These aren’t defined by grade.
Sift and Interview Dates:
Our anticipated timetable - which may be subject to change - is as follows:
Shortlisting will take place week commencing: 12 June 2023.
Interviews will commence week commencing 10 July 2023.
Interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided if you are successful and shortlisted.
To apply for this post please follow the instructions in this candidate pack or the job advert on Civil Service Jobs.
Please submit your application no later than Monday 12 June 2023.
If you’re an existing civil servant and want to know more about transferring to another department, refer to your current department’s guidance on transfers within the civil service.
Candidates should not resign from their current job until all appropriate checks have been successfully completed.
If you have questions about the role, DWP or the application process, please contact [email protected]
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.
Further Information
Find out more about Working for DWP
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to DWP 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.
Reasonable Adjustment
At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.
We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.
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 “Reasonable Adjustments” 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.
Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing.
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 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
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.
